Clyde v Hamilton Academical

Recap

The Bully Wee gave a good account of themselves in their opening Betfred Cup match against Hamilton Academical at Ochilview this evening, but the Premiership side came away with a 3-1 win.

Summer signings David Mitchell, Craig Howie, Tony Wallace, Chris Johnston and Darren Smith were all handed starting debuts by manager Danny Lennon.

Clyde started brightly and only a magnificent save from Owain Fon Williams prevented them taking the lead. He got his fingertips to Chris Johnston’s effort and touched the ball onto the bar, before saving a header from attacker moments later.

At the other end David Mitchell got the slighest of touches to turn a powerful drive from Lewis Smith behind for a corner.

The visitors broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark when the ball fortuitously fell to Scott McMann in the box, and he rifled it home from close range.

The Bully Wee almost went in at half-time on level terms after a cross was met by Darren Smith, but he didn’t have much time to react and his header was held by Fon Williams.

Hamilton doubled their lead five minutes after the restart when a clearing header fell to Blair Alston on the edge of the area, and he hit a left footed volley into the bottom corner of the net.

Clyde pulled one back in a well worked move in the 57th minute. Kieran Duffie drove forward before slipping the ball to Johnston. He then played a square pass to Kristoffer Syvertsen, who slotted the ball past Fon Williams.

The Norwegian forward then had another good opportunity but Fon Williams this time made a good save to tip it behind.

The Accies restored their two-goal advantage with 14 minutes remaining after Smith latched onto a header from Darian MacKinnon and beat Mitchell from outside the box.