Clyde 2-1 East Fife
It was an afternoon of comebacks at Broadwood, as the returning John Rankin and Tom Lang combined late on to complete a turnaround and hand The Bully Wee their first three Ladbrokes League 1 points of 2020.
Danny Lennon made two changes to the side that won at Bonnyrigg last Saturday, with Chris Johnston and Ally Love replacing Darren Smith and the suspended Barry Cuddihy.
The opening period of the game was quiet but both sides had good chances in the second part of the first-half. David Goodwillie tried his luck with an overhead kick again, but his effort finished narrowly off target.
At the other end Danny Denholm stretched to meet a cross into the box, but his header from close range went over the bar.
Goodwillie forced East Fife ‘keeper Brett Long into action, with the stopper pulling off a good save from the powerful shot from distance, and quickly gathered the rebound just ahead of the lurking Ally Love.
Tom Lang made a vital block in the Clyde box from Lewis Baker’s goalbound effort, and then Ryan Wallace could only find the side netting with a follow up.
Clyde had another opportunity before the break when Gregg Wylde’s corner made it’s way to Martin McNiff, but Long again was equal to it.
The Fifers broke the deadlock six minutes after the restart. A cross from the left went across the six-yard box, and Aaron Dunsmore nipped in between the Clyde defence to poke the ball home.
The Bully Wee were back on level terms just over ten minutes later. Craig Watson made an error which allowed Goodwillie to run onto Wylde’s pass and through on goal. He took the ball round Long and then chipped it into the net from a narrow angle, out of the reach of Watson who got back to defend on the line.
Mark Lamont then had an effort from the edge of the box which flew just past the post, and Wallace suffered a similar outcome at the other end.
With six minutes remaining, Lennon introduced John Rankin from the bench for his first appearance in nine months following a serious ankle injury. His corner ended up at the feet of Lang, who turned and hit a shot which Long got his fingertips to, to turn over the bar.
Moments later Rankin sent a free-kick into the danger zone and Lang was the target again. He initially got the ball stuck under his legs six yards out, but was able adjust and slotted it past Long to claim his first goal in senior football.
East Fife had chances to equalise in stoppage time, firstly through Pat Slattery but he was unable to get enough power on his header to beat David Mitchell, and then a cross to the back post found Wallace. His header grazed the bar then bounced across the goal-line, before Clyde knocked the ball to safety and held on to register a win.
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BULLY WEE FUND – DRAW WINNER: 142. CRAIG BLACK – £1,170