Keogh starts Clyde's goal flow; 4; CLYDE; 1; STIRLING ALBION

THERE are few certainties in the Second Division these days but Clyde beating Stirling Albion is one of them.

At the end of a week of shock results this fixture was never likely to spring a surprise. In fact, this was Clyde's seventh straight win over Stirling in the space of just 18 months.

Alan Maitland's side extended their unbeaten sequence to 14 games with a routine victory and First Division football after an absence of six seasons now seems a near certainty for Clyde whose lead at the top of the table is surely unassailable.

What is frightening for the rest of the league is that Clyde achieved the win without ever reaching the heights of which they are capable. Even so, a double from midfielder Pat Keogh inside 12 minutes had settled this match before the break.

We might all as well have gone home at that point since Clyde, who had conceded only three league goals at Broadwood all season, were hardly likely to surrender to a Stirling side short of confidence following goal-less and consecutive defeats.

Both teams had defied a glue-pot pitch and sweeping snow showers to provide a bright opening to the proceedings with Stirling goalkeeper Garry Gow denying Ritchie McCusker before John McQuade almost opened the scoring for the visitors after a meandering run from midfield.

Clyde had barely showed the form which won Maitland January's manager of the month award but they showed prowess in front of goal when it mattered.

In 33 minutes Brian Carrigan swung in a corner from the left and although the ball was missed by Tom Woods, Keogh was on hand to bundle it over the line. Carrigan also played a role in the second goal when his fierce shot was parried by Gow before Keogh lashed the rebound high into the net.

You always felt Stirling lacked the self-belief to mount a recovery and that was confirmed midway through the second-half when player-manager John Philliben (making a rare appearance) up-ended winger Allan Grant inside the penalty area allowing Carrigan to score his 17th goal of the season from the spot.

Albion included Alex Bone, on loan from Ayr United, and the striker, who averaged a goal every other game in his previous stint with the club, looked sharp when he was given the ball. It was his awareness that picked out McQuade who fairly belted the ball past David Wylie for an 80th minute consolation goal.

But Clyde had the last word. Former Forfar forward Martin McLauchlan raced clear to tuck the ball under Gow in the final minute.

Chris Wood protested too loudly at a possible off-side and was promptly red-carded by the referee. For Stirling things just seemed to get worse and worse but Clyde will surely relish the challenge posed by Hearts in Saturday's Scottish Cup tie here.

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