CLYDE deservedly claimed the points to go level with Airdrie but this match was ruined as a spectacle by a card-happy referee who dished out eight yellows and one red.
Crucially, the red one went to Airdrie skipper Paul Lovering after just ten minutes – a setback which left the home side with an uphill battle. Lovering looked set to be booked after a linesman drew referee Brian Winter's attention to some off-the-ba
ll jersey tugging. However, the Diamonds' defender then talked himself into more serious trouble and was given his marching orders.
Airdrie suffered another blow when Simon Lynch limped off to be replaced by Michael Brown.
The home side's proud defensive record – just two goals conceded prior to yesterday – was clearly going to be tested and Clyde made the extra man count in 28 minutes. Ricky Waddell was able to run into the box before slotting a precise finish low into the far corner.
It was a case of backs-to-the-wall for the Diamonds who could have fallen further behind with any one of three chances which fell to Pat Clarke before the break. But the nearest the striker got was with a header which crashed off the bar.
Clyde continued to dominate on the restart and Stephen McKenna produced a crucial interception to prevent Stuart Kettlewell getting on the end of Alan Lowing's cross. However, the visitors made the points safe in 59 minutes when Waddell's corner was headed down by Clarke and Ruari MacLennan drilled a 14-yard shot.
The full article contains 261 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
