2007-03-10 Clyde

Accies suffered their second defeat of the season at Broadwood on Saturday when they went down 3-0 to Clyde. The cause was not helped by the ordering off of defender Tom Parratt in the early stages of the game.

Clyde 3 Hamilton Accies 0

Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld

Saturday, 10th March 2007

What is always a controversial fixture nowadays saw Clyde win 3-0 against an Accies side who were reduced to 10 men after only 10 minutes following the dismissal of full back Tom Parratt. Billy Reid re-shuffled his pack twice in the opening period and Accies had used all three subs by the 36th minute. On a pitch which resembled a Hebridean white-sand beach in many places, and with a strong wind blowing in from the Campsies, 3-0 did not accurately reflect the play as the re-shuffled Accies ten battled away well and worked hard, Gilhaney, Elebert and Wake in particular.

But the early loss of a crucial man, and two goals, ultimately took their toll. McGowan for Clyde was a mighty early name in the notebook then Winters had Accies first chance, shooting high and wide in the opening minute following Fleming's free kick. Offiong had a half chance on the turn soon after before McArthur and Winters set up Gilhaney on the edge of the box, which saw Mark cut in and he drilled a good shot which was pushed out for a corner by Clyde 'keeper Hutton.

The game turned in the 10th minute when referee Iain Brines correctly showed a straight red to Tom Parratt who lunged in on Dougie Imrie on the half way line right in front of the Clyde dug out. As Accies were still adjusting the home side took the lead two minutes later when Gary Arbuckle finished off a good move by drilling the ball in from the right side of the box. Arbuckle had a couple of half chances soon after, Imrie was booked for a foul on McClen, then Accies gave a debut to 36 year old defender Chris Swailes, putting him on for Winters in the 22nd minute in a tactical adjustment.

Clyde went two up in the 29th minute though when the referee, after a delay, awarded them a free kick outside the right hand corner of the box. Stevie Masterton curled a lovely one straight into the net. Offiong became the 4th player to be shown a card by the ref when he fouled the Clyde keeper, before Accies then replaced Fleming and McClen with Wake and Tunbridge in the 36th minute. All cards played and dice rolled. The game continued to be untidy in spells as tackles were still flying in on the poor surface. Accies started the second period still trying to attack Clyde and playing three up front despite the man advantage still held by the bully wee.

Alex Neil got involved in a tussle with McCann and both could consider themselves fortunate to only be shown yellow then Harris became the 6th caution for a foul on Offiong. Imrie dispossessed Easton on the left but was unable to get his shot in, Arbuckle continued to be lively, then Imrie and Gilmour set up McCann for a sniff before Alex Neil came in to shepherd the ball out, and knocked over a ballboy in the process. A quick pat on the head from the Accies skip and all was well. Easton then tried to float one into Tunbridge, but Hutton was quick off his mark.

Gilhaney, who was being fouled all over the park, then had a mazy run on the edge of the box, evading several tackles, before the ball fell to Wake who crossed back in for Neil to drive over. At the other end Elebert and Swailes linked well to deny Arbuckle. McCann and Bryson for Clyde then Wake and Gilhaney for us all traded chances before miss of the match fell to Brian Gilmour who could have extended Clyde's lead from barely a couple of yards but put the ball past the post. Gilhaney then entered the book after a challenge on Bryson after the referee had initially allowed play to continue, before Easton, in the 87th minute, clattered McKeown and rather fortunately also saw yellow. However Dougie Imrie made it 3-0 with two minutes left with a nice drive which clipped the post on its way in.

Accies - Murdoch, Parratt, Fleming (Wake 36), McClen (Tunbridge 36), Elebert, Easton, Winters (Swailes 22), McArthur, Offiong, Neil, Gilhaney. Not used - McCarthy, Jellema.

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