East Stirling News Update
Shire christened their new third kit in support of Parkinson’s UK, with a 2-1 victory over Clyde to continue the 100% away record.
After a goalless first half, Shire started the second half perfectly when Max Wright found the top corner from close range. Clyde equalised when John Sweeney’s 30 yard strike bounced off the underside, and just over the line. However, Shire quickly regained the lead with a Wright shot from six yards. Other results meant that Shire ended the day top of the league, two points ahead of Berwick Rangers.
John Coughlin made one change from the Peterhead defeat, bringing Scott Maxwell in for Kevin Turner. It was the first game for both sides since the international break and that showed in the first half, with both sides failing to create many chances.
Clyde carried the dangerous long throw threat, and Shire had to defend their first in the 19th minute. Sweeney’s throw was flicked on by Brian McQueen at the near post, but Scott Ferguson’s header hit the far post.
Shire’s first shot on target came in the 26th minute when a Shire cross was cleared to Graeme MacGregor whose drilled shot was well saved by Jamie Barclay.
With the first half coming to an end, Shire nearly took the lead. Iain Thomson’s free kick could only be cleared to David Greenhill, who found Quinn free in the left side of the box, but his powerful volley was parried wide.
Shire came out for the second half with more determination and it paid off immediately. A Maxwell free kick found Chris Townsley whose header was cleared off the line, but Shire worked the ball back to Townsley, whose cross to the far post was headed in by Wright.
Clyde responded to going a goal down. A Bully Wee free kick from the halfway line found Daly completely unmarked, but he headed wide. But Shire kept pressing for a second, and Michael Bolochoweckyj headed agonisingly over from a corner. Another Shire corner in the 59th minute reached the far post where Quinn could only head into the side netting.
Clyde’s long throw was brought out again in the 63rd minute, with Daly heading over the crossbar.
Bolochoweckyj then misjudged the bounce of a long ball, which allowed Stefan McCluskey to rob the ball and run into the box but his effort was tipped round the post by Hay.
Then came two talking points from refereeing decisions. Paul Quinn managed to flick the ball onto the path of David Greenhill who went down in the box under the challenge of Gray. The ref O’Reilly pointed instantly to the spot, but then under discussion with his assistant referee, he decided that Gray just won the ball.
This spurred Clyde into life and five minutes late they got their equaliser. Brown laid the ball off to Sweeney who from 30 yards blasted the ball which smashed against the crossbar and bounced just over the line. Despite protests from the Shire players, the assistant was sure the ball crossed the line.
However, it took Shire just two minutes to retake the lead. A Thomson free kick was cleared only to Greenhill, who then found Wright free who poked past the closing Barclay. Shire nearly got a third by repeating the Clyde goal, but this time Michael McGowan’s shot clipped the crossbar and went over.
Clyde laid the Shire box under siege for the final 10 minutes. McCluskey cut off the left wing and was allowed to run across the edge of the box unchallenged, and his curling shot only just went wide of the right post.
McCluskey’s pass split MacGregor and Townsley and McColm’s cross found Pat Scullion free from 10 yards but his two shots were both blocked by brave Shire defending. A Ferguson free kick found McCluskey free in the box, but a fantastic sliding tackle from Bolochoweckyj denied him the chance. McCluskey’s right wing cross nearly found McColm at the far post, but MacGregor just did enough to distract him.
With full time beckoning, Shire nearly gifted the Bully Wee an equaliser. Ferguson’s cross deflected off McKechnie’s back, and Hay tried to stop the ball going for a corner. However, Kevin Watt just stole the ball, and his cross found Scullion on the six yard line with Hay stranded, but under pressure he could only shoot wide.
Teams
Shire: Hay, MacGregor, McGowan, Townsley, Bolochoweckyj, Thomson, McKechnie, Greenhill (Miller 90), Quinn (Glasgow 78), Maxwell (Turner 73), Wright.
Unused Subs: McCaughie, Kelly, Wilson, Gordon.
Clyde: Barclay, Brown, McDonald, Gray, McQueen, Frances (McCluskey 55), Ferguson, Sweeney, Daly (Watt 83), McBeth (Scullion 78), McColm.
Unused Subs: Capuano, Dickie, Orrick, Rajovic
Ref: Stevie O’Reilly