Clyde v Stenhousemuir at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld on 06.02.10

Irn Bru Scottish Second Division                     Att 650

Clyde 0 Stenhousemuir 2 [Motion pen 19, Smith 63]

 

After the hard fought draw at Brechin the previous week the Warriors were on their travels again this time to Cumbernauld to play Clyde. There was one change to the starting eleven as Scott Gair has moved to Berwick Rangers on loan and this meant a first start for Scott Gibb.

 

The early stages of the game were promisingly for Stenhousemuir but it was the home side created the first real chance of the game in the 9^th minute when ex-Falkirk player John Stewart was thwarted by a superb one handed save by Chris McCluskey after Stewart struck a crisp shot from 12 yards out.

 

The Warriors were exposing the home defence with Pat Scullion playing some probing balls behind the Clyde defence but the final threat was always just being snuffed out. Scott Dalziel showed some good footwork to create an opening in the 16^th minute but his shot went agonisingly wide of the target with the keeper stranded. In the 19^th minute of the game Robert Love was brought down in the box by Neil McGowan and after careful thought referee Craig Charleston awarded a penalty that was duly converted by Kevin Motion despite a valiant effort by keeper Scott Findlay. After this the Warriors tried to create chances but failed to create any real opportunities.

In fact there were few openings at either end of the field until the last minute of the half when Clyde really should have drawn level. First Kevin Higgins won the ball in the box before hitting a well struck effort from 16 yards that McCluskey did well to parry clear and this was followed seconds later by a triple effort from Willie McLachlan, rhe first two being blocked and the third gratefully clutched by McCluskey

 

After the scares at the end of the first period the Warriors took the initiative at the start of the second as they went in pursuit of the second goal. Within a minute of the resumption Scott Dalziel was unlucky not to score with an effort that just went wide of the target and this was followed seconds later by a glancing header from Love that Findlay did well to stop. Stenhousemuir were beginning to dominate the proceedings and Love had another effort well saved in 51 minutes. The best chance though came in the 55^th minute when a  Dalziel run down the left flank saw his cross laid in the path of Iain Thomson by Love but the midfielders effort brought out another save by Findlay. Kevin Motion had an opportunity to extend the lead in the 59^th minute when played through by Love but he took one touch too much with the goal gaping and lost the chance.

 

The main fears amongst the Stenhousemuir ranks at this stage was that for all their pressure they were failing to make it count but in the 63^rd minute their fears proved to be unfounded. Motion learnt the lesson of the previous chance and this time hit a well struck shot, it took a slight deflection and although Findlay brought off a wonderful stop the ball ballooned up and fell close to goal where Jordan Smith back flicked it over the line. Smith’s effort seemed to cross the line in slow motion and did not even have the power to hit the net but it proved to be an important effort by the captain.

 

After this the game took a dip in tempo though Clyde had shouts for a penalty when Dalziel blocked at effort in the 71^st minute, but it was Stenhousemuir who looked the more likely to extend their lead and Findlay brought off a top notch save to deny Pat Scullion two minutes later. The only sour note for Stenhousemuir was in the 79^th minute when Scullion had to be carried off after being injured in a tackle after a short pass by Willie Lyle.

 

With five minutes to go Paul Quinn a 19 year old who had been freed by St.Mirren made his debut but did not have a chance to impress. As the game drew to a close Chris McCluskey was called upon to save a long range shot and then the rebound to thwart Willie Sawyers who had looked dangerous after he came on as a substitute.

 

In the end however this was a well deserved victory for Stenhousemuir who at long last appear to be getting the cobwebs out of their system after the enforced break.   

 

Clyde –Findlay, Park [Wilson 14], McGowan, Kinniburgh, Lithgow, Stevenson [White 67], Strachan, McLachlan, Stewart [Sawyers 67], Doolan and Higgins.

Subs not used – Cassiday and Allan

 

Stenhousemuir – McCluskey, Lyle, S.Thomson [b49], Gibb, Smith, Thom, Love [b60][Quinn 85], I.Thomson, Dalziel, Scullion [Dickson 79] and Motion.

Subs not used – Stirling, Plenderleith and Bennett.

 

Referee – Craig Charleston