Peterhead v Clyde

Recap

Clyde began their Second Division campaign with the long trip north to face a Peterhead side that has consistently done well at that level, albeit, like the Bully Wee they are already out of both early-season cup competitions. With Robert Halliday already missing through injury, both Ally Park and Paul Stewart also missed out through suspension and illness respectively and Willie Sawyers was fit enough only to take a spot on the bench. However, there was a boost with the return of Darren Walker who along with a trialist, filled the wing back positions, whilst Connor Stevenson captained the side at the age of 16.

As said earlier, Peterhead are experienced campaigners at this level and two of their more talented players combined to create the first chance as Graham Sharp set up Martin Bavidge, who saw his low shot well stopped by Callum Reidford. With Dave McKay causing problems with his pace, Clyde looked dangerous on the break and it took a good block by David Donald to keep out Jay Lang. With play continuing at a high tempo, the home side took the lead as Alan Lithgow misjudged a long ball forward and as the ball dropped on the edge of the box, David Ross took one touch to set himself and then curled a delightful effort over Reidford and into the net. The goalkeeper got a hand to the shot and may feel he should have done better.

Clyde responded almost immediately and Lang saw his shot deflected wide for a corner. From the ex-Falkirk player’s resulting delivery, Walker had an excellent chance but managed to put his effort wide of the post when unmarked eight yards from goal. Although the home side looked dangerous, particularly through Sharp, they rarely produced a threatening final ball and in general the Bully Wee were to edge the first hour of the match. The next effort was from McKay who showed tenacity to nick Jamie Doyle’s lofted through ball away from goalkeeper Jon Bateman before firing into the side netting from a tight angle. Again, it was an excellent chance.

One of the few positives to come from Clyde’s first few games of the season has been the attacking threat caused by Lang and the midfielder was soon to come agonisingly close to equalising. Bobby Mann handled under pressure from McKay to give away a free-kick twenty yards from goal and from the set-piece Lang curled the ball against the inside of the post. Minutes later the half-time whistle went and the Bully Wee were undeservedly behind.

The second half saw Clyde make a change, with Doyle being replaced by Alan McFadden. This saw the trialist, who had struggled against Sharp, move into the centre of midfield. Bavidge was the first to threaten but he managed to knock Dougie Cameron’s free-kick past the post when he should have hit the target. Then came the moment that defined the match, as Clyde should have levelled after an excellent sweeping move. Stevenson, Lang and McLeod linked up well to set McKay free in the box and the striker hit a first time pass across the face of the penalty area to find Walker unmarked. Unfortunately, the youngster, with only the ‘keeper to beat, thumped his effort against Bateman. A good save but it was the sort of chance that needs to be taken, particularly when one down.

Needless to say, Peterhead soon showed how it’s done with a second goal. Lang’s clearance thumped against Ryan Strachan and from the loose ball, Bavidge and Sharp combined to swing in a cross that Ross forced home at the near post. Predictably, Clyde collapsed after this and Donald should have added the third following a neat passing move but chose to try and go past Reidford, rather than shoot; the goalkeeper did well to smother. Ross had an effort cleared off the line, whilst Scott Gair produced a fantastic tackle to stop a breakaway attack that at one point saw six attackers outnumber Clyde’s three defenders. The final opportunity fell once again to Lang but Bateman acrobatically kept out another powerful free-kick.

Again, there were several worrying aspects to the performance but on this occasion, the lack of a finishing touch was key. Had Walker managed to equalise with either of his chances, the momentum would have been with Clyde. As it turned out, Peterhead ran out comfortable winners in the end.