
Saturday, April 28th, 2018 SPFL 2
CLYDE 1 BERWICK RANGERS 2
It was a game Clyde were needing to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, it didn’t turn out the way they hoped.
Clyde started on the attack forcing a corner in the first minute and a shot on goal. It was looking like the start of an assault for Berwick as Clyde looked for the big win they might require to take a playoff spot from Stenhousemuir. But it was Berwick who struck first, Jordan Orru’s cross found Jack Hamilton who slotted home neatly with a left footed shot in the 7th minute.
Clyde continued to press but were now on the back foot looking for an equaliser. A few minutes later Barry Cuddihy (Clyde) worked his way forward to have a shot from a difficult angle but the shot went wide to the right. Clyde continued to press and on the 22 minute mark Mark Lamont (Clyde) had shot from outside the box but Brennan saved it comfortably. This was the start of a surge for Clyde who had a further 4 shots on goal in the next 10 minutes.
Berwick handled the pressure, The defence holding up well to the Clyde attack. Notman then picked up a yellow in the 33rd minute for a clumsy challenge. A few moments later Paul Willis found the space to have a shot from outside the box narrowly missing the top left corner. Clyde pressed further with David Goodwillie (Clyde) having a shot on the 48 minute mark narrowly missing the target.
Berwick continued to soak up the pressure and Robert Wilson should have made it 2 for Berwick on the 40 minute mark but his header from very close range missed to the right following a well taken Willis corner. In the last few minute of the first half Jack Cook picked up a yellow card and Willis had a further shot on goal that was saved by the Clyde keeper.
The second half started with Clyde still pressing, Berwick conceding 3 corners in the first 12 minutes under the Clyde attack. The Berwick defence were holding under the pressure until the 57th minute when Clyde equalised. Jack Boyle (Clyde) with a shot from close range finding the bottom left corner of the Berwick net.
Clyde’s celebrations were to be short lived however. In the 62nd minute Jack Hamilton headed home from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. The ball supplied by Jordan Orru with a well placed and weighted cross to make it 2 for Berwick.
Notman was then shown a straight red in the 73rd minute for a lunging tackle, reducing Berwick to 10 men. Not the ending that Notman would have wanted for his final game, leaving the club after 11 years, 13 goals and over 300 appearances. Martin McNiff (Clyde) and Jordan Orru both picking up yellow cards in the minutes to come.
Clyde pressed on with the extra man advantage winning 4 corners in what remained of the half. Berwick defence coped well with the loss of Notman and Steven Thomson worked his way into a close shot from a difficult angle that missed to the right.
3 minutes of added time passed and the final whistle blew. A good win for Berwick who despite not having as much possession or shots on goal looked the better team and came away with the 3 points.
Starting XI: Brennan, Fleming, Wilson, Todd, Cook, Notman, Willis, Phillips, Orru, Murrell (Lavery 75), Hamilton (Thomson 83). Subs: McCrorie, Simpson, Fairbain.
Attendance: 804
Possession Clyde 62% Berwick 38%
Shots on goal Clyde 16 Berwick 6
Shots on target Clyde 4 Berwick 3
Corners Clyde 9 Berwick 4
Fouls Clyde 3 Berwick 9