Clyde 2-0 Stirling Albion
Clyde enjoyed a winning start to 2025 as goals from Robbie Leitch and Liam Scullion secured a comfortable victory over Stirling Albion.
Darren Young made three changes from last weekend’s draw against Stranraer with Jay Kennedy replacing Robbie Hemfrey (illness) in goals for his first start since August. Logan Dunachie and Jordan Houston also returned to the lineup as Scullion made his 100th appearance in a Clyde jersey.
Clyde were applying the pressure in the opening minutes as they created the first chance of the afternoon. Houston muscled his way through a crammed box and sneaked the ball into Allan’s path, only for the striker’s shot to be blocked.
In the eighth minute, the hosts went agonisingly close to opening the scoring. After saving Scullion’s cross, Gaston dropped the ball back into play which allowed Leitch to pounce on the rebound but his attempt flew off target. Four minutes later, Allan raced into the box and made a beeline towards goal, however, the ‘keeper was on alert to make a sharp stop.
Meanwhile, the visitors were struggling to break away from their own half and test the home defence as Brown’s freekick was calmly collected by Kennedy.
As the match reached the half hour mark, The Bully Wee continued to dictate proceedings as they sought to break the deadlock. Rennie picked up the loose ball to send a looping cross goalwards, but Allan was unable to connect. Murdoch then went narrowly close in the 29th minute when he unleashed a volley from 20 yards only for Gaston to stretch up and tip over the bar.
With ten minutes of the first half remaining, the Binos managed to push the ball up the park when Shanley looked to send the ball into the box, but Hamilton was quick to intercept.
Clyde’s perserverance in front of goal eventually paid off in the 42nd minute as they broke the deadlock. Murdoch fed the ball to Leitch from the edge of the box whose shot sliced through and rifled into the bottom corner.
The hosts almost doubled their lead immediately when Allan yet again deceived the defence to fire a shot from the centre of the box which crashed into the underside of the bar.
The first chance of the second half fell to Stirling in the 50th minute when the ball landed at the feet of Harkness in the centre of the box after an initial save from Kennedy, but he blasted his rebound over the bar.
Any assumptions that the Binos were starting to grow into the game were soon dissipated when The Bully Wee added their second three minutes later. Allan thundered into the box to place a cross which met the head of Scullion who nodded the ball home from close range.
As the clock ticked past the hour, the midfielder came close to doubling his tally with a freekick which Gaston crouched down to save. The Binos made a rare foray into the hosts’ box in the 65th minute but Brown’s attempt from outside the area was denied by Kennedy.
During the final quarter, a sustained spell of activity in Clyde’s half for the visitors did not come to any fruition while the hosts came close to increasing their lead with five minutes remaining. Leitch tried his luck from within the box, but his shot ricocheted off the post.
In stoppage time, a late attempt from Connell was blocked as The Bully Wee made it four straight wins at New Douglas Park while increasing the gap on the league basement to eight points.
BULLY WEE FUND DRAW WINNER: 131. JOANNE ROSS – £730