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A POINT was scant reward for the performance we put in against the Bully Wee in our League One clash at Broadwood Stadium.

Despite having to go with a squad depleted by injuries – and playing just 48 hours after a taxing Scottish Cup showdown with Rangers – we dominated possession for long spells and eventually went ahead in the 75th minute, thanks to a cracking strike from Connor Scully.

Unfortunately former Aberdeen and Dundee United striker David Goodwillie came off the bench to snatch the equaliser within three minutes to deny the players the victory they deserved for their efforts.

Manager Paul Hartley had planned to make changes to cope with the hectic programme.

Unfortunately, some of them were forced as skipper Mitch Megginson, midfielder Jamie Masson and striker Leighton McIntosh all missed out due to injuries they sustained at Ibrox.

Ryan Strachan and Blair Yule, who were rested on Sunday, were among the six to come in, with the former taking over as skipper in the absence of Megginson.

Cumbernauld, remarkably, was snow free and bathed in spring sunshine by kick-off time, in total contrast to the weather when the squad departed from Aberdeen.

It was still chilly in the shadows though as the home side started strongly and went close in the third minute, when Lewis Jamieson got in behind the defence to send a chip from the edge of the area wide.

Marky Munro’s cross from wide on the right also looked to be sneaking in at the far post until Stuart McKenzie stretched to knock the ball behind for a corner.

Mike McGlinchey took it and his cross found Craig Howie, who powered an eight yard header off target.

Once we got into our stride after that, we looked by far the better side.

We seemed to have a strong penalty claim in the eighth minute when Seb Ross was swept crashing by home keeper Dave Mitchell as he attempted to latch on to a pass from Blair Yule but the referee decided the challenge was fair.

Howie had a better chance for Clyde in the 15th minute from another McGlinchey corner but sent a poor header well wide from 10-yards.

Scully set up our next chance with a pass to Rory McAllister but his shot from a tight angle on the left was held by Mitchell.

Fraser Fyvie was just inches away from opening the scoring in the 25th minute.

His free-kick from wide on the left evaded everyone as it went inches wide of the far post.

Fyvie then played the ball inside to Scully and his 25-yard shot went narrowly beyond the other post.

We claimed for another penalty in the 36th minute when Ross Graham fell inside the area as he went to meet Yule’s cross but the referee waved play on again.

The best chance of the half came our way in the 39th minute.

Fyvie played a fine pass through the middle to McAllister and the striker turned cleverly just inside the Clyde area before seeing his powerful shot beaten away by Mitchell.

If points were awarded for possession, we would have bagged all three for the way we went about dominating the second period.

Fyvie found Seb Ross with another excellent through ball in the 58th minute and his shot from 18-yards was held by Mitchell.

Clyde were screaming for a penalty on the hour when Jamieson’s shot cannoned off one of our defenders but the referee waved play on.

Munro was booked in the 68th minute for a foul on McAllister.

Fyvie took the free-kick but his 20-yard shot went well over the crossbar.

We had been pinning Clyde back deep inside their own half for most of the second period and were rewarded with a wonderful opener in the 75th minute.

A sweeping move forward ended with McAllister laying the ball back to SCULLY and he placed his shot from the edge of the area well beyond the reach of the diving Mitchell.

Clyde equalised in the 78th minute.

GOODWILLIE played a pass to fellow substitute Barry Cuddihy in the area and his shot was cleared off the line by Strachan. 

Unfortunately the ball eventually fell back into the path of Goodwillie and he lashed it home from the edge of the six yard box.

Kevin Hanratty almost put us ahead again in the 80th minute.

His curling shot from the edge of the area was going in until Mitchell dived full-length to push it wide of the post.

Scully also hammered a volley a couple of feet wide as we continued to look for the winner.

Goodwillie almost pinched all three points with an eight yard shot that forced McKenzie to dive full length to save.

We at least remain unbeaten in the league since returning from the latest shut-down but we will feel hard done by not to have gone back up the road with a victory.

CLYDE: Mitchell, Love (Lang 76), Rumsby, Howie, Munro, Otoo, Nicoll (Cuddihy 62), Thomson, McGlinchey (Lamont 85),  Jamieson (Goodwillie 76),  Cunningham.

Subs: Wilson, Bain, McNiff, Jack, Ritchie-Hosier.

COVE RANGERS: McKenzie, Logan, Graham, Strachan, Ngwenya, Yule, Scully, Fyvie, Seb Ross (Smith 77), Watson (Hanratty 77), McAllister.

Subs: Scott Ross, Higgins, Livingstone, Demus.

Referee: Matthew MacDermid

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