Clyde v Brechin City

Recap

Clyde got into their stride very quickly in this game and a chance to move into an early lead was created with less than five minutes gone when a telling ball from Alex Williams opened up the visitors’ defence but striking partner Tom Brighton’s effort hit the crossbar and was cleared away to safety.

Against the run of the first twenty minutes’ play, the experienced Brechin City side suffered the same fate when Gerry Britton slipped a clever reverse pass through to Darren Smith to produce a one-on-one situation with Clyde keeper Paul Jarvie. The City man tried to round the ex-Dundee United goalie but eventually took it too wide and saw his shot clip the top of the bar.

It was a missed opportunity for the Angus men amidst considerable Clyde pressure and the Glebe Parkers paid for it in the thirty-first minute when defensive indecision allowed an Eddie Malone corner to reach Alex Williams, who headed home from point blank range to give Clyde a deserved 1-0 lead which they retained until half-time.

Within four minutes of the re-start Brechin City were level when Kevin Byers unleashed a magnificent thirty-yard effort which screamed past Paul Jarvie. A stunning moment for the Angus men but their joy lasted just two minutes. An Eddie Malone cross was well met by the unmarked Michael McGowan at the back post and the impressive full back’s angled drive from twenty-yards gave visiting keeper Craig Nelson no chance.

The City custodian did his best to keep his side in the game with a couple of excellent stops but his team mates continued to disappoint. They didn’t really threaten the Clyde goal after the Bully Wee’s fifty-first minute strike and the Michael McGowan goal proved decisive.