Clyde v Kilmarnock

Recap

The Bully Wee narrowly lost out in the opening match of Group H of the Betfred Cup this afternoon, following an encouraging display against Premier League opponents.

Seven of Barry Ferguson’s summer signings – Johnston, McNeil, McNiff, Lowdon, Flynn, Easton and MacDonald – were included in the starting line-up.

The first half was closely contested throughout and it was Clyde that came closest to opening the scoring, when Dylan Easton linked up with Sean Higgins and then saw his shot go wide of the post.

At the other end, Souleymane Coulibaly missed two chances for Killie, both with his head as he failed to find the target.

Early in the second half, Easton and Higgins again linked up well in the box but the former’s shot from a tight angle went high and wide of the target.

Higgins was then involved again as a Clyde breakaway sent the forward into space on the right, but his eventual low cross couldn’t find Scott Linton in the box and the danger was cleared.

Coulibaly then had yet another chance to score with his head, but the ball bounced down and wide of John Gibson’s goal.

On the hour mark, there was a major turning point in the match when the referee ruled that Easton’s shot had been blocked by the arm of William Boyle and pointed to the spot. The normally reliable Linton stepped up, but his shot was held by Jamie MacDonald.

The visitors quickly took advantage of that let off and Coulibaly made amends for his previous missed by forcing the ball in with a backheel from a couple of yards out.

With 15 minutes left to play, Kilmarnock scored a second as Boyle found space in the box and headed Jones’ corner into the far corner of the goal.

However, The Bully Wee weren’t finished and a superb finish by substitute Jamie Watson – his first goal for Clyde – ensured an exciting finish, but the SPL side held on to take the three points.