Clyde v Annan Athletic

Recap

A potential banana skin was avoided with relative ease, but Annan Athletic did not let themselves down with a gritty if a little negative game plan.

Clyde would start with McSwegan up front, being assisted as much as possible by Clarke, MacKay, Trouten and MacLennan, with new captain Kettlewell playing in the centre of midfield with old captain McGregor.

From the off, the SFL newboys were content to sit back and let Clyde have the possession, and for a third of the game it worked, with Clyde wasteful in the final third and limited in invention when trying to prize the Annan back line open.

Trouten cut in well from the left flank only to fire into the side netting, and Clarke should have done better from 12 yards after he had made space for himself superbly. Other than that there was not anything apart from some neat MacLennan trickery to inspire the home team.

The second half began, and Clyde were far more positive with Trouten and Kettlewell becoming increasingly more effective. The former finding space intelligently and the latters drive and determination as welcome a sight as we’ve seen in a long time.

New signing Gemmill replaced the ineffectual McSwegan, and injected more pace to the attack line. Indeed Clyde would take the lead 5 minutes later and Gemmil was involved. Gibson played a neat one-two with him before putting Trouten through. The winger’s neat touch put him away from Inglis, who brought him down for a penalty. Trouten stepped up and his penalty was too well placed for the keeper to stop, despite guessing the right way.

Hutton would then have to look alive as Annan had their first effort on goal.

With 20 minutes to go, Willie McLaren made his debut and took 4 minutes to show a glimpse of perhaps what Clyde fans can expect. After collecting the ball on the left flank, he cut inside and just ran at the Annan defence with pace and skill. He had the presence of mind to spot the clever run of Trouten, and slipped him through. Trouten then showed great composure in dinking the ball over the onrushing keeper for his brace.