Clyde 6-1 Stranraer
The Bully Wee recorded an emphatic win over Stranraer at Broadwood this afternoon, with striker David Goodwillie getting five of the goals.
Danny Lennon made two changes to the team following last week’s cup victory over Queen of the South, with Barry Cuddihy coming for the injured Ross Lyon and Chris Johnston replacing Darren Smith.
Clyde started the game in a lively fashion and almost opened the scoring in the opening minutes as Goodwillie drove into the box and put in a great cross to Ray Grant at the back post, but the midfielder saw his first time effort well saved by Max Currie and the ‘keeper also managed to block Ally Love’s rebound attempt.
Love and Goodwillie went close again for The Bully Wee, but neither of their efforts from inside the box could find the back of the net; Love volleyed wide and Currie got down to parry away Goodwillie’s strike.
The opening goal did come just before the half hour mark, when the referee pointed to the spot after Ally Love was fouled by Adam Cummins inside the box. The defender was also shown a red card and the visitors went down to ten men. Goodwillie stepped up and slotted the ball past Currie from the penalty spot.
It wasn’t long before the referee awarded Clyde another penalty, as Grant was impeded just inside the area. Goodwillie once again made no mistake from the spot as he scored his second of the afternoon to double the lead.
There was then yet another strong penalty claim for Clyde for handball, but the referee deemed the offence to have taken place just outside the box. Ally Love struck the post from the free-kick as Clyde continued to be a threat.
Goodwillie completed his hat-trick before half-time, as he found himself in space at the edge of the box and excellently fired the ball home to give Clyde a comfortable lead going into the break.
Stranraer came out for the second half looking to get a goal back quickly and had a good chance from an early corner, but Scott Robertson could only head the ball over the bar and out for a goal kick.
The referee was then required to point to the penalty spot for the third time in the game, as Goodwillie drove into the box and took the ball round Max Currie, but the ‘keeper brought down the in-form striker before he had the chance to put the ball into the empty net. Currie guessed right and saved the initial spot kick, but a retake was ordered for encroachment. Goodwillie made sure the ball found the net at the second attempt to extended Clyde’s advantage.
Stranraer hadn’t really tested David Mitchell in the Clyde goal, but he had to pick the ball out the net as the visitors managed to break quickly up the park from a Clyde corner and Hilton finished his chance well.
However, The Bully Wee soon restored their four goal lead as substitute Darren Smith got on the end of a lovely through ball from Chris Johnston and calmly found the bottom corner, for his first league goal for the club.
The scoring was completed five minutes from time as Johnston found Goodwillie inside the box and the striker – after an initial hesitation – blasted the ball towards goal, which Currie could only parry into the roof of the net. It was the striker’s fifth goal of the afternoon and Clyde’s sixth, to round off a very successful afternoon for The Bully Wee.
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BULLY WEE FUND – DRAW WINNER: 121. ALAN DAVIS – £1,165