Clyde 2-2 Stranraer

Clyde opened the Third Division campaign with a home point, but there was a feeling of disappointment around Broadwood as it could have – and probably should have – been more.

The Bully Wee started the match in a positive manner, attacking Stranraer in numbers and with pace. Kevin Finlayson came close with an early attempt from the edge of the box.

Marc McCusker (left) continued his scoring form to give Clyde a deserved lead after 10 minutes. The forward pounced after Bryan Dingwall was extremely unlucky to see his acrobatic effort come back out after hitting both posts.

McCusker soon doubled his tally and the scoreline. Following a defensive error, he did well to shield the ball and slot the ball into the corner of the net from inside the box.

Action at both ends just before the half-time break was to have a major influence on the match. McCusker nearly got a hat-trick when he forced Blues ‘keeper Mitchell into a good stop, with Dingwall putting the rebound over the bar. Moments later, a bad mistake by JC Hutchison was punished as he was caught in possession, leaving an empty goal for Craig Malcolm to make it 2-1.

The visitors took heart from that and looked a far more confident outfit in the second half, going on to register an equaliser on 64 minutes. Murray Henderson wasn’t able to stop a cross coming in from the left and Sean Winter bundled the ball home from close range.

Two substitutes came close to grabbing a winner as time was running out. Stranraer replacement Armand One put a deflected shot just past the post before Clyde’s John Stewart seemed to have a great chance in injury time, but he couldn’t make any connection with Finlayson’s low cross.

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50/50 Half-Time Draw – Winning Numbers

1st – 7732
2nd – 7705
3rd – 8117