Accies 1 Clyde 2 Scottish Cup Round 1: Saturday, 11 December 1999

Report by George Grandison

Accies' miserable Scottish Cup record continued yesterday as they were well beaten by Clyde in the first round at Firhill. That makes it two successive weeks that we've lost to the Bully Wee and three out of three for the season. No wonder the Clyde fans were singing "Can we play you every week".

After a few jars in the Horse Shoe, the taxi journey to Firhill was made more interesting by the driver being an ex-Accie, only a reserve as far as I can remember, called Willie Wilson. Currently with Cambuslang Rangers he was around at the same time as "legends" such as Scott "TC" Archer and Raymond McGuigan (who he didn't think much of so we agreed on something!). He also reminisced about Jim Kerr (his neighbour) in the Mark Walters racism incident of 1988 and mentioned that he is a good pal of Eddie Cunnington. I maintained a diplomatic silence, rather than voice my opinions of our current left-sided plodder.

No sooner had we exited the cab than we heard a cheer from inside the ground. After walking briskly up the hill we were just in time to peer through the railings to see Clyde take the lead with a penalty. 3.01pm, not even inside the ground and we're 1-0 down. The first half was one of the most tedious I can remember, the only incidents worth noting being a David McFarlane volley well saved by Wylie after a Psycho Henderson head flick and a long Clyde punt from defence that caught out Davidson but produced only a fairly tame shot that Reid held easily. Everything else was centred on the packed midfield where Accies were invariably second best. Accies had changed a few things formation-wise : back to a flat back 4 but with McLaren at right back (where he conceded the penalty) and Steven Renicks pushed not just into midfield but often up front to support McFarlane from the right. It looked as if Psycho may have been trying to do the same from the left but, frankly, none of it worked. Nicky Henderson was back in midfield but had little room to work in and McFarlane was left to do far too much on his own. Eventually Nicky was subbed to the boos of the Accies support who know who our best player is - the only one able to create anything.

His replacement, Crossley was more aggresive but ended up having to be subbed himself near the end after a nasty looking ankle knock. The second half didn't improve much. Clyde were still the better team and came close on the hour with a long range effort just past. Six minutes later they missed a peach when corner was headed goalwards and then over the bar from 4 yards. 73 minutes and it was all over as our defence was missing and 2 Clyde players were left alone in the box. Number 11 controlled the ball and gave Reid no chance from 15 yards. This was the signal for our master tactician of a coach to put on a second forward, though it was only Steven McCormick. Seconds later and we were unexpectedly back in the game as veteran keeper David Wylie fumbled a cross under pressure and as the ball broke goalwards, Darren Henderson made sure it went in by blasting the ball home right on the line. This at least quietened the Clyde fans who had given their team great vocal support and easily outnumbered the measly band of Accies diehards in the small crowd.

Accies failed to mount any real pressure in the closing stages and Clyde ended the game comfortably on top. It's hard to see where Accies go from here. Gerry and I decided to go down Byres Road for more beers and whisky and I can personally recommend Balbir's, just off Dumbarton Road, for an excellent (mainly vegetarian) curry. A good Scottish Cup day out - pity about the really crappy game in the middle of it.

Accies : Reid; McLaren; Cunnington; Davidson; Gaughan; Thomson; Renicks; N Henderson (sub Crossley 63) (sub McAulay 84); McFarlane; Bonnar (sub McCormick 77); D Henderson.

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