since you're really new i would start with cleaning the Mass Air Flow Sensor. It located on the intake plumbing on teh passenger side of teh engine bay. Its metal and you have to use a special cleaner on it (mass air flow cleaner, $5 from any part store)
use the same cleaner to clean the intake air temperature sensor (its a small plug in the upper part of the intake tube on the passenger side)
buy a can of throttle body cleaner (also about $5.00 from any parts store) and clean the throttle body opening, but not past the butterfly flap. The throttle body is the large, square shaped metal part on the very top of the motor that the intake plumbing goes into.
replace all your spark plugs. I suggest getting copper plugs. whatever ford says is stock...
i suggest cleaning your battery terminals with a backing soda/water mix then applying petrolium jelly to the terminals (after you dry them with a rag) and placing on new felt washers.
I suggest changing your oil and filter.
I suggest replacing your air filter. (paper will work fine temporaroly.)
i suggets chaning your fuel filter ( located above the gas tank, two hoses pop off, new filter in, 2 hoses pop on, new c-clips)
i suggest running preium gas with sea foam ($10 from auto parts store) in it for a single tank of gas.
i suggest making sure exhaust gas is getting out of both exhaust tips... a catalytic converter could be clogged.
I suggest running a compression test on each cyliner (buy a gauge at any auto parts store)
i suggest changing your tranny fluid. bottom plug drains (passenger side, next to front catalitic converter) top plug fills (above bottom plug)
i suggest adjusting your clutch (put the car in first gear, turn off the motor and pull on the clutch petal (toward you) like tehre is no tomorrow, then slowly press the petal back in.)
i suggest changing your belt ($15 from auto part store) push tensionr down (toward drivers side of the car) and pull the belt off the alternator... replace belt in same pattern that it is currently on there.
i think tis an air problem, or a fuel problem. this will help rule out many of the issues that it could be. Im also thinking it could be a slipping clutch.
that should be a good start for ya....