SPFL 2: Armstrong strike shares the spoils against Clyde

Posted on Sunday, January 28th, 2024

After the glamour of Scottish Cup television exploits against Premiership opposition, Spartans and Clyde were back to the bread and butter of SPFL 2 league action.

With Jordan Tapping on the treatment table Paul Watson was the only change from the starting XI that took Hearts to injury time just seven days earlier.

Clyde unveiled their latest signing Chris McGinn as the team bus drew up to Ainslie Park, into the squad who were seeking their first away win of the campaign.

Not often (surely this will be the last) rapper Jay-Z and Spartans will be noted in the same sentence as both had 99 Problems – that being in the shape Jordan Allan who wore the number on the back of his shirt.

Within moments of the kick-off he was in on goal however it took the heroics of Blair Carswell to deny the visitors from an opening minute lead.

They didn’t have to wait long however and after four minutes, it was Jordan Allan who got himself onto the end of Ross Lyon’s through ball and he nudged it beyond the spread-eagled Carswell and looked on as it trundled into the bottom corner.

There was an early unscheduled swap in the Spartans defence when Callum Booth retired injured and was replaced by Danny Denholm.

Midway through the half, the sides were level.  A patient build up from the hosts saw 17 passes made, filter through every outfield player in the process.  Danny Denholm’s sublime control from Ayrton Sonkur’s long ball / challenge outcome allowed him to slide the ball to Blair Henderson inside the box.

Henderson then sent the ball back inside to Rhys Armstrong on the edge of the box who unleashed an unstoppable drive beyond Jack Leighfield to delight the home fans within the 531 crowd.

Clyde, who have put in a recent series of performances that certainly don’t match their league position were keen to retain their lead and a succession of corners kept the home defence on their toes.

Kevin Waugh was then called upon to make a timely and crucial tackle as the half drew to a close, putting in a solid block that saw the Skipper offer some feedback to his colleagues to consider over the half time oranges.

HT: The Spartans 1-1 Clyde FC

Clyde were first to offer a threat a goal after the team returned from the sheds, with Liam Scullion looking on as his effort clipped the crossbar.

There was frustration in the home ranks as Kieran Watson had his shirt pulled back by Robbie Leitch as the Clyde player took a seat on the synthetic surface.  Best way to get your hands on a Spartans strip legitimately is via the Club Shop.

Blair Henderson then came close to scoring when his diving header flashed narrowly wide midway through the half.

The next quarter of an hour saw both sides work industriously to break each other down, but that final touch was proving to the elusive.

Spartans made a double change with just under ten to go, Sean Brown and Sam Newman replacing Rhys Armstrong and Kieran Watson.

One final half chance for Spartans came at the death however Bradley Whyte’s cross appeared to hang in the hoolie swirling round the Ainslie Park arena and was plucked from the air by Jack Leighfield ahead of Blair Henderson.

FT: The Spartans 1-1 Clyde

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Rhys Armstrong