Clyde keep top spot

Last updated : 29 August 2004 By David Worton
Clyde came to a tough venue and left with three points as their winning streak keeps going. Clyde lined up with the same eleven players who started at Airdrie United in midweek, however new signing, Aaron Conway came onto the bench, with Paul Doyle going to Montrose on loan.

Halliwell
Mensing Potter Bollan
Walker Gibson Sheridan Bryson
Kerkar
Harty Wilford

Queens had several injury problems and gave a start to big striker Chris Armstrong and chose to play young midfielder Paul Burns at rightback.

Scott
Burns Thomson Reid English
Bagan McColligan Bowey McLaughlin
McNiven Armstrong

After a typical first couple of minutes, where both teams probed to find an opening, Clyde had a glorious chance to take the lead. A good through ball from Simon Mensing released Ian Harty, but last season's leading scorer hit a low shot against Colin Scott. From the resulting corner, Mensing and Harty were unable to force home the ball in a goalmouth scramble.

Clyde's Karim Kerkar, being watched by scouts from Scotland and England, then whipped a free kick just past the post, before being substituted with an ankle injury. This gave a chance to introduce loan signing Conway, who immediately impressed with good touch and control. After a couple of near misses, Clyde took the lead in the 20th minute. Neat passing released Aron Wilford, who clipped in towards Conway. The youngster's header was blocked on the line by Jim Thomson, but Harty followed up to tap home from a couple of yards out.

Queens came back strongly, and David McNiven had one effort well saved by Bryn Halliwell, before the striker knocked a close range header over the bar, when he should have scored. Clyde still had the better chances at this point, and a cross just eluded John Potter. Queens then introduced Stephen Payne for David Bagan.

Then a Craig Bryson header was spectacularly tipped away by Scott. The final chance of the half fell to Alex Walker, who borke past a couple of players before electing to pass to Wilford, instead of shooting, and the chance was soon lost.

After the break, Queens had more of the possesion, however Clyde looked dangerous on the break. A dipping freekick by Tommy English forced Halliwell into a good save before Clyde introduced Gary Arbuckle for Aron Wilford. Arbuckle immediately had a long range shot tipped away superbly by Scott. After a couple of corners, Simon Mensing then shot over from close range.

New boy Walker was then stretchered off, after appearing to catch his studs in the turf. He was replaced by Mark Gilhaney. This led to Queens forcing Clyde right back into their half and a McNiven effort led to a stunning point-blank save from Halliwell. At the other end Conway fired just over, and Gilhaney put in a powderpuff shot when clean through. With a goal looking inevitable for Queens however, Clyde did extremely well in stoppage time, to waste almost 5 minutes in the corners of Queens half.

So, Clyde still have their 100% record. With a new defender due in on Monday,  Eddie Malone still to play and rumours of the possibility of new financial backing things are certainly looking good for the Bully Wee. New signing Conway looks a good talent, and for once Steve Bowey was kept relatively quiet by Jimmy Gibson and Darren Sheridan. Clyde will only continue to challenge at the top of the league if they get another couple of midfielders into their squad, however this probably won't happen.

Meanwhile, Queens did reasonably well with a weakened team, however lacked a bit of pace up front. With no home wins this season, they'll need to get back their excellent home record soon, or they may struggle at the bottom of the table.