Match Report
As expected Bryn Halliwell, signed the day before the game, started this game and the former Clyde player wasn’t exactly given a warm welcome by the fans of his former team.
Thistle had the game’s first chance as early as the second minute. A Bryan Hodge corner kick was flicked on by John Robertson who saw his shot blocked by a Clyde defender who moved quickly to close down the Thistle striker.
In the 9th minute Thistle were again close to opening the scoring. An excellent right wing cross from Ryan MacBeth picked out Kris Doolan but the ball was just a fraction too high for Doolan who was stretching to reach the ball and couldn’t quite direct his header on target.
Thistle though were in front after 12 minutes. David Rowson set up Liam Buchanan who took the ball round Hutchison. It did look though that Buchanan’s shot wouldn’t clear the goal line but there was just enough pace on the ball to take it into the net.
Although Thistle now had the advantage it was anything but one way traffic towards the Third Division side’s goal. Quite the reverse. In the 16th minute Connor Stevenson was given a free header at a corner but his header went over the bar when he should perhaps have done better.
Two minutes later Bryan Dingwall saw his shot from the corner of the Thistle six yard box hit the side netting as the visitors enjoyed a period of ascendency.
The next goal though nearly came at the other end. Bryan Hodge’s corner kick dropped at the feet of Kris Doolan who was unlucky to see his shot tipped over the bar by Hutchison.
In the 29th minute Adam Strachan’s shot from 25 yards out was just too straight to trouble Halliwell. Two minutes later though Strachan had the ball in the net as Clyde netted a deserved equaliser. A Willie Kinniburgh foul, the Thistle defender picking up a yellow card, handed Clyde a free kick 25 yards out and Strachan’s free kick flew into the net leaving Halliwell with no chance.
Thistle could have been back in front just two minutes later. Hutchison was penalised for handling a pass back and from the indirect free kick that followed Simon Donnelly touched the ball to Liam Buchanan whose shot, with six defender guarding the line, struck the outside of the post.
That was the last real chance of the first half although Buchanan with a tame header and Dingwall with a shot from the edge of the box was too high had glimpses of a chance before the break.
Thistle were close to re-establishing their lead just two minutes after the break. David Rowson’s accurate cross found the head of Kris Doolan but Hutchison was able to push Doolan’s header away from goal and away from Liam Buchahan who was lurking looking for rebound.
The second half though was much less eventful than the first half had been with neither side proving to much of a threat. After 67 minutes Thistle introduced Martin Grehan to proceedings in an attempt to prise open the Clyde defence who were proving tough to break down.
In the 71st minute Thistle did managed to nudge themselves in front again. Paddy Boyle initially did well down the left hand side and when his cross was cleared it fell to Ryan MacBeth at the edge of the box who sent a low shot into the back of the net.
After seeing his team mate from last season’s under 19 side score Kieran Burns nearly joined him on the score sheet with 4 minutes of the game remaining. Stuart Bannigan’s corner broke to Burns whose shot was just a foot or so too high.
