Scrappy game ends in a goalless draw

Last updated : 07 November 2004 By David Worton
Clyde went to Love Street yesterday having lost only one away league game this year, a 3-1 reverse to ICT. The home side, had lost only one home game, on the 3rd of January, against Clyde. So perhaps it wasn't surprising that the match ended as a draw.

Clyde brought Scott Wilson and Eddie Malone back into the side, replacing Alex Walker and Aron Wilford. Bryn Halliwell and Jimmy Gibson were both fit, despite struggling before the match with shoulder and neck injuries respectively.

Halliwell
Mensing Potter Wilson Bollan
Bryson Gibson Sheridan Malone
Harty Gilhaney

St Mirren were without big striker Mixu Paatelainen and chose to leave Allan Russell, who scored last weekend, on the bench alongside ex-Clyde youngster John Baird.

Hinchcliffe
McGowne Millen Broadfoot
Van Zanten Reilly O'Neill Murray Lappin
McGinty Gillies

The first half was pretty much a non-event. For Clyde, Eddie Malone and Jimmy Gibson both had efforts blocked and Craig Bryson left the pitch to be replaced by Gary Arbuckle, with a slight shoulder injury. At the other end, St Mirren had a good shout for a penalty turned down when Gary Bollan caught O'Neill in the box, but television evidence later proved that John Rowbotham got this decision correct.

The second half was much more lively. Simon Lappin's dipping cross was well blocked by Bryn Halliwell after Bollan had left it. From then on, all of the best chances fell to the Bully Wee. Harty and Wilford linked well and this saw Darren Sheridan fizz in a low effort which Hinchcliffe did well to stop. Then a loose ball ran kindly to Wilford but he sliced wide with a gaping goalmouth infront of him. To be fair he had to make his mind up quickly, but he should have done a lot better. Finally, a low cross by Harty was taken away from Malone by Wilford as the left-sided player was about to pull the trigger. Again, there should have been a shout from Malone, so it wasn't all Wilford's fault. The other main action of the half, involved two very bad tackles. Firstly, Andy Millen smashed straight into Mark Gilhaney with his elbow. Then Clyde's Wilson put in a terrible tackle on McGinty, which led to a 21 man brawl. Both should have seen redcards.

Before the game, I would have taken a point. Teams like St Johnstone, Falkirk and Partick Thistle have all lost in Paisley and in the end, a draw was a fair result. Clyde have only conceded 6 goals this season, a superb record.

As far as good performers go, Simon Lappin did well for St Mirren Eddie Malone and Gary Bollan both played well for Clyde. My Man of the Match however, was Jimmy Gibson. After a poor start to the season, in the last two games Gibson has returned to his excellent form of last season. Gibson is the player who can spot that killer pass and his return to form is crucial if Clyde want to stay near the top of the league.