Clyde v Stirling Albion

Recap

Clyde’s atrocious start to the season continued with another defeat and yet another game without a Clyde player netting a goal, as Stirling Albion ran out comfortable winners at a blustery Broadwood.

The Bully Wee once more fielded a trialist and gave a debut to Adam Coakley up front. Mark Casey started at left back as the formation switched to a 4-4-2, with Jay Lang on the left of midfield. Stirling remarkably had no ex-Clyde players in their squad.

Despite a decent first hour against Peterhead last week, the opening of this game was as poor as anything so far this season, with Albion dictating possession. Their first opportunity fell to Martin Grehan but somehow he failed to convert John O’Neill’s header back across the goal, albeit Callum Reidford takes a lot of credit for blocking the effort. Gibson was then to have two decent efforts for the away side, the first being pawed away by Reidford, the second sliding past the far post. In between, Clyde threatened sporadically and Coakley took too long to shoot after Jamie Doyle’s cross had fallen into his path and the effort was blocked. Then, controversy as Jay Lang’s through ball appeared to set Paul McLeod through on goal, only for the linesman to signal for offside. Football fans are often slow to notice offsides but on this occasion, there seemed little doubt that McLeod was being played on by two Stirling centre halves.

Clyde were starting to slowly work themselves into the game and gained a promising chance as Ross Forsyth fouled McLeod on the edge of the box. Lang fired in a low free kick that was cleared as far as Paul Stewart, however, the Clyde captain chose to take a touch rather than fire the ball back into the box and was blocked by Michael Mullen. This started an Albion breakaway and Mullen released David O’Brien who in turn slid Grehan through on goal. The striker, played onside by Mark Casey, had time to dance past Reidford before slotting into the open goal. There was almost further damage before half-time but trialist McLachlan did well to block Scott Robertson’s shot on the goal-line.

The second half saw very little in the way of chances, although Alan Lithgow headed over when unmarked. A missed interception by Scott Gair then gifted Mullen an opportunity but his shot was straight at Reidford. Lang was then replaced by Alan McFadden and Darren Walker replaced the ineffectual Coakley. Gair was then inches away from converting McLachlan’s corner, before a goalmouth scramble from another McLachlan corner saw the ex-St Mirren defender unable to turn and get a shot in on goal.

It was an eventful time for Gair and that was to continue as his sliced clearance fell perfectly for Ryan McCord, who released O’Brien. As the defender tried to recover, he made some little contact with the winger in the box and the referee, somewhat harshly, awarded a penalty. Justice was done however as David McKenna fired the spot kick against the post. In an attempt to change the game, Conn Boyle replaced the tiring Doyle and the young winger made an immediate impression, drawing a foul from Stewart Devine that saw the Albion player booked. Despite some enterprising play from the substitute, Clyde failed to create another chance and suffered their second league defeat of the season.

Like last week against Peterhead, various aspects of the performance were a cause for huge concern. At least in the game against the Blue Toon there were several chances spurned, whereas very little was created in this match. It is hard to see where the next goal will come from…