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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Andy McGilvray

Clyde 1, Airdrie 5: McGill at the double as Airdrie strengthen play-off place

Free-scoring Airdrie strengthened their play-off position in League One with a comfortable win over Clyde in a pulsating game at New Douglas Park.

A Gabby McGill double and wonder-strikes from Justin Devenny, Adam Frizzell and Callum Smith cancelled out Kyle Doherty's leveller at 1-1 as the Diamonds moved up to third in the table, at least temporarily.

Airdrie are on blistering form just now and have scored an incredible 18 goals in their last three games.

Clyde, who are battling it out with Peterhead for the play-off slot at the bottom of the table, simply didn't have an answer against their more clinical opponents.

McGill's double either side of Devenny's wonder-strike had the Diamonds looking good by half-time.

Doherty had bagged his first goal for Clyde to level at 1-1, and the hosts definitely looked threatening on occasions.

But Airdrie pretty much continued where they left off in the second half, while Clyde huffed and puffed.

It took just one minute and 12 seconds for Airdrie to get off the mark, with McGill smashing the ball home after Callum Smith was flattened on the edge of the box.

Clyde drew level in 10 minutes with Doherty's first goal for the club.

But Airdrie are on red-hot form and Devenny slammed an unstoppable shot into the net, before McGill scrambled in his second of the game to put the Diamonds into a commanding lead.

It was Frizzell's turn for an unstoppable shot in 69 minutes as Airdrie exerted their dominance, before Smith added a late fifth.

Clyde boss Jim Duffy made three changes from the side that lost 3-1 at Alloa last Saturday. Ryan McGeever, Jon Craig and Ross Cunningham came in for Brian McLean, Rico Quitongo and Darren Hynes.

Gabby McGill got Airdrie off the mark in 1 minute and 12 seconds, with a second goal to follow in the first half (John Steven)

Airdrie gaffer Rhys McCabe made one change from the side that hammered basement side Peterhead 7-0 last weekend, bringing himself in at the expense of Aaron Taylor-Sinclair.

Airdrie got off to the best possible start with the opener in 1 minute 12 seconds! A neat move down the right looked like ending when Callum Smith was taken down on the edge of the box, but McGill seized possession and smashed a shot into the right corner for his 12th goal of the season.

Clyde tried to draw level in nine minutes with a good move of their own, but Barry Cuddihy's powerful shot was well blocked by Josh Rae at the expense of a corner.

Kurtis Roberts' corner picked out Cammy Salkeld and his shot/cross fell to Doherty to smash home at the far post corner in 10 minutes.

But Airdrie pulled back in front four minutes later when a good move down the left picked out Devenny and he unleashed a thunderbolt into the top left corner.

Adam Frizzell sent Devenny through again with a terrific ball in 27 minutes but this time Neil Parry blocked well.

Clyde's Salkeld had a go from about 25 yards in 29 minutes, but sent his effort sailing narrowly over the bar.

A neat ball through from Smith sent Calum Gallagher through on goal, but he fired wide of the right post in 36 minutes.

Airdrie players took a commanding lead into the interval (John Steven)

But Airdrie bagged their third and McGill's second of the game 60 seconds later when Craig Watson's low cross caused havoc in the Clyde box, a defender nearly scored an own-goal, but McGill scrambled the ball into the right corner.

Clyde nearly replied instantly, but Ross Cunningham's shot was well saved by Rae.

The hosts came flying out the traps in the second half but couldn't make any real inroads, and the first real chance fell to Salkeld, who fired over from distance in 55 minutes.

Smith set up Gallagher for a chance in 64 minutes but the striker didn't quite catch his shot and Parry saved comfortably enough.

Adan Frizzell added a fourth goal for Airdrie in the second half (John Steven)

Frizzell added a fourth in 69 minutes when he picked up the ball in the right corner of the box and arrowed a shot into the far post top corner.

Gallagher sent McGill through for his hat-trick in 82 minutes, but he dragged his shot wide of the left post corner.

Smith added the fifth with a minute to go when his deflected shot landed in the bottom right corner.

CLYDE: Parry, Lyon, Sula, McGeever, Craig, Salkeld (McDonald, 80), Roberts, Cuddihy (Sculliion, 66), Cunningham (Duthie, 80), Rennie (Cameron, 80), Doherty.

Subs (not used): Mullen (GK), McLean, Thicot, Hynes.

AIRDRIE: Rae, Ballantyne, McCabe, Fordyce, Watson, Frizzell (Stanway, 82), McMaster (Telfer, 72), Devenny, McGill, Gallagher (Kouider,-Aissa, 90), Smith.

Subs (not used): Hutton (GK), McGregor, Deveney, Dixon, Byrd.

Referee: Peter Stuart.

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