Clyde 1-3 Stirling

Feb 3 2008 Alan Mcmillan Reports

ALLAN MOORE was bowled over by his battling Binos as they gave themselves a chance of First Division survival.

The manager took his squad bowling on Thursday night instead of training and it paid off as they dug deep to win a tense basement scrap.

Stirling are still six-points behind second-bottom Clyde but their first away league win of the season will give them hope of beating the drop.

Nathan Taggart shot them ahead with skipper Chris Aitken bagging both a penalty and a free-kick to seal the points. Shaun Fagan notched a late penalty for lacklustre Clyde.

Moore said: "There would have been a mountain to climb had we lost this one - now it's just a hill.

"With the weather and the difficulties in arranging training we took them bowling on Thursday night and they absolutely loved it. In fact, now we've won an away game they want to go every week. I might have to buy a pair of bowling shoes, although I was rubbish at it.

"We are still favourites to go down but the spirit in the squad is superb and we have players who will fight to the death to stay in this league."

This was John Brown's first game in complete charge of Clyde but he saw it from the stand due to a touchline ban carried over from when he was a coach at Rangers.

He saw Pat Clarke - his new striker from Cowdenbeath - fire a long range shot over the bar.

Clyde felt they should have had a penalty when Gary Arbuckle went down in the box but ref Crawford Allen wasn't impressed.

Brian Allison came to Stirling's rescue when he headed Arbuckle's deflected effort off the line.

Clyde sent on Shaun Fagan and Kevin Bradley after half-time for Michael McGowan and Ruari MacLennan.

Stirling took the lead in 54 minutes when Nathan Taggart burst clear and fired in a shot in off the post.

Three minutes later Myles Hogarth pulled off a great save to keep out Billy Gibson's header.

Aitken put Stirling 2-0 ahead in 66 minutes with a penalty after Neil McGregor had fouled David McKenna.

He then struck again in 78 minutes with a superb 30-yard free-kick.

Clyde pulled one back a minute later when Fagan netted from the spot after Gibson was brought down.

David McGowan struck again for Clyde only to have it ruled out for offside.

Clyde boss Brown said: "We've lost six goals at home in the last two games and that's unacceptable.

"A few of the players are out of contract in the summer and if they keep playing like that they'll be out of work.

"I've told them a few home truths and if there's no reaction it's a problem."

MoM: Aitken (Stirling)