Queen of the South 1-4 Clyde

The Bully Wee turned in a fantastic team performance today despite going a goal down within 20 seconds, and completed a great comeback to end the first afternoon of the new cinch League 1 season at the top of the league.

Danny Lennon made three changes to his side, with Neil Parry, Barry Cuddihy and Olly McDonald coming in for Josh Bradley-Hurst, Euan Cameron and Kurtis Roberts.

The Doonhamers took a very early lead after slack play at the back allowed Ruari Paton to cut the ball back for Lee Connelly, and his deflected shot beat Neil Parry and nestled in the net.

Clyde tried to hit back immediately after good interplay from Ross Cunningham and Olly McDonald allowed Conner Duthie to hit the by-line and send a cross into the box, but it was overhit.

The hosts got in behind the Clyde defence again but Parry was able to force Connelly wide, then Nathan Nyamsi cleared the danger.

From then on The Bully Wee dominated the game. Cunningham’s snapshot bounced wide of the post and McDonald’s effort from distance was blocked by a defender and sent behind for a corner.

From the corner Clyde levelled the scores. McDonald lost his marker and Barry Cuddihy delivered the set piece with precision, with McDonald in the right area to volley past Max Currie, who got a hand to it but couldn’t keep the ball out the net.

Connelly had another sight of goal for QOS but Brian McLean made a brave block with his body to deny the forward, whilst at the other end Duthie should have put Clyde ahead following a neat passing move from Cuddihy and Cunningham allowed him through one-on-one with Currie, but he blazed over the bar.

McDonald and Cunningham both had shots blocked and went narrowly wide respectively, before the former put Clyde in the lead just before the interval. McDonald released Duthie down the left flank and he got to the by-line before twisting his opponent inside out and dinking a ball across the face of goal, which Cunningham tucked into the unguarded net with a sidefooted volley.

The Bully Wee almost scored again in first-half stoppage time when Cuddihy cut infield and played a one-two with McDonald, but his shot was held by Currie.

The opening half of the second half was a fairly scrappy and tame affair with Clyde holding their lead but the game soon livened up again and Jordan Allan had the ball in the net but he was flagged offside.

Parry was then called into action for the first time in a while but got two strong hands behind Cochrane’s blistering drive, and then Willie Gibson tried his luck from distance but his effort curled over the bar.

At the other end a Cunningham drive from distance also whistled narrowly over the crossbar, before the game burst into life with an action packed final 10 minutes.

Referee Scott Lambie pointed to the spot after deeming Duthie barged a home attacker in the back and Paton stepped up for the penalty, putting it low to Parry’s right, but the ‘keeper got down well and make a fantastic save to preserve Clyde’s lead.

Just seconds later The Bully Wee broke up the other end with Duthie and Cunningham providing the link play which allowed Jordan Allan to make space for himself and fire a shot beyond Currie into the back of the net.

Connelly was then shown a straight red card in the next phase of play for a wild lunge off the ground from behind on Duthie.

Euan Cameron then added the icing on the cake with a minute to play. Ray Grant sent a curling free-kick into the box from a wide angle and Cameron rose highest to nod the ball past Currie to cap a fantastic comeback and complete a memorable opening day result for all associated with the club.

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