DUNFERMLINE won this battle of the First Division to ensure their name goes into the hat for the fifth round of the cup. Pretty it certainly wasn't, but with progression the only thing of any importance, this will can only go down as a good job down
for the inconsistent Pars, who will maybe count themselves lucky to edge out battling Clyde.
There was certainly little enough between the two teams over the course of a less-than-inspired 90 minutes to warrant Broadwood manager John Brown feeling his team deserved to force a replay.
Had his team had a touch more luck in front of goal, or showed a more lethal cutting edge, chances are they would have given their hosts an even more uncomfortable and uneasy time of it with the need for a replay not entirely out of the question.
On a wet, cold and wind-battered afternoon there was no mistaking winter was upon us, and there was no mistaking this was the Scottish Cup either with Clyde bringing through the sort of travelling support only this competition can inspire in the face of such truly wretched conditions.
Cynics malign this wonderful tournament for reasons only they will be fully sure of, however despite any of this there is something about this stage of the cup, it makes the hairs on one's neck stand up just thinking about it. This is the day of aspirations above normal stations with a sunny day out at Hampden only a handful of matches away.
Nineteen minutes into proceedings Dunfermline had their noses in front and a foot in the draw for the fifth round. Nicky Phinn was the man on target from close range having benefited from some tremendous approach play, and an exacting low cross from Steven Bell. It was a team goal to warm the heart of manager Jim McIntyre but harsh on the Bully Wee, who had given more than as good as they got until this point.
Indeed, had the usually lethal Pat Clarke taken a bit more time to pick his spot after seven minutes when face to face with Pars keeper Paul Gallacher the Broadwood men would have had a deserved lead. They maybe at times lacked a final delivery; this though takes nothing away from some really inventive passing from back to front.
The goal temporarily knocked the stuffing out of the visitors and they were more than a little fortunate not to fall further behind when only a fine stop from David Hutton prevented Graham Bayne from doubling the margin. Clyde, however, refused to succumb to the onslaught, and, were again kept at bay by Gallacher who performed heroics to somehow reach out and flick away Clark's cheeky flick.
Clyde continued to pass the ball well enough in the second period, yet despite creating chances to make chances they continuously failed to produce in the final third, and as such it was of very little surprise when Dunfermline punished them for their wastefulness midway through the half. Bell got in behind the Clyde ranks, and as he had did for the first goal, took his time before silver serving the ball onto the feet of a colleague. Beneficiary this time was Bayne who gleefully smacked home beyond the gloves of Hutton from 16 yards to kill the tie once and for all.
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