
Clyde 0-2 Edinburgh City
Clyde failed to make it nine games without defeat at New Douglas Park as their unbeaten home run came to an end at the hands of Edinburgh City.
Callum Hannah was handed his Clyde debut as Darren Young made a double change from the side that faced East Fife last week with Martin Rennie returning from injury. The Bully Wee were without Marley Redfern, who looks set the miss the remainder of the season with a fractured ankle.
Edinburgh were first to threaten in the opening seconds when Malik Zaid’s effort flew into the box from the left but Hemfrey crouched low to save. In the eighth minute, James Stokes sprinted deep into the box as he headed goalwards, but Hamilton was quick to intercept.
In the 17th minute, Scullion came close to opening the scoring when he raced through on goal after shrugging off opposition defenders but Weir struck out a palm to divert. Two minutes later, The Bully Wee spurned another opportunity in the visitors’ half when Connell floated a cross into the centre of the box, but Dunachie’s rising head was unable to connect.
As the clock reached the half hour mark, both teams were struggling to create clear opportunities but Edinburgh were displaying the most intent. Zaid fired a high-arching effort from the corner of the box, only for the ball to bruise the woodwork. What followed was intense pressure from the visitors as they attempted to worm past the hosts’ defence in search of the opener with Jarvis’ shot flying wide.
During the final minutes of the first half, Scullion worked the ball into the box which found its way to Hannah, but Weir calmly collected. At the other end, Young’s effort from the centre of the box was blocked by Hemfrey before the Citizens broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time.
A corner was directed into the front post area where Lewis McArthur was on hand to direct his header into the top right corner.
It only took six minutes into the second half for the visitors to double their advantage, courtesy of Connoy Young. The forward muscled in front of Clyde defenders to prod the ball into the bottom left corner, with Hemfrey unable to keep it out..
The Bully Wee were unable to cope with regular attacks from the Citizens who attempted to score again twice in quick succession. Young tried to secure a brace with an effort that flew over the bar while Stokes was allowed space within the box to send a goalbound shot only for the ball to be blocked at ease by the ‘keeper.
With 20 minutes remaining, Houston went close for the hosts after cottoning onto a corner kick but his shot was deflected wide.
Moments later came one of the most incredulous pieces of officiating ever seen in a Clyde game. A long ball was played into the Edinburgh box and Logan Dunachie ran through and poked the ball beyond Mark Weir into the net. However just before the ball crossed the line, referee George Calder bizarrely blew his whistle and decided to award an offside, whilst the assistant referee correctly kept his flag down and followed the ball to the line showing Dunachie was onside. The match descended into a farce as the whistler appeared to have no idea on how play should restart. After a consulation with his assistant he initially looked like he would give a drop ball, before setting up for an indirect free-kick to Clyde in the middle of the box, and then gave the award to Edinburgh after a three-and-a-half minute stoppage.
In the final ten minutes of the match, The Bully Wee attempted to push for a late consolation but composure in the final third continued to elude them. Cuddihy’s header from a corner flew over the bar while Dunachie’s effort went narrowly wide.
BULLY WEE FUND DRAW WINNER: 90. DAVID LODGE – £735