St. Mirren v Clyde

Recap

Clyde fielded the same line up as last week with both Millen and Kernaghan injured. Maybe that worked out for the best as they were allowed to concentrate on helping Billy on the sidelines, which they both appear to do pretty well. We got off to a dream start after 3 minutes when Leigh Hinds scored the opener. As a number of Clyde fans still struggled to make it into the ground on time (traffic problems I think), the ball was won in midfield and played out wide to Jack Ross. He strode down the wing and cut the ball inside to the waiting Hinds and he flicked the ball home from 10 yards. It looked a very simple goal and I suppose it was. St.Mirren then came at us, and much like the 4-1 game earlier in the season, started to push our defence deeper and deeper. Cross after cross was thrown into the danger area with only a few crucial headers and tackles (Bryan Smith notably) keeping them at bay. Bryn was opting to punch everything as well and in general this tactic worked reasonably well. A deflected shot from the edge of the box by Quitongo trickled past Halliwell’s right hand post. The punishment continued until about the half hour mark, then Clyde started to move up the park and play some better stuff. A David Dunn volley from the edge of the box was met by Leigh Hinds (who looked suspiciously offside) on the six yard line but his header was brilliantly saved by Roy. Clyde’s main threat was coming from wide, with crosses from Dunn and Ross causing them problems. Referee Kevin Toner began his nightmare game just before half time. A low cross from the left wing by a St.Mirren player struck Simon Mensing’s arm from close range inside the box, and the referee pointed to the spot. Simon’s arm was right in front of his chest and it was ball to arm, never a penalty for me but despite the protests Brian McGinty stepped up and sent Halliwell the wrong way. Immediately after that, Clyde broke up the park and so nearly took the lead again. I can’t really remember what happened in the build up but the end result was Ludovic Roy scrambling about the box but we just couldn’t get the ball in, with the final result being a St.Mirren player heading the ball high onto the top of the bar and over. Agonising stuff, and we were gutted to go in at half time level.

Roy was substituted at half time, I assume he was injured, and a youngster came on to replace him. Ian Nicholson gave St.Mirren the lead 10 minutes into the half. A free kick from midfield came over and Nicholson managed to get into a shooting position and his tame shot somehow trickled through Bryn’s arms and into the net. I didn’t have a very good view of it so I won’t comment too much just now but it did look like a bad mistake. From then on, it was all Clyde and the frantic action and dismal refereeing (including the "assistant referee" on our side) made for a great atmosphere. Their replacement keeper really couldn’t kick a ball, and this caused them a lot of problems. Leigh Hinds managed to collect the ball in the box but after rounding the keeper his low shot was blocked as it headed for goal. A cross from the right was heading straight for Marko’s head but Hinds in front of him got there first but his volley was blocked on the line again. Clyde were forcing corner after corner and Dunn was swinging some good ones in right on top of the keeper. Hinds put a header over inside the 6 yard box but I think it was a bit high for him. A St.Mirren defender handled the ball in the box, but the difference was that this one altered the course of the ball, but the linesman decided not to notice it and the referee, true to form, didn’t see it either. Jamie Mitchell was kicked off the ball in front of the Clyde support (and surprise surprise the linesman) as it reached fever pitch in the Clyde end. Nothing was done again. With about 10 minutes to go, Pat Keogh was caught by a tackle which you can barely call late, more like off the ball, and he turned and retaliated. I had turned away at this point to watch the play (advantage was played apparently) and I didn’t see what happened, but I’m told that Pat tried to head butt the Saints player. The far side linesman spotted it, and Keogh received his second booking and was off. At that point, it looked like it was all over. David Hagen came on for Carrots after 83 minutes. In the last minute, another cross came over and about 6 or 7 players went up for it right on the goal line with the keeper nowhere. A hand went up and pushed the ball away, and the ref pointed to the spot. I’m sure it was Marko trying to punch it in, but if it was then justice was done. I’m sure the TV will explain it tomorrow. With Paddy off the park, Jamie Mitchell grabbed the ball and placed it on the spot. Segei Baltacha (no idea what Southampton see in him) ensured that the wee man had to put the ball on the spot again, but nothing was done about it. After a nerve-wracking run up, the ball hit the roof of the net much to the delight of the Clyde support. It was the very least we deserved. St.Mirren basically gave up and straight form the kick off we forced another corner, but like the first half, Toner blew his whistle before it could be taken.

Overall, a very spirited performance by Clyde and a pulsating game. Although, most of the entertainment was made by the dreadful refereeing, should we then complain?! If Clyde can produce that level of commitment and performance every week I’d find it very hard to imagine us going down.