Edinburgh City 2-6 Clyde
Clyde hit Edinburgh City for six in the capital this afternoon, as four second-half goals without reply secured a precious three points at Meadowbank Stadium.
Darren Young responded to Jamie Forrest’s influential substitute appearance in last week’s comeback win over The Spartans by handing the youngster his first Bully Wee start. That would be the only change to the Clyde side, with Connor Storey in goals again having renewed his emergency loan deal; he was joined in the squad by Daniel Gaffney, who provided goalkeeping cover on the bench as a trialist.
The hosts started the match strongly and passed up a glorious chance to open the scoring early on, when a through ball cut the Clyde defence open and sent Lennon Walker one-on-one with Storey. The striker rounded the ‘keeper, but his touch took him too wide and he could only slash a strike into the side netting after sorting his feet out. Storey was then called into action from a corner, producing a smart save to repel a near-post header.
The Citizens continued to push for an opener and perhaps should’ve found it when Innes Lawson failed to hit the target with a powerful strike from the edge of the area. Just before the half hour mark, they finally got their goal and in some style, too. Jason Jarvis produced a moment of real quality with a free kick from range, his curling attempt kissing the underside of the crossbar on its way into the net.
The concession seemed to wake The Bully Wee up somewhat and it wasn’t long before they found an equaliser. Good pressure in the home side’s third saw the midfield intercept a throw-in, with Forrest then cracking a shot off the underside of Mark Weir’s crossbar from outside the area. A slice of good fortune followed as the ball struck Weir’s back and bounced invitingly on the line, with Scott Williamson following it in to tap home.
A noisy travelling support would have more to cheer three minutes later as their side took the lead. James Hilton started the move off with a sumptuous first-time ball across to Lewis Lovering, whose deep cross found the winger at the back post. He set himself and, from an angle, produced a delightful finish into the far corner.
Just as it seemed like Clyde would take control of the affair and hold the advantage going into the break, the hosts duly produced an equaliser. It’s one young Storey won’t want to look back on, with Jarvis’ free kick – well hit though it was – straight at the ‘keeper and ending up in the back of the net having squirmed through his gloves.
Williamson had a superb chance at the outset of the second half after a long ball caught out the Edinburgh defence but, after bearing down on Weir, the striker could only send an effort wide of the far post. He had a hand in things as his side reclaimed the lead just beyond the hour, however, with his blocked attempt from Hilton’s cross falling kindly to Forrest, who capped a superb individual performance by slotting a cool finish into the bottom corner.
Five minutes later, a now-dominant Bully Wee side grabbed their fourth goal of the afternoon. It came from a lovely connection down the right side, with Darren Hynes’ measured ball forward delightfully cushioned into the path of Hilton by Williamson. The wide man made no mistake with his finish, as he lashed the ball beyond Weir at his near post.
There was a growing sense that Clyde could score as many as they fancied in the remaining twenty minutes, and a decisive fifth goal duly arrived. Substitute Keir Gilligan tormented former Bully Wee man Chris McGinn out wide with some dazzling footwork, before surging into the box and being felled by the left-back. Referee Iain Snedden, following advice from the stand-side linesman, pointed to the spot after a short delay, and Williamson smacked a ruthless penalty into Weir’s left corner to give his team an unassailable advantage.
The travelling Bully Wee contingent was in fine voice as the full time whistle loomed, and they’d have one final goal to celebrate with the last action of the match. Jamie Bradley made it goals in consecutive matches in injury time, showing fantastic technique to find the bottom corner of the net with a stunning, swerving finish.