Stranraer v Clyde

Recap

Clyde slipped to defeat at a boggy Stair Park this evening, as a strong second half performance from the hosts saw them avenge Saturday’s defeat in Hamilton.

Darren Young made a single change from the weekend’s 2-1 victory, with Nathan Cannon preferred to Aiden McGinlay on the right flank.

Goalmouth action was limited early on as both sides got to grips with heavy conditions underfoot, but it was Clyde who made the breakthrough just after the half hour mark. Marley Redfern’s measured cross was headed goalwards by Robbie Leitch, who drew a smart stop from home ‘keeper Lyndon Tas. The loose ball was eventually picked up by a red-and-black jersey before being laid off to Cannon, who thundered a low shot through bodies to open his goalscoring account for the club.

The Bully Wee looked set to take a precious advantage into the interval following an even first half, but the hosts had other ideas, with captain Lewis Reid making decisive contact from a corner delivery in added time to equalise.

Just minutes into the second period, the game was turned on its head when a deep Dom Plank delivery was punched only as far as Evan Dunne by Clyde ‘keeper Jay Hogarth. The Stranraer defender was afforded far too much time inside the visiting box, and he cushioned the ball before smashing a powerful finish into the back of the net.

It was largely one-way traffic from there, with Deryn Lang passing up a glorious opportunity to add a third when he headed over from close range, but the striker soon made amends. A long ball forward caught out a wide-open Bully Wee rearguard and, though Lang appeared to handle in controlling it, play continued before he rolled the ball into the net at the second attempt.

It could’ve got worse for Clyde as Stranraer continued to pour forward and twice drew smart stops from Hogarth, but the away side were gifted a lifeline by referee George Calder with minutes remaining. Leitch was rather generously adjudged to have been fouled just inside the home box and it was he who took the resulting penalty, but a tame effort was easily saved by Tas to secure all three points for the hosts.