Bell's League Division 1

Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld,

15th October 2005

Report by George Grandison

Accies and Clyde walked away with a point apiece after a hard-fought match at Broadwood that saw six players yellow carded and Clyde defender Neil McGregor dismissed.

If ever there was an appropriate cliché for a match, “a game of two halves” would sum this one up perfectly. Accies struggled to make much impression on the home side throughout the first half but dominated for long spells after the interval and ultimately will be disappointed that they failed to leave with all three points. Clyde looked lively throughout and worked very hard to close Accies down right from the first whistle.

There was little of note in the early stages other than a number of petty fouls. Neither keeper was called upon to do much work but there was a surprise in store for the away fans as Billy Reid decided to ring the changes after just 22 minutes. Off went Brown Ferguson and Brian Carrigan to be replaced by Graeme Jones and Pat Keogh, with Scott Tunbridge dropping into a slightly deeper role behind the front two. Within minutes though, Accies were a goal behind. An inswinging corner was flicked on to the back post where the unmarked Alex Williams had the easiest of jobs to nod the ball in from a couple of yards out.

Accies remained unable to make much headway in the remainder of the half and Clyde continued to press forward without creating any real chances. The only other “action” was on the sidelines when Billy Reid and Clyde assistant boss Joe Miller both received a talking to from referee Craig Thomson.

The second half began with a flurry of activity and within the first minute Clyde almost added to their lead when Dave McEwan had to rush to the edge of his area to thwart a Clyde break. However Accies quickly began to get the upper hand with the aerial threat of Jones and Keogh causing problems for the home defence. Another reshuffle was needed when Mark McLaughlin had to be taken off, having failed to recover from a first half leg knock.

Clear cut chances were still hard to come by although Jones was unlucky to see his block of a clearance spin wide. Scott Tunbridge did well to get on the end of a high cross from the left but his powerful downward header went inches past the post. With a couple of penalty box scrambles not falling Accies’ way it was beginning to look as if an equalizer might not come but some good work on the left by Derek Fleming saw his cross knocked home by Pat Keogh with 13 minutes remaining.

The action wasn’t finished there and within a couple of minutes Clyde defender McGregor saw red when he held back Alex Neil and prevented the Accies man breaking through on goal. Neil was soon denied a goal by a last ditch clearance as Accies continued to press and Scott Tunbridge rattled the crossbar after another scramble amid claims that the ball had crossed the Clyde goalline. Accies also had a goal disallowed for a foul on the Clyde keeper.

Throw in a couple of penalty claims and you can see why Accies might feel they should have left with a win. Clyde still managed to look dangerous on the break and almost stole the points at the death, McEwan saving well at his near post, but after three minutes of added time it finished all square.

Clyde : Jarvie, McGregor, Higgins, McKeown, Malone, Harris (Dick 88), Bryson, O'Donnell, McGowan, Williams (Bouadji 79), Thomas Brighton.

Subs Not Used: Bradley, Hunter, Cherrie.

Sent Off : McGregor (79).

Booked : Williams, Higgins, O'Donnell, Malone.

Hamilton : McEwan, Balmer, Thomson, McLaughlin (Robertson 48), Fleming, Ferguson (Jones 22), Wilson, Neil, Tunbridge, MacKenzie, Carrigan (Keogh 22).

Subs Not Used: Gilhaney, Jellema.

Booked : Wilson, Fleming.

Att : 1,392

Ref : C Thomson

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