Clyde v University of Stirling

Recap

Clyde’s nightmare start to the season continued as they were dumped out the SPFL Trust Trophy by the University of Stirling this evening.

The Bully Wee side saw five changes to Saturday’s side with Dylan Duncan and Fraser Malcolm making their first starts. Barry Cuddihy and Martin Rennie dropped out the squad due to injury.

After a quiet opening spell Fraser Malcolm forced Uni ‘keeper Yan Gromov Godik into a save just before the half-hour mark. Cameron Mulvanny whipped in a cross to Dylan Duncan who chested into Malcolm’s path, but his shot was sent behind. From the resultant corner Peter Grant got a free header but couldn’t direct it on target.

The University of Stirling then had their first chance through James Russell but he skewed his effort from the middle of the box wide. It didn’t take too much longer for the opener to come though, as Clyde failed to deal with a long ball down the middle of the park which allowed Cameron McKinley to gain possession and race forward before firing beyond Jack Leighfield.

Clyde’s injury crisis then worsened as Grant was forced off just before the interval with a facial knock after a head clash.

Russell almost doubled his side’s advantage minutes after the restart when he met the ball with a well struck volley from the edge of the area but it whistled past the post.

The Bully Wee drew level in the 55th minute when Conor Scullion picked up the ball outside the box and took it past a defender before chipping over the onrushing Godik.

Scullion was involved in the next opportunity too when he played a one-two to Ross Forbes from a short corner before it was crossed to Malcolm who bulleted a header on target, but it was held by Godik.

Malcolm had another shot on target shortly after but Godik was also equal to it, whilst at the other end Leighfield saved from McKinley.

The Uni had the ball in the net again with four minutes remaining. McKinley got in the box and saw his initial shot blocked by Dunachie, but he got up and cannoned a ball across goal which deflected off Erik Sula and crossed the line.

They sealed progression to the next round in the second minute of stoppage time after James Stokes broke forward and was the first to a bouncing ball, lobbing Leighfield from distance.