Larkhall Thistle 2 V 3 Clyde

Clyde completed their pre-season matches with a 3-2 win over Larkhall Thistle. Clyde sprang a surprise by fielding ex-Stirling Albion and Morton forward Alex Williams (pictured left) in a starting eleven that featured many of the players who have been on the sidelines in the previous public friendlies. The Bully Wee also handed a start in midfield to ex Ipswich Town youth Fraser Beveridge.

A crowd of around 150, including Stirling Albion manager Allan Moore, saw the match start scrappily but Clyde slowly began to assert themselves and it was Alex Williams who netted the opener with a fine lob from the edge of the Thistle box. Clyde continued to be in the ascendancy and added a second with a magnificent McGowan twenty-five yarder. The half was completed when fine play by Beveridge set up Billy Brawley to score and give Clyde a 3-0 half time lead.

After looking very comfortable Clyde were rocked back in the second half. Indecision in defence allowed Larkhall to open their account and a disputed penalty gave the Junior side hope but it was to no avail as chances then became limited. A flurry of substitutions then occurred and the game petered out to enable Clyde to finish with a victory before the real action begins on Saturday in the Bells Cup at Brechin.

Clyde’s starting eleven was:
1. Hutchinson
2. McGowan
3. Hilland
4. Stirling
5. Harris
6. Dick
7. Brawley
8. Masterton
9. Bradley
10. Williams
11. Beveridge