Clyde 0 Stirling 1

Sandy Cunningham scored the only goal as we beat Clyde at Broadwood to claim our third win of the season.

Despite the narrow scoreline, this was a richly-deserved victory for Stuart McLaren’s men, who produced their best performance of the season so far.

We should have won by a greater margin but missed several clear-cut chances and there were an anxious final few minutes after Craig Comrie was sent off for a second booking but keeper Chris Smith had a quiet afternoon.

Injury kept out skipper Ross McMillan and Lee Hamilton but Kevin McKinlay returned to the side and Sean Dickson was fit enough for a place on the bench.

There was a first start for David Verlaque at right wing-back and he was excellent in a terrific all-round team display that brought only our second shut-out of 2015.

Clyde included ex-Binos Jon Paul McGovern and Chris Smith as we made our first visit to Cumbernauld since a 1-0 reverse in March 2014.

Mark Lamont passed up a great early opportunity when he was denied by keeper John Gibson but we always looked the more likely team to score and Cunningham netted his third goal of the season with a composed finish on the half-hour mark after good work by Steven Doris and Verlaque.

Doris failed to hit the target with a close-range header from a perfect Lamont cross then another Lamont delivery was nodded against the upright by Verlaque as half-time approached.

The former Morton defender sliced a shot wide at the far post early in the second period as Clyde struggled to put us under any pressure.

Comrie was red carded for a second booking with five minutes to go then Doris was clean through in the last minute but Gibson made the save.

U20 midfielder Robbie McNab made his debut as a stoppage-time sub but there was still time for Clyde to find the net – thankfully the flag was up and we held on for a crucial win to gain revenge for defeat to Barry Ferguson’s men on the opening day.

Clyde: Gibson, M McLaughlin, Andrews (Campbell 46), Smith, Mitchell, McGovern (Marsh 81), S McLaughlin, Linton (Brisbane 34), S Higgins, Ferguson, Gormley.
Subs (not used): Murray, A Higgins, Robb, McMillan (GK).

Stirling Albion: C Smith, Mazel, McKinlay, McGeachie, R Smith, Verlaque, Lamont (Dickson 80), Comrie, Doris (McNab 90), Cunningham (Lander 72), Forsyth.
Subs (not used): McKenzie, Kavanagh, Stevenson, Binnie (GK).

Referee: Mike Roncone

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