Clyde 3-1 Stirling Albion
Clyde returned to winning ways this afternoon, as Marley Redfern’s brace served as the foundation for a comfortable victory at the Hamilton Community Stadium.
Darren Young was once again able to call upon Craig Howie and Robbie Leitch following their respective injuries, with both reinstated to the starting line-up over Kyle Fleming and Mouhamed Niang. The only other change saw Scott Williamson preferred to Kyle Connell up front.
It was Redfern, once again deployed in behind the striker, who was at the heart of everything going forward as Clyde looked for an early opener; in wet conditions, he struck a powerful effort on target, which slipped through the hands of Stirling ‘keeper Robert Duffy before being recovered.
That sighter served the forward well, as he found the back of the net with his second chance of the game. The home side had been ratcheting up the pressure and it soon told when Aiden McGinlay’s measured pass in behind found Redfern, who swept the ball into the bottom corner.
Williamson then should’ve made it two but couldn’t hit the target when he found himself one-on-one, and The Binos duly scored a near-instant equaliser. A ball in behind a few Clyde defenders led to a touch of miscommunication, with the ball eventually breaking to Robbie McNab who arrowed a delicious half-volley into the top corner from range.
It wasn’t to be long before the hosts got their noses back in front, with Darren Hynes’ inswinging cross deceiving all in the six-yard box on its way into the net. Williamson threw himself at it but seemingly failed to get a touch, with Hynes given the plaudits by his teammates in the celebrations.
Both teams exchanged half chances as the first half came to a close, but Darren Young’s men renewed their stranglehold on general play upon the restart. Plenty of territory and openings followed, but Leitch twice passed up magnificent chances to put daylight between the sides with a miscued header and shot with the goal at his mercy.
Just when it looked as though a third goal wouldn’t come, Redfern intervened with a quarter of an hour remaining. Hynes flung in a cross which was deflected, and Leitch’s intelligent dummy in the middle presented his teammate with the simplest of tasks. The onrushing forward nodded it low and underneath Duffy for his thirteenth goal of the season, one which makes him the club’s current top scorer.
Adam Brown dragged a shot wide for the visitors late on as their slim hopes of a result evaporated, whilst substitutes Nathan Cannon and Ross Lyon both had opportunities to add gloss to the scoreline; the former scorched a shot over after starting an attack from deep, whilst the latter failed to tap home from close range after a shot was spilled to him.
The result means that Clyde could – if they win and other results go their way – qualify for the promotion play-offs next weekend, with four games remaining and the gap to fifth place now sitting at seven points.
BULLY WEE FUND DRAW WINNER – 147. Dominic Jack £745