Clyde v Hamilton Academical

Recap

Clyde’s season boils down to a tantalising one-match shootout at Broadwood on Friday night, after they and Hamilton couldn’t be separated in the first leg of the William Hill League One promotion play-off final.

Darren Young opted to bring Robbie Leitch in for Kyle Connell with the only change to the side which saw off The Spartans last week.

The Bully Wee started the evening in very nervy fashion and The Accies took full advantage, turning the screw and taking the lead early on. The goal had more than a hint of fortune about it, with Stuart McKinstry’s miscued cross completely deceiving home ‘keeper Jay Hogarth as it dipped inside the far post.

It almost went from bad to worse for the hosts as more slack play gifted their visitors another golden chance, but Hogarth responded with a fine stop from Kyle MacDonald before smothering a deflected Oli Shaw follow-up.

Clyde edged their way back into proceedings after a tactical break brought about by a serious-looking injury to Accies’ Lee Kilday, and they found an equaliser before the interval. Darren Hynes chucked a high ball forward which wasn’t cleared and, seizing on the loose ball, Aiden McGinlay carried it through traffic before facing up his man, cutting inside and firing a beautiful curling strike past Josh Lane.

The match continued to be evenly matched and end-to-end in the second half; Scott Williamson was agonisingly close to converting a delicious Hynes cross, moments before The Bully Wee experienced a big let-off when McKinstry struck the inside of the post. Hogarth then had to be alert to tip a curling effort by Kevin O’Hara over his crossbar.

Clyde pushed for a winner as the half wore on, with the dangerous McGinlay tormenting the visitors, but couldn’t quite produce a telling final ball. A box office second leg now awaits both sides as they vie to claim a spot in next season’s third tier.