SPFL 2: Stowe strike earns point in share of the spoils at Clyde

Posted on Monday, October 7th, 2024

Mark Stowe netted his first goal for Spartans in a share of the spoils against Clyde at New Douglas Park.

It was the visitors who came out of the traps quickly first, setting up camp in the Clyde danger area in the opening stages of the SPFL 2 clash however there was to be no requirement for the home keeper to be brought into action just yet.

Spartans continued to press with Hamish Ritchie closing down the defence, perhaps too close on one occasion where he blocked an attempted hoofed clearance from point-blank range knocking the wind out of his sails momentarily.

Mark Stowe headed towards the bye-line edging past his marker but a cheeky wee hand on his back was enough to put him slightly off balance before he could whip in a cross and danger for the hosts was once again averted.

A cross did come in from the boot of Callum Booth which found Brogan Walls on the edge of the box however the attempt wasn’t a collector’s item for the midfielder.

Blair Carswell was called upon to pull off a tremendous stop denying Jordan Allan what looked like an odds on opener for the home side after a speculative launch up the park landed in the path of the Clyde man.

Then, on the 33^rd minute mark, Spartans struck.  Mark Stowe’s turn out of the tackle on the edge of the box was followed up with a sublime effort that nestled into the bottom corner beyond Robbie Hemfrey.

It was almost two before the break when a corner into the box was met by the towering Ayrton Sonkur who could only watch as his header was cleared off the line by Ross Lyon.

Blair Carswell was then called upon when he pulled off a phenomenal stop as he tipped a Paul McKay header over the bar.

HT: Clyde FC 0-1 The Spartans

An early Spartans on the break after the interval saw Kevin Waugh mopped up an attack with a headed clearance that allowed Brogan Walls an opportunity to go on the run.  His pass found Blair Henderson who was a magnet for home defenders and found himself crowded out before he could get an on target shot out.

A neat move with Brogan Walls the architect saw Hamish Ritchie look up to let fly from 25 yards forcing the Clyde keeper into the save.

Clyde then turned defending into a counter attack and it was to bear fruit with Martin Rennie drilling low and hard beyond the despairing diving efforts of Blair Carswell, offering the home support something to cheer about.

Spartans made a double change with Rory Whittaker and Aaron Scott replacing Stowe & Walls.

Hamish Ritchie thrusted his delivery across the face of the Clyde six yard box looking for a taker to divert home however this went a-begging.

Ritchie was replaced by Danny Denholm with just under a quarter of an hour left on the clock.

With the game entering into its final stages, Blair Carswell was called upon once again when he pulled off yet another fine save to deny Craig Howie’s header.

FT: Clyde 1-1 The Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Lewis Hunter