Clyde v Annan Athletic

Recap

Clyde once again suffered a home defeat as Annan Athletic came to Broadwood Stadium and claimed all three points with a clinical display.

The Bully Wee made three personnel changes to the side which drew at East Stirlingshire, with Marc McCusker, Stuart Mills and Connor Stevenson coming into the line-up. The biggest change was a switch to a 352 formation, with Adam Strachan playing just behind McCusker and Mills.

Annan Athletic fielded ex-Clyde star Ian Harty but it was midfielder Bryan Gilfillan who made an early impression with a goal after just 6 minutes. A neat turn away from Ally Park bought him half a yard inside the box and his shot crept under the arm of J.C. Hutchison into the net.

Clyde threatened a leveller soon after as Mills flicked the ball on for strike partner McCusker, who raced past Andy Aitken before seeing his shot from a tight angle saved by Jamieson. However, in this early part of the match all of the play was coming from the away side and Gilfillan saw a powerful shot tipped over the bar from Hutchison after a terrific burst forward by Aaron Muirhead.

A good move from the Bully Wee ended with a cross from Kevin Finlayson that was headed towards goal by Mills, only for Jamieson to make an excellent save to his right. However, Clyde then suffered a blow as captain Adam Strachan was replaced by John Sweeney with the midfielder holding his stomach.

Gilfillan was the man looking most likely to score a second goal and Hutchison again did well to tip away his free kick. However, the substitution signalled a change in Clyde’s performance and they started to force the play. Alan Lithgow saw an effort blocked on the line after Jamieson had flapped at a corner, before McCusker was denied a penalty following a high challenge by Neilson.

At half-time, Annan introduced Bryan Felvus for the disappointing Harty and the substitute almost made an immediate impact with a volley that just dipped over the bar. Once more though, the pressure built towards the away team’s goal but like Berwick and Albion Rovers, Annan were able to keep the Bully Wee at bay. The best chance fell to substitute Bryan Dingwall but he volleyed over the cross bar from 6 yards after a throw-in by Sweeney.

This proved to be costly as Annan sealed the three points with a second goal that Clyde will be disappointed with. From a long ball forward, Felvus managed to hold off Ross McMillan and Murray Henderson, before slotting past Hutchison and give his team a crucial advantage.

The next chance fell to Clyde as Sweeney’s shot was fumbled by Jamieson but Aitken did superbly to block Mills’ follow-up. Ally Park then saw his close range shot saved but Annan really should have added a third on the break as Halsman hit the post with a powerful shot, before David Cox’s rebound was well blocked by Hutchison.