Stirling headed along the M80 for their final game of the season against Cumbernauld side Clyde. With the Binos future being decided back in March the game didn’t really have any meaning for the Binos but for Clyde it meant everything as they needed a win to keep themselves in with a chance of avoiding the relegation play-off spot but their fate wasn’t entirely in their hands as Morton were taking on Partick Thistle at Firhill and if Morton won their game it would almost certainly guarantee them to be clear of the play-off spot but nothing is that simple as for Clyde to avoid the play-offs they needed to score 2 more goals than Morton or hope that Partick Thistle could score 2 goals against Morton. So Clyde were out looking for the win.

The Binos started todays game with no changes to the starting lineup that played St. Johnstone mid-week, he only change was on the bench where Gary Muir was replaced by John Paul McBride. On a windy day at Broadwood it was the Binos who got things under way, but having the kick off didn’t help Stirling as it was Clyde who looked more lively and a cross from Billy Gibson was knocked onto the back post and nearly knocked in by David McKay but it just went whistling past the wrong side of the post and out for a goal kick.

Clyde had another chance moments later to take the lead when Bino Stewart Devine gifted them a chance to get into the Stirling box with Gary McSwegan only managing a weak shot directly at Scott Christie. Clyde continued with the onslaught to the Stirling goal as McSwegan forced Christie to make a excellent save from his low strike.

Stirling had their first meaningful chance on goal when Stevie Bell managed a good run through Clyde’s defensive ranks avoiding the desperate tackles of the Clyde midfield and defense as Bell entered the box he was denied a chance to get his shot off when he was brought down by a well timed challenge that so easily could have been a penalty. Both teams didn’t look like they were going to score despite the number of chances that went past and the football that was on show wasn’t much of a spectacle due to the windy conditions and the poor condition of the pitch it was turning into more of a hit and hope match.

Clyde had another chance on goal when McSwegan managed to catch Nathan Taggart out and as he got away from Taggart he managed to swing in a cross to Pat Clarke who couldn’t really get a hold of the ball and sent his effort wide of the mark. Clyde were the first team to make a change when Jimmy Gibson went off injured and was replaced by Marvyn Wilson. Stirling nearly fell victim to former Rangers star Jorg Albertz when he managed to drill a shot at the Stirling goal, luckily for the Binos Albertz’s shot just went shooting past the left hand post.

With the first half drawing to a close it was looking like Stirling were going to be giving clyde some serious worries for the second half but with the last play of the half somehow Scott Christie ended up sliding out of his box after gathering a long clearance from the Clyde half and as Christe went over the line he released the ball directly into the path of Gary McSwegan who calmly collected the ball and rounded Christie and tapped the ball into the open goal to give Clyde the lead at half-time.

Half-time: Clyde 1 v 0 Stirling Albion.

Clyde made their second change of the game just before the restart when Clyde boss John Brown took off Jorg Albertz and on came Michael McGowan. Well after the last minute mistake by Scott Christie in the first half you wouldn’t think that there would be another mistake made so soon into the second half but you’d be wrong as Stewart Devine made a poor pass that was soon picked up by Michael McGowan who crossed to Pat Clarke and Clarke made no hesitation with his shot and sent it into the back of the net to double Clyde’s lead. Clyde were now in control of the game as the Binos confidence had all but gone. Clyde made their final change when Gary McSwegan went off and on came Gary Arbuckle.

The Binos were beginning to look tired and as the well laid plans of Allan Moore started to fall apart, frustration set in. Chris Aitken had a chance to get Stirling back into the game but his shot was well wide of David Hutton’s right hand post. Allan Moore made his first change of the game when he took off the underperforming Stewart Devine and brought on John Paul McBride. Stirling had another chance to get back into the game as referee awarded a free kick to te Binos after Marvyn Wilson went in late on Chris Aitken, Wilson was booked for his troublesome ways and up stepped the Stirling Skipper to take the kick and his shot nearly did get the Binos back in the game but the shot was cruelly deflected out for a corner.

Things were looking better for the Bino’s when David McKenna managed to collect a Steven Bell pass and guide it into the back of the net but unluckily for McKenna and the Bino’s it was chalked of the scoreboard for offside. Clyde nearly finished the Binos off when David McKay managed to get on the end of a corner but his effort was bounced into the groung and went up and over the cross bar.

Stevie Bell may have been making his last appearance for the Bino’s in today’s match but he was wanting to go out in style as he managed to put a good run together ending with a pass to Jay Rodriguez who managed to get a shot at David Hutton but the Clyde keeper managed to hold on to Rodriguez’s effort. Another defensive error nearly cost the Binos as John Paul McBride and Paul Nugent left clearing the ball and let Clyde’s Gary Arbuckle get through on a one on one with Scott Christie but the young keeper managed to clear th ball and save the Stirling defense from another humiliating goal.

As time moved on it Allan Moore decided he would change things around as he replaced Ross Harris with Colin Cramb to go three up front and it nearly paid off as Cramb set up Stevie Bell for a shot on goal but Bell’s effort dipped to late and just went over the bar. Up the other end Clyde’s David McKay was booked for diving in the penalty area. Stirling made their final change of the game as David McKenna was replaced by Paul Murphy.

Things didn’t get any better for the Bino’s as Billy Gibson thought he would have a go at getting Clyde’s third but his effort went narrowly out past Scott Christies left hand post. Andy Graham was soon getting the attention of referee Callum Murray as he brought down Gary Arbuckle, from the free kick Steve Masterton had a excellent chance to exploit the Stirling defense but Scott Christie had enough time to react to the shot as he calmly gathered the shot.

By now it was looking well and truly over for Stirling and it was all but confirmed when Pat Clarke broke into the Stirling box and was caught by Andy Graham and without hesitation the referee was pointing to the penalty spot. Up stepped Pat Clarke to double his tally and score Clyde’s third as he struck the penalty low and to the left of Scott Christie.

Clyde started to ease the pressure on the Stirling defense as they were well in the lead and after a rumor that Partick Thistle had scored two against Morton went from the back of the Clyde stand to the touchline and onto the pitch Clyde boss John Brown was shouting to his players that they were nearly there and they only needed one more to clinch first division survival and that goal nearly came when Ruari MacLennan forced Scott Christie to make one of his best saves of his career as he tipped the shot over the bar. Paul Murphy and Stevie Bell picked up late bookings for the Binos.

The final action of the half came from John Paul McBride who managed to send a shot across the Clyde goal. As the referee called time to the Bino’s season it was the Stirling fans who had the last laugh as Clyde found out that they didn’t avoid the play-offs as Partick Thistle didn’t score two goals against Morton. The final score at Firhill was Partick Thistle 0 v 3 Morton and that left Clyde with a bitter pill to swallow as they were heading for a play-off tie with second division side Alloa Athletic. So that is the end of a long disapointing Season for the Bino’s and hopefully things will be better next season for the club. See you all next season for out second division campaign.

Full-time: Clyde 3 v 0 Stirling Albion.

A final reminder though there is still one very important match to go this season at Forthbank as next week it is the ‘Supporters Club Classic’ so why not come along to Forthbank next Saturday for the FINAL game of the season and watch a entertaining game between the fans.

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