Clyde v Stranraer

Recap

Two early second half strikes did the business for Clyde this afternoon, as they edged past Stranraer to further strengthen their grip on third place in the League Two table.

Darren Young was able to name an unchanged team following last week’s defeat away to The Spartans, with Craig Howie recovering from a hamstring strain to start and welcome returns for Mouhamed Niang and Scott Williamson to the matchday squad.

An even first half saw the sides exchange plenty of blows, but neither ‘keeper was called into any kind of meaningful action thanks to profligate finishing from both sides. Andy Murdoch and Barry Cuddihy were the guilty parties for The Bully Wee, with the former failing to keep a free header under the crossbar before the latter slashed a half volley well over. For the visitors, Deryn Lang screwed an effort wide with their best chance as the opening period drew to a close.

The second half was much more eventful, with the hosts quickly turning the heat up upon the restart. A period of sustained pressure yielded a corner, and Kyle Connell’s inswinging delivery found the head of Cuddihy at the near post, with the midfielder nodding home via a touch from a defender.

Stranraer went in search of an immediate equaliser and, as the game became stretched, a moment of real quality gave Clyde a valuable two-goal lead. A flowing move saw Robbie Leitch exchange first-time passes with Connell and then the lively Marley Redfern, before poking a low finish underneath Max Currie.

The visitors once again mounted a response but struggled to break down an organised home defence, and the hosts should have put the game out of sight having worked their way into some great positions against increasingly gung-ho opponents. The pick of the bunch saw Connell have a goalbound effort heroically blocked, before Hynes’ smashed ball across the face of goal went unfinished.

Instead, with a few minutes remaining, a fine ball into the back post area found substitute Ronan Hughes, who towered above his man to loop a header back across Jay Hogarth and inside the post to give Stranraer a lifeline.

Further drama lay in store throughout injury time, with Joseph McGrath glancing a decent headed opportunity wide before Lang passed up a glorious opportunity to equalise at the death. The striker had ample space and time to pick his spot with a header, but contrived to flick the ball over the crossbar as the home end breathed a collective sigh of relief.