Stranraer v Clyde

Recap

The Bully Wee ended 2024 with a credible point on the road at Stair Park, after playing out the last 20 minutes with ten men.

Once more, Darren Young was forced in to changes to his starting line up with Jordan Houston (injury) and Logan Dunachie (illness) missing out, with Barry Cuddihy filling in at right back and a trialist stepping in to the heart of the defence alongside Lee Hamilton.

After a fairly uneventful opening 20 minutes, with only crosses at either end being noteworthy, Clyde would get the first shot at goal. Jordan Allan’s industry allowed him half a step to get his shot away but Pazikas got down to smother.

This sparked Clyde into life and they proceeded to set up camp in the host’s defensive third looking for an opening.
With 30 minutes on the clock, Clyde spurned a glorious chance to take the lead as Allan broke the offside trap and bore down on goal, only to blast narrowly over with just the ‘keeper to beat.

Moments later the same player had the ball in the net, only to be denied by the assistant’s flag. He was not to be denied though shortly after. Ray Grant’s lobbed pass had Stranraer’s defence chasing down the number nine, who expertly lifted over the onrushing keeper to give Clyde a thoroughly deserved lead which they would take in to half time.

A bright opening five minutes to the half from Clyde was not to be how the second period was to play out as Stranraer turned the screw in search of an leveller. The makeshift Clyde defence was dealing with it with relative ease until the introduction of Robbie Foster, whose pace became a constant thorn for tiring legs.

It would be the same player that would create the incident that would ultimately shape the match. A long ball sent him one-on-one with Hemfrey who made a great save. However, as Foster looked certain to tap home, Tommy Robson blocked his goal-bound effort, but only after a shirt pull was spotted by the officials who awarded a penalty and red card for the left back. Russell sent Hemfrey the wrong way and dealt Clyde with a tough 20 minutes to see out.

Robbie Leitch had a big opportunity to restore The Bully Wee’s lead straight away, however he was unable to get the shot away first time and his goal-bound shot was blocked by the time he could get it away.

Clyde were able to see out the remainder of the match and return home with a point, with the away support showing their appreciation of the effort and application the team had put in under the difficult circumstances at full-time.