Queen of the South v Clyde

Trips to Dumfries are never easy and this one proved no different. Once again Clyde took the lead and then faded in the second half but held out for another precious victory.

Clyde began this game full of confidence with the midfield knocking the ball around confidently and picking up a lot of the 50-50 balls. It took only five minutes for Harty to be put in the clear but his angled shot from in the box hit the keeper’s legs and spun behind for a corner. Kerka whipped the ball into the near post and after a melee the ball was cleared.

Although Clyde were carving open the opposition the shooting from distance was very poor. Kerka had a good attempt with a free kick put it drifted just wide. That was to be his last involvement as after fifteen minutes he hobbled off to be replaced by new boy Aaron Conway.

Conway was quickly involved and helped to set up Clyde’s goal after twenty minutes. Wilford was put clear down the right and drove into the box. He dinked the ball up to the far post where Conway met it with a powerful header. Queens scrambled it off the line but Harty managed to get the ball over the line via a post.

McNiven had a powerful shot for Queens that Halliwell did well to turn around the post and later the chunky centre forward headed over from a few yards out.

Clyde almost grabbed a second but Bryson’s header was brilliantly scooped over the bar by the keeper. Walker also had a great run down the middle. After beating three players he found himself in the box with only the keeper to beat. We can only assume he doesn’t trust his left foot as he tried to square the ball and the chance was lost. Despite some Queens pressure Clyde held out until the interval.

As expected Queens pushed on in the second half as Clyde gradually fell deeper and deeper into their own half. Halliwell tipped a screamer from left-back, English, over the bar and later performed an astounding reflex save to prevent McNiven’s volley from inside the box finding the net.

Walker then mysteriously pulled up in agony and was stretchered off in the sixty-first minute. Arbuckle came on and straight away charged down the middle only to see his net-bound shot tipped around the post. Conway was also put straight through but lost his chance and Gibson could only shoot weakly into the arms of the keeper.

Conway also had another run and shot that went close. Gilhaney replaced Wilford in the seventy-fifth minute as Clyde tried to see the game out safely and the former showed his experience by running down the clock in the corner.

Queens were still pressing but they were reduced to pumping the ball into the box and Halliwell had little trouble. In the final minutes Clyde indulged in some understandable but very negative play by winning corners and free kicks but not committing anybody into the box. The final whistle came as a great relief and Clyde can sit very pleased with the 100% record so far.

For a spell in the first half Clyde’s midfield really clicked again and with better forward play could have sewn the game up. However in the second half it was again a siege at times but the defence stood firm. With two injuries in this game the team will be really stretched for the next encounter with St Mirren.

Clyde Star Ratings (*****)
Halliwell ***** Excellent game from the confident big keeper.
Mensing *** A bit up and down but held firm when it counted.
Bollan **** Steady game on Clyde’s left.
Bryson **** Played equally well in about three different positions.
Potter **** The captain led by example once again.
Sheridan ***** Lots of skill and experience to go with the dig.
Walker *** Coming onto his game until injury ended his day.
Gibson **** Outshone Bowie for most of the game and that says a lot.
Wilford *** Good first half but faded in the second.
Kerka ** Not on long enough to see his best.
Harty *** Lots of chasing and a goal but not many other chances.

Conway **** Great debut for the left-sided forward.
Arbuckle *** Led the charge upfield when he could.
Gilhaney *** May be young but showed experience in seeing out the game.