Clyde v Brechin City

Recap

Clyde’s poor form in the Viaplay Cup continued as Highland League champions Brechin City came away with a 2-1 win at New Douglas Park this evening.

Kian Leslie was handed his debut in a Clyde jersey, after signing on loan for The Bully Wee from Kilmarnock last week.

The early proceedings were dominated by Clyde, as Martin Rennie found himself in space before cannoning his effort off the Brechin City goalkeeper Leonard Wilson.

The Bully Wee once again created a well-worked move, after debutant Kian Leslie smartly carried the ball taking on a Brechin City defender, before playing the ball to Rennie who couldn’t quite find his footing.

Brechin City soon after found their first opportunity of the night, after Fraser McLeod drilled a low-driven shot from range, however Neil Parry was on hand to match the efforts of the Brechin midfielder.

Minutes later, Rennie saw his gilt-edged chance come crashing off the side-netting, as the forward skipped past several Brechin players inside the box.

Midway through the first-half, Ross Forbes came ever-so-close to netting a free-kick from just outside the box. The experienced midfielder saw his chance held by Wilson as the ball was steering into the top-right hand corner of the goal.

As the encounter progressed, the action remained at a high level of intensity as the end-to-end half reached its late proceedings. However, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock on the verge of half-time, courtesy of Ewan Loudon as the midfielder directed his delightfully weighted header into the back of the net.

The first chance of the second half fell to the Highland League side, as pinball broke out in the middle of the Clyde box. However, from a subsequent cross, Brechin doubled their advantage via Grady McGrath, as the forward nodded home an effort, putting Brechin firmly in the driving seat.

Clyde pulled one back almost straight from kick off after Leslie played in Euan Cameron. The attacking midfielder found himself in acres of space as he bore down on goal, before skillfully slotting beyond Wilson to put Clyde immediately back in the tie. Straight after, it was Clyde who had the momentum of the game, as Cameron shot again, however this time crashing off to what appeared to be the hand of a Brechin defender, although despite the penalty appeals, nothing came of it.

It was Cameron again who almost made the difference as Clyde hunted an eqauliser, as he played the ball into the path of Forbes but he was unable to steer his opportunity into the back of the net.

With just over 15 minutes to play the visitors almost restored the two-goal deficit, as Fraser MacLeod spurned his gilt-edged chance following from a series of Clyde mistakes.

With the last minute of normal time remaining, Clyde found themselves with one final opportunity. Erik Sula lofted a cross into the path of Dylan Duncan who opted to drill his effort first time. However, to the despair of The Bully Wee, Duncan’s opportunity went sailing over the bar, as Brechin held on for three points.