COWDENBEATH 1 CLYDE 0
Saturday 1st April, Ladbrokes League Two Match No 31, Att 460.

A goal early in the second half proved to be enough to give us a vital win over the Bully Wee to move within a point of them.

Gary Locke fielded an unchanged starting line up for the third successive game while the visitors handed debuts to new signings Kyle Gourlay and Kerr Hay while David Goodwillie was on the bench.

Clyde suffered a blow in the match warm up when Chris Smith was injured and his place was taken by Jordan McMillan.

The first chance of the afternoon came in five minutes when a cross into the Cowden box but McNiff couldn’t connect properly and McLauchlin cleared the danger. Then a minute later aLochhead shot was blocked on the edge of the box.

At the other end a Mullen shot was held by Gourlay while Syme headed wide from a Henderson cross.

Renton the sent two shots wide within a minute before Henderson headed wide from a Pyper corner.

Miller then saw a low drive held by the keeper before the visitors MacDonald sent a shot from the edge of the box just wide.

Carrick then sent a good ball to Miller but a timely tackle from Ruthkiewicz led to a corner.

Seven minutes from the break Sneddon had to be alert to block a shot Johnston while at the other end a 20 yard Mullen shot was deflected into the hands of Gourlay.

Then as a goal less first half drew to a close Sneddon held a McLaughlin free kick.

Four minutes into the second half McLauchlan did well to intercept a cross into the box from MacDonald while Sneddon held a shot from Ruthkiewicz a minute later.

However with 51 gone we broke the deadlock when Waddle miss timed a long ball from Pyper allowing Dale CARRICK to glide past him to slot home his fifth goal of the season.

Four minutes later McLauchlan just failed to connect to a Mullen free kick in the visitors box as we looked to increase our lead.

However a minute later the Bully Wee had a good chance to level when a MacDonald cross was headed towards goal by Johnston but Rutherford was on hand to clear the danger.

With nine minutes to go a 16 yard shot from McNiff brought out a stunning point blank save from Sneddon.

As the game drew to a close both sides had their chances with Carrick, McLaughlin and Henderson coming close.

TEAM: Sneddon, Pyper, Rumsby, McLauchlan, Rutherford, Mullen, Miller (B Ross 63), Syme, Henderson, Carrick & Renton. Subs not used – McGurn, Moore, O’Brien, Johnston, Buchanan & Muirhead.

Goal: Carrick (51).

Booked: Henderson (84), McLauchlan (87).

CLYDE: Gourlay, Ruthkiewicz, Waddle, McMillan, Johnston, McLaughlin, McNiff, Flynn (Ferguson 76), Lochhead (Finnie 66), Gormley & MacDonald (Goodwillie 66). Subs not used – Gibson, McKenzie, Higgins & Millar.

Booked: McMillan (81), Waddell (83), Johnston (84), Goodwillie (87).

REFEREE: Grant Irvine.