Clyde 0-1 Partick Thistle

Clyde exited the Ramsdens Cup this afternoon, following a single goal defeat to Partick Thistle.

Over 1,000 supporters attended a sunny Recreation Park to view the sides’ first competitive match of the 2012-13 season. For The Bully Wee, Jim Duffy handed debuts to Jamie Barclay, David Marsh and Stuart McColm and they took their respective places in a 4-4-2 formation.

Throughout a first half that had very few clear-cut chances on goal, The Jags enjoyed a bigger share of possession but the Clyde defence held firm as part of a well organised team performance. The best chance of the half fell to Stuart Bannigan as he burst into the box just before the break, but Barclay did well to move from his line and block the defender’s shot.

The second half started in a similar fashion, but the First Division side gradually increased the pressure on the Clyde goal and could have taken the lead if not for some poor finishing in and around the penalty box. When a goal did eventually come on 73 minutes, it was via a mistake by Barclay. The ‘keeper spilled a shot from distance and substitute Kris Doolan pounced to take advantage from close range.

As the end of the match approached, Jim Duffy made a tactical switch by introducing two forwards in Stefan McCluskey and Gary Graham and The Bully Wee went on to create two good chances in injury time that could have forced the match into extra-time.

Both came via the head of Pat Scullion; first setting up Kevin Watt – who earlier replaced Daniel Fitzpatrick – to get an overhead kick on target and then a near post flick which just went over the bar.

If you were at today’s match and are a CIC owner with a website account, don’t forget to vote for your top three performers in the Man of the Match vote.