Broadwood Clyde 3 V 3 Albion Rovers

With Broadwood only needing a point to win their cup group and missing several key stars, Manager di Hernio could afford to rearrange the team a little after last weeks stunning victory. Broadwood started with their traditional fast attacks with Horne and Bryant linking up well but to no avail. Rovers came back into it a little and caught the Broadwood center backs out a couple of times but Aitken seemed to be always there to mop up. Hawkes had Broadwood’s first chance with a shot from the edge of the box but it screamed wide. D.Wandrum was adding his pace to the Broadwood attacks and broke through but before he could shoot he was tackled and the chance was lost. Nisbet, on his home debut, rose to the challenge well, tirelessly chasing everything down his wing and linking up well with the strikers. Bryant was next to benefit but he couldn’t get any power on his snapshot volley. Then the breakthrough, McEwan strode majestically out of defence before firing a pinpoint pass 40 yards into the onrushing Horne’s path, the waiflike striker controlled it on his chest, took a touch then slammed it past the despairing dive of the keeper. The game went flat for a spell before Albion got an undeserved equaliser. The long ball seemed to be the extent of Rovers’ tactics but True at the back was winning everything in the air. One punt did get through though and with McEwan and S.Wandrum getting into a fankle Albion, were amazingly awarded a penalty. C.Wandrum couldn’t get to it and the game was levelled. Then Albion took a shock lead when again a lack of organization at the back allowed Rovers’ a free header from a set piece giving C.Wandrum no chance.

Half time saw Bryant replaced by McGee as Broadwood upped the pace again. McGee making his presence felt immediately, injuring the Rovers right back and testing the keeper with two headers. Hawkes’ determination to win cost him when he blocked a shot in a sensitive area and had to be replaced. McMahon came on and had an instant impact bursting through on goal only to be tackled as he shot. The shot screwed wide and McMahon limped off to be replaced by the experienced Heron, making his first appearance since season 97/98. This spurred Clyde on and they soon got the equaliser when Reilly latched on to a D.Wandrum throw. The ball was bouncing but Reilly was equal to it as he struck a dipping shot from 18yds to level the score. Broadwood kept pushing and their long-range shots were causing some problems, S.Wandrum, Reilly coming close and Horne clipping the bar. Then McEwan was unlucky when his glancing header from a corner went inches wide. Broadwood went deservedly in front when Aitken was manhandled in the box. The versatile youngster dusted himself down before sending the keeper the wrong way and nestling the ball sweetly into the corner. With minutes left Albion got a lucky break when a shot was hit through a ruck of players
and ended up in goal. It was a bad goal to lose at the death but Broadwood cruised through top of the group anyway.

The gaffer said after the match “That third substitution was sheer managerial genius, it turned the game. Eh guys. Guys?”

LINE-UP – C.Wandrum, True, McEwan, Aitken, D.Wandrum, Hawkes, Nisbet, S.Wandrum