Clyde v Annan Athletic

Recap

Clyde’s nine-match unbeaten run came to an end this afternoon, as divisional rivals Annan Athletic struck late to avenge last month’s defeat and eliminate The Bully Wee from this year’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup at the second round stage.

Darren Young made a trio of changes for the tie, with Brian Kinnear starting between the sticks, Darren Hynes returning from a recent injury and Scott Williamson coming in to lead the line. Jamie Bradley was unavailable, per the terms of his loan agreement, with Logan Dunachie missing due to illness.

Clyde shaded the opening exchanges and should’ve led within the first quarter of an hour. Kyle Connell’s first-minute effort from range was deflected just wide of the post whilst Mouhamed Niang had a shot blocked in a packed Annan box, but the biggest chance fell to the former. James Hilton’s through ball sent the forward one-on-one with visiting ‘keeper Gio Clarke, but Connell was indecisive as he strode into the box and the chance went begging.

The hosts were made to pay for that almost immediately, as a ball into their box was cushioned nicely for visiting player/manager Willie Gibson to fire into the bottom corner via Kinnear’s fingertips. Clyde soon had it all to do when Annan doubled their advantage, with sloppy defending from a corner gifting Aidan Smith the simplest of tasks from close range. It went from bad to worse for Darren Young as Sam Campbell was forced off with an injury, resulting in Niang having to deputise for him in the back line for the remainder of the match.

The half time break came at a good time for the home side after the visitors spurned a number of presentable chances to put the tie to bed, although Taylor Sutherland perhaps should’ve pulled one back when he slid an effort past Clarke’s far post.

The on-loan Dunfermline attacker didn’t let that miss get to him, however, as he gave Clyde a lifeline ten minutes after the interval. Williamson found Hilton with a searching ball from deep and the latter slipped a pass through to Sutherland, who composed himself before bending the ball around Clarke and into the net.

That goal changed the pattern of the game as The Bully Wee claimed some control of proceedings, with a moment of real quality bringing the scoreline level ten minutes later. Having won a free kick just outside the Annan D, Connell atoned in kind for his earlier miss as he stepped up and bent a beautiful strike into the top corner.

From there, the tie looked set for extra time, but there was to be a sting in the tail in the third minute of injury time. The Clyde bench was still protesting what looked like a handball in the build-up as Gibson cut in to upstage Clyde’s equaliser, with his magnificent 25 yard strike flying into Kinnear’s top corner and securing victory.