Clyde v Stirling Albion

Written by RedWeb

Tuesday, 20 April 2010

Clyde 1 (Willie Sawyers) Stirling Albion 2 (Scott Robertson, Iain Russell) Stirling Albion Scott Christie Andy Graham Ross Forsyth Brian Allison Jonathan Page Scott Robertson Nathan Taggart Chris Aitken Michael Mullen Iain Russell David O'Brien   Subs: Andy Gibson on for 8 Paul Murphy on for 7 Derek Colquhoun (Unused) David McKenna (Unused) Myles Hogarth (GK) Clyde Callum Reidford Willie McLachlan Neil McGowan Willie Kinniburgh Alan Lithgow Aleksandrs Gramovics Kevin Higgins Connor Stevenson Willie Sawyers John Stewart Adam Strachan    Subs: Jordan White on for 7 Steven Howarth on for 10 Ally Park (Unused) Dmitrijs Borisovs (Unused) Jordan Allan (GK) Scottish League Division Two Tuesday 20th April, 2010   Broadwood Stadium Attendance: 635 As is usual with midweek reports it's straight to business. Team lines for Stirling showed only the one change from Saturday as Brian Allison came back into the starting line-up with Andy Gibson dropping to the bench. Stirling kicked off at a freezing Broadwood and began the match shooting towards the home end of the main stand. It was Clyde who were first to threaten as an Adam Strachan free kick was played into the box from where Alan Lithgow duffed a close range attempt well over the bar. With their first chance of the match Allan Moore's men did rather better. A neat pass from Chris Aitken set David O'Brien free and from the wingers well placed cross SCOTT ROBERTSON buried a header past a helpless Callum Reidford. Great start to the game from the visitors but with 86 minutes left it was unlikely to be the last incident of note. Indeed Clyde reacted well to going behind but long range efforts from Aleksandrs Gramovics and Willie McLachlan were well off target. With nothing but a win needed to save them from relegation most Albion fans would have expected an in-form Clyde team to not give up without a fight. So it proved when they levelled the scores. A ball into the Albion box was met by the solid frame of WILLIE SAWYERS and the big striker did well to hold off his man before spinning and firing home an excellent strike. Well taken goal by the former junior hitman and the second he's scored against the Beanos this term. However, within minutes the Albion were presented with the ideal opportunity to retake the lead. A ball into the box was nodded down by Ross Forsyth into the path of Iain Russell who tumbled to the ground after a rather innocuous looking challenge. The referee Steve Finnie clearly saw foul play and so pointed to the spot. From 12 yards the normally reliable Chris Aitken saw his penalty blocked by the diving figure of Callum Reidford. This was the second penalty we've missed at Broadwood this season and both have been at the same end. Only Chris's second miss in his Albion penalty taking career so he was probably due one. The game was fairly end to end at this stage and Willie Sawyers went close for Clyde as he held off Nathan Taggart before turning and shooting over. Up the other end Ross Forsyth pressured home keeper Callum Reidford whose scuffed clearance fell straight into the path of Iain Russell. With Reidford well off his line the goals were gaping but Russell's first time lob sailed a couple of yards wide of the unguarded net. It could and should have been a second for the Beanos when a good run and cross from Nathan Taggart picked out David O'Brien who could only scuff a 10 yard strike into the gloves of Reidford. The last chance of the half also fell Stirling's way. A well flighted corner from Chris Aitken was met by the head of Iain Russell but the on-loan Morton man's attempt was a yard over the bar. A fairly tense first half was soon at an end so as the teams trooped off for the half-time Beef Broth it was delicately poised at one apiece. Half-Time:  Clyde 1 Stirling Albion 1 Neither side made any changes at the lemons but only seconds after the restart the home side hooked Kevin Higgins in favour of Jordan White. The Bully Wee made a fairly lively start to the second half and Scott Robertson became the first man to be booked after a spot of verbals. Clyde manager Neil Watt wasn't slow to use another substitute as the fairly ineffective John Stewart was exchanged for Steven Howarth. Allan Moore also made a relatively early change as Chris Aitken made way for Andy Gibson. Perhaps a surprising move by the Albion gaffer but Chris was looking particularly knackered and if nothing else Andy Gibson gives you plenty of work-rate and energy. The second yellow card of the day came when Aleksandrs Gramovics was booked for a chop on Iain Russell. Hadn't been much football played in the second half to date but any that was came from the visitors. Good play between Andy Gibson and Michael Mullen teed up David O'Brien but the wide man took a fresh air swipe and almost fell over the ball. Despite needing a win to avoid relegation the home side were looking strangely subdued and lacking in attacking intent. Stirling continued to be the side pressing forward and a decent cross from Andy Gibson picked out Michael Mullen who headed wide of the target from only six yards out. With the Beanos perhaps getting a tad frustrated they saw another yellow as skipper Ross Forsyth was cautioned for aiming a few choice words in the direction of the whistle blower. With time running out the game looked in danger of drifting away from the Beanos. They were having the better of it but too many attacks were breaking down. A corner kick then gave the visiting fans hope. Andy Gibson's delivery broke to Ross Forsyth who drove across the box before playing the ball back to Gibson whose second centre was expertly headed home by IAIN RUSSELL. The former Dumbarton and Brechin striker has now scored in five consecutive games and was clearly delighted with his goal as he celebrated his goal in front of the Albion fans. Russell then raced up the away end and got it up the Clyde fans in turn for stick he was no doubt getting earlier in the game. Just after the match restarted Allan Moore made his second change as Paul Murphy came on for Nathan Taggart. It could have been a third for the Beanos when good play between Iain Russell and Michael Mullen teed up David O'Brien who blazed over the close range. Referee Steve Finnie played what seemed like an eternity of added on time but Clyde were unable to mount any pressure. In fact Stirling put on a master-class in winding down the clock as they kept the ball up the Clyde end of the field for the final three or four minutes. When the ref eventually blew there were great scenes of joy, both on and off the pitch as Albion fans and players celebrated what could be a priceless three points. With the gap to Alloa down to just two points it's all set to be a nerve jangling last week of the season with the destiny of the title now slightly more firmly in Stirling hands. As for tonight nothing more can be said than another heroic effort from all concerned. The players must be tired but they keep finding ways to win and all credit to them for that. The freshness given to the team by Iain Russell's arrival seems to have injected new life into the side and his signing could yet prove to be the deal of the century. The Albion players now have the relative luxury of a four day gap until their next game as a now relegated Clyde visit Forthbank on Saturday.

 

< Prev		Next >