Rangers vs Clyde Scottish Third Division Match Report

Goals from Lee Wallace, David Templeton and Dean Shiels helped Rangers claim their ninth victory in a row against Clyde.

The victory for Ally McCoist’s side sees them move 12 points clear of second place Elgin City at the top of the Third Division.

The home side made one change with Anestis Argyriou dropping out due to injury and being replaced by Ross Perry, while midfielder Shiels came back from injury to take a place on the bench. 

While Clyde boss Jim Duffy decided to stick with the same team that defeated East Stirling in their last league fixture, while young striker Stefan McCluskey was able to return to the Bully Wee bench after a prolonged layoff. 

The league leaders had the first chance of the game as Lee McCulloch received the ball on the right hand side of the area after a mistake by the Clyde defence, but visiting keeper Jamie Barclay was up to the challenge in order to diver the ball for a corner. 

Rangers opened the scoring midway through the first half as Wallace played the ball to Templeton and he returned the pass to his former Hearts teammate, who ran into the box and fired the ball past Barclay and into the net. 

McCoist’s side continued to control the game, with passing moves through the middle of the Clyde midfield, but strikes from Templeton, Kyle Hutton and Lewis McLeod couldn’t find the back of the Bully Wee goal. 

Just over five minutes from the break, Templeton doubled the Rangers lead as he claimed the ball 25 yards from goal after the ball broke to the midfielder after Hutton had lost possession; he then strode forward and curled the ball beyond the helpless Barclay. 

It continued to be one way traffic at Ibrox as McCulloch, then substitute Shiels and McLeod all tried their luck at the Clyde goal, but none of them could find a way past the former Scotland under-21 international Barclay in the Bully Wee goal. 

The three points were wrapped up when McKay found Shiels inside the area and the Northern Ireland international, who was facing away from goal, spun and struck the ball past the outstretched arms of Barclay to give the league leaders their third of the game. 

Rangers continued to pressure for the reminder of the game, but they couldn’t find a way to stretch their advantage, which has seen them claim victory in each of their games at Ibrox in the Third Division this season. 

McCoist will now take his side across Glasgow to Hampden for a derby fixture against third place Queen’s Park on Saturday.

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Source: Goal