Clyde closing in on title rivals

Barry Ferguson - named as League 2 Manager of the Month for February - saw his side gain revenge for their shock defeat by Shire at Broadwood last week.

The win also gave the Bully Wee the perfect boost ahead of Saturday’s crunch clash with table toppers Elgin City.

Clyde started positively and Scott Linton tried his luck inside the first minute with a long-range effort which Shire keeper Richie Barnard did well to save.

Thomas Orr then forced a good save from Clyde ’keeper Marc Waters after eight minutes as both teams chased the early advantage.

After 25 minutes Orr again got a clear sight of goal but this time his effort went just over the bar.

Clyde did start to apply pressure closer to half-time and Jon Paul McGovern was too high with his effort while David Gormley’s shot produced a fine Barnard save.

It looked as though the first half would end deadlocked until injury-time when McGovern crossed from the right and David Marsh beat the Shire defence to head the ball into the net from close range past Barnard.

The action went end-to-end for a while with Orr twice forcing Waters into saves while Sean Higgins wasn’t far away with an effort which made Barnard work.

Gormley might have scored with a shot from just inside the box which flew over the bar.

But on Gormley played in Higgins who shot past Barnard to made it 2-0.

Clyde’s second goal changed the make-up of the game and gave them thtrialist John Fraser was shown a second yellowe confidence to go looking for a third.

And they put the game out of the hosts’ reach after 73 minutes when Scott Durie slotted home Gormley’s pass.

Three minutes later Shire were reduced to 10 when trialist John Fraser was shown a second yellow card.