Stirling sunk by flowing Clyde

Stirling Albion 1 Clyde 2 ALLAN MAITLAND's side are on a roll. After a slow start to the season Clyde have hoisted themselves among the leaders in a division where most teams could yet claim a coveted top three place.

In an often bruising encounter at Forthbank, Clyde showed their resilience to recover from the loss of an early goal and by the end they were well in control. That was despite being reduced to 10 men when Brian Carrigan received his second yellow card of the day in the celebrations that followed his 50th minute winner.

Ally Graham had put Stirling ahead with a trademark header on 19 minutes but Mark McLaughlin levelled for Clyde seven minutes before the break.

Stirling must come to dread these fixtures. They might have gone into this game as the top scorers in Division Two but lately they have failed miserably and often against Clyde. Indeed this was the Broadwood side's sixth straight win over Albion, a remarkable sequence which owes much to their physical presence and direct style of play which is hugely effective.

That is not to suggest that Clyde are without talent. In Allan Grant they possess a winger of undoubted ability and as early as the first minute he robbed Paul Mortimer to set up John Barrett whose powerful shot was turned round the post by former Hibs goalkeeper Jason Gardiner. Later Grant was denied a goal of his own by the boot of Stirling player-manager John Philliben who had scuttled back to clear his effort off the line.

Stirling were not without their moments, particularly in the first half. On 14 minutes Craig Taggart rattled the crossbar and soon after Darren Murray smuggled a Graham header off the line.

The big striker, though, was not to be denied, outjumping everyone to head a David McCallum corner past Dave Wylie on 19 minutes, thus maintaining his place at the top of the Division's scoring charts.

You always felt Albion's defence, who are matched in generosity only by Queen of the South, would crumble at some point. So it was no surprise to see Mark McLaughlin guide a header into the top corner from Carrigan's free kick seven minutes before the break.

Certainly Albion don't have their problems to seek at the back. Brian Martin's recent departure to Partick Thistle limits the options, a situation made worse when Graeme Donald hobbled off having been clattered by Carrigan in only 20 minutes.

In a tempestuous affair it was Clyde who held their nerve. Five minutes into the second half Carrigan nodded Alan Grant's cross past Gardiner and although he was subsequently dismissed for a seemingly innocuous offence, Clyde possessed the guile to hold on.

McGrillen and Graham might have snatched and equaliser but Clyde were good value for the points. With last season's top scorer Steve Convery returning after a long lay-off they will surely go from strength to strength.

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