08/01/22

Match Report | Clyde 0-1 Cove Rangers

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A screamer of a comeback goal from Iain Vigurs was enough to edge us past The Bully Wee in a close fought cinch League One encounter at Broadwood Stadium.

Midfielder Vigurs secured the three points with a stunning strike in the 70th minute to secure our eighth league win on the trot, even though we were never at our best.

Strong defending – keeper Stuart McKenzie didn’t have meaningful save to make in the whole match – made sure that goal was enough to see us end the afternoon seven points clear of second placed Montrose, who we entertain at Balmoral Stadium next Saturday.

Vigurs returned for the first time since suffering an injury in the middle of December as we were again forced to make changes because of other injuries, with skipper Mitch Megginson and midfielder Fraser Fyvie among those sidelined.

Vigurs was involved immediately, firing a corner over from the left in the second minute that was just cleared before it reached the head of Ryan Strachan.

The ball broke out to Vigurs again and this time his cross was grabbed under the crossbar by home keeper Neil Parry.

Chances were few in the first half after that, although we dominated possession.

Clyde threatened in the eighth minute, when Adam Livingstone sent a 20-yard shot wide.

We broke to the other end, where Leighton McIntosh knocked the ball into the path of Rory McAllister, but his 25-yard drive sped wide of Parry’s right post.

Our best chance of the half came in the 15th minute, when Shay Logan sent a free-kick over from the right for Morgyn Neill to send a diving header, from the edge of the six-yard box, inches wide.

We had a penalty appeal rejected by referee Steven Reid in the 22nd minute, when Harry Milne appeared to be tripped as he tried to collect a pass from McAllister.

Milne was clearly upset when the match official instead chose to book him for simulation.

McAllister was also booked soon afterwards, for a foul on Matthew Elsdon.

The referee had his book out again in the 35th minute, to caution Morgaro Gomis after he had fouled Robbie Leitch.

Clyde had the best opportunity of the half, in the 38th minute.

Rob Jones fed the ball in from the left and Ally Love should have done better than head wide from the edge of the six-yard box.

Vigurs started our next attack, with a pass to Blair Yule, who turned cleverly before blasting a 22-yard shot wide.

Clyde’s Kevin Nicoll was booked in the 42nd minute, for a foul on Vigurs.

The home side’s only shot on target came in the 43rd minute, although McKenzie had no problems gathering a long-range effort from Livingstone.

We were far better in the second period and always looked the most likely to eventually break the deadlock.

Logan created our first opportunity with a cross, from wide on the right, but Neill didn’t connect properly with his header and that left Parry with an easy save.

Milne then broke down the opposite wing and crossed to Leitch, who saw his low shot held by Parry.

McAllister won a free-kick 25-yards out, in the 56th minute.

The striker took the kick himself, but McAllister’s shot was saved by Parry.

Clyde broke forward immediately and Livingstone saw his 10-yard shot go well wide.

Logan powered up the park just after the hour, but his 22-yard drive sped over the Clyde crossbar.

We finally got the break our more adventurous approach deserved in the 70th minute.

VIGURS latched on to the ball just outside the Clyde area and then appeared to play it off a home defender before latching on to the rebound to curl a brilliant shot beyond the reach of the diving Parry.

It was a goal worthy of winning any game – and it did just that thanks to our lads standing strong against a barrage of high balls into our box in the latter stages.

The closest Clyde came to scoring was when Rob Jones met a Livingstone cross to send a looping header over the bar, in the 82nd minute, but otherwise we managed the game calmly to secure another deserved win.

CLYDE: Parry, Docherty, Elsdon, Page, Rumsby, Livingstone, Gomes, Nicoll (Cuddihy 46), Andrew (Tade 66), Love (Trialist 75) Jones.

Subs: Bradleyhurst, Munro, Balatoni, Mortimer.

COVE RANGERS: McKenzie, Neill, Milne, Strachan, Yule, McIntosh (Robertson 75), McAllister, Anderson, Vigurs, Leitch (Masson 70), Logan.

Subs: Gourlay, Adeyemo.

Referee: Steven Reid.

Article Copyright © 2022. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to www.coverangersfc.com.

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