CLYDE'S dogged pursuit of First Division survival was significantly strengthened after they mustered a potentially decisive play-off final first-leg advantage over Airdrie United on a glorious spring evening in north Lanarkshire.
John Brown's side
, who were on the verge of being relegated on Saturday before mounting a heroic late fightback against Alloa in the semi-final, know that if they avoid defeat in the second leg at Broadwood this weekend, they will become the first side to preserve their First Division status by virtue of a play-off, after a 78th-minute goal from Pat Clarke handed them an initiative over promotion-chasing Airdrie, which their play probably just about merited.
After a nondescript opening which was punctuated only by the enforced eighth-minute replacement of the injured Airdrie defender Bobby Donnelly with Ricky Waddell, Clyde went on to enjoy marginally the better of a tight contest in which a goalkeeper was only genuinely tested once.
For all that the hosts' intricate play was easier on the eye than that of their more robust visitors, it was Clyde who always seemed the more likely to make the breakthrough. After Airdrie's bustling model-cum-striker Allan Russell had used his perfectly-groomed head to flick a tenth-minute attempt wide from a good position eight yards out, Clyde were able to keep Kenny Black's punchless side at arm's length, while also creating a few clear-cut chances of their own via the direct route.
The first of those opportunities went the way of Clarke, who glanced a header just over after 14 minutes, and, seconds later, the Clyde forward felt he should have won a penalty when his run into the box looked to have been halted with the aid of Airdrie captain Paul Lovering's hand.
A cleverly cut back free-kick from Steven Masterton just before the half hour was then blasted narrowly wide by Willie Gibson from six yards out as Clyde began to complement their pumped-up midfield combat with purposeful ventures forward. Six minutes before the break Airdrie goalkeeper Stephen Robertson produced a miraculous save to keep out Gary Arbuckle's dipping 25-yard thunderbolt, before defender Marc Smyth made an equally impressive blocking tackle to prevent Clarke knocking in the rebound.
The second period continued in much the same vein, but with even fewer scoring chances, and as the seconds ticked away, the suspicion, which had developed early on, that the match would end goalless, continued to heighten. But Clarke banished that particular notion with just 12 minutes left when he cushioned a long, diagonal Masterton delivery on the edge of the box, stepped inside his marker, and slotted past the exposed Robertson from around 16 yards to give his side a lead to protect on Saturday.
The nature of the Broadwood side's astonishing fightback against Alloa, however, is evidence enough to suggest that the outcome of this tie is by no means already settled.
Airdrie Utd: Robertson, Smith, Lovering, McDonald, Smyth, Donnelly (Waddle 9), Andreoni, Prunty (Watt 70), Russell, Holmes, Noble (Gillies 82). Subs not used: Campball, Hollis.
Clyde: Hutton, Masterton, William Gibson, Higgins, James Gibson, Wilson (Albertz 68), Bradley (McSwegan 70), Ruari MacLennan, Arbuckle (McKay 85), Clarke, Michael McGowan. Subs not used: Bestvina, Cherrie. Booked: James Gibson, Clarke.
Attendance: 1,878.
Referee: I Brines.
The full article contains 573 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
