Morrison
Mensing Wilson Potter Bollan
Arbuckle McCracken Bryson Valois
Conway Gilhaney
Stranraer chose to start with the pacy front pairing of Stephen Donnachie and David Graham. Ex-Clyde player Brian Crawford began the game on the bench.
McCondichie
Swift Wingate Henderson Wright
Finlayson Aitken Jenkins Sharp
Graham Donnachie
The early moments of the game saw several neat passing movements from Stranraer as they took advantage of the inexperience of Clyde's central midfield pairing. John Potter was called upon on three occasions to cut out dangerous through balls. Clyde began to settle down and won a couple of corners. From one of these Simon Mensing headed just over the crossbar. At the other end, Donnachie's snap shot was well held by Allan Morrison. Clyde's only other attempt fell to Mensing, but his neat flick was deflected over the cross bar. Overall, it was a pretty dire first half, not helped by the poor atmosphere in the stands.
The second half was a bit more lively, helped by the decision to move Simon Mensing into midfield, where he provided a bit of grit and strength. After a couple of near attempts, including a freekick by Arron Conway, Clyde took the lead with the one moment of real class in the game. Valois picked the ball up 30 yards from goal, cut inside, and delivered a swerving effort into the top corner of McCondichie's net. This led to a period of domination for Clyde and Gilhaney should have done better with a pullback towards Mensing.
Stranraer then gave everything to try and get an equaliser and they had a David Graham goal ruled out after Morrison dropped the ball, after a slight nudge from another Stranraer player. It was harsh to award the free kick, I know how I would've felt if the same thing had happened to Clyde. Their one other chance fell to Graham, who's snap shot was tipped over by Morrison.
After a penalty shout was turned away, Clyde sprung to the other end of the pitch and a superb run from Gilhaney was only denied by a good save from McCondichie.
At full time, Stranraer were notably saddened but they should do well in division two this season. Clyde will be pleased to come through a cup-tie without several of their first team. Only Potter, Bryson and my MoM Simon Mensing player particularly well, the rest of the team was average. However, in games like this, it's the result that counts and Clyde showed once again, that they don't like being beaten.