Mark Stowe continued his impressive run of form in front of goal with a brace against Clyde with his double complemented by Malt & Hops Man of the Match Bradley White in a 1-3 win at New Douglas Park.
The Spartans starting XI featuring several changes from the midweek KDM Evolution Cup journey to Cove Rangers with Jamie Dishington making 350th appearance for Douglas Samuel’s side.
The game at kicked off under a blanket of blue Hamilton sky with the early exchanges favouring the hosts with a pair of headers thankfully finding their way over Paddy Martin’s crossbar.
In the 11th minute, it was Clyde who took the lead following a break from defence to attack with Taylor Sutherland providing the final touch past Martin.
It was almost a leveller moments later when James Craigan went on a run and his shot landed just inches wide of the post.
Paddy Martin was brought into action with a tremendous stop in a one-on-one situation with Sutherland to keep the score at 1-0 and that save was to prove crucial when in the 23rd minute, Mark Stowe was to break the offside trap to latch onto a long through ball before chipping the advancing Hogarth, and he looked on as he watched the ball sail into the empty net.
The home support rose to their feet, held their collective breath and clutched their scarves as Sutherland had the freedom of NDP with only Martin to beat however there was relief in the visiting technical area as his shot was high, wide and not overly handsome. A let off of gargantuan proportions and one to ponder over during the water break that followed.
Bradley Whyte weaved his way into the Clyde penalty area to forge an opportunity moments after the restart however his fierce drive was well saved by Hogarth.
Martin once again had to look rather flash to get down low and push Ross Lyon’s effort behind for a corner, which, thankfully, for Spartans materialised into nothing.
And then, with three minutes before the break, Spartans swung the pendulum in their favour with a goal from Bradley White. Jamie Dishington going for a run before threading into the path of Brogan Walls who sent a cross into the box which appeared to outfox the three static Clyde defenders and up popped Whyte to ram the ball home.
HT: Clyde 1-2 The Spartans
The teams came back out onto the pitch to the strains of SOS by ABBA an interesting choice by the home DJ as their side looked to get back on level terms after the interval.
Spartans did start livelier of the two sides in the opening of five minutes of the second half, however, the score was to remain still at 1-2.
Then Mark Stowe once again came up trumps. Breaking the offside trap he once again lofted the ball over the advancing Hogarth and kept his composure before knocking the ball into the empty net to put further the light between the teams that extend Spartans lead.
It was always a hat-trick from Stowe shortly after, however, he found Hogarth in fine form as he pulled off a decent stop to deny the Spartans man.
A couple of changes came in the 65th minute with Bailey Dall and Kieren Watson replacing Walls and Tapping.
At the other end, a long-range effort by Connell looked net bound, but for another great dive and stop from Martin who ensured that that two goal cushion remained intact.
Mark Stowe went off to a round of rapturous applause from the travelling Spartans support when he was replaced by Mackie Scott with just over 15 to play.
Clyde looked for inspiration from their bench as the game progressed however they found Spartans defence remaining resolute.
There was a further change in the latter stages when Kenzi Nair replaced the industrious Sean Welsh.
FT: Clyde 1-3 The Spartans
