Clyde 1-3 Montrose
Ten-men Clyde’s miserable run of form continued as a late Montrose comeback gave the visitors all three points at New Douglas Park.
Danny Lennon tweaked his starting line-up as he made two changes from the side that lost to Falkirk with Liam Scullion and Jordan Allan replacing Ross Lyon and Kurtis Roberts.
Proceedings were exceedingly tight in the opening stages with Clyde the closest to testing the ‘keeper. Scullion drove the ball forward to Allan in the six-yard box after four minutes, however, his shot was blocked by the defensive wall. The hosts came close again in the 14th minute as Ray Grant manoeuvred the ball to Ross Cunningham during a counter-attack, whose effort was denied by Lennox.
The Bully Wee continued to press forward with Morgaro Gomis next to create an attempt, but he misinterpreted the angle of his shot and it skewed wide. As the half-hour mark approached, Cunningham looked to be through on goal, however, he was cornered by two opposition players, causing his shot to fly past the target.
It remained a tense affair throughout the remainder of the first-half as the Gable Endies’ spurned their first real chance of the afternoon in the 38th minute, with Michael Gardyne grazing the woodwork. In the 43rd minute, Gardyne knocked the ball into the path of Wright, however, Mullen was quick to prevent his shot from close-range as both teams went into the interval even.
The deadlock was finally broken as Clyde opened the scoring three minutes after the re-start. Cunningham demonstrated astute technical skill to fly down the wing and sent a cross into the centre of the box, where Allan was on hand to slot the ball swiftly past Lennox. The home side had their tails up as they came agonisingly close to doubling their advantage in the 53rd minute. Cunningham yet again fired his way across the park and blasted a powerful effort at goal, which was blocked by the ‘keeper.
Wright played a one-two just before the hour however the forward’s shot rolled narrowly past the post. Cunningham then dispossessed Watson in midfield and drove forward, however his shot from 30 yards flew over the bar.
The action was cranked up a notch in the 69th minute after Scullion was controversially dismissed. Ross Hardie chose to show him a straight red card for a foul that looked no more than a yellow at most, and this was followed by the visitors’ equaliser two minutes later. Mullen could only parry a swerving shot from Watson, and Wright was on hand to drill the rebound home.
Montrose took the lead in the 77th minute as Rory McAllister’s free-kick initially struck the post, before crossing the line and into the right-hand corner.
The Bully Wee found themselves further behind with eight minutes of time remaining as the Gable Endies’ added to their lead. Lyons cut out Mullen’s pass, drove forward and dinked the ball into the net.
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BULLY WEE FUND – DRAW WINNER: 95. WALTER DONALD – £750