Clyde 0 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic

Two moments of class from Kevin Harper make the difference as the Pars finish the first quarter of the league program with a good away win - a better result than performance but you won’t find many complaining.

Stephen Glass in action.

There was a last minute change of plan as Greg Shields decided during the warm up that he was unfit, and Woods came into the starting 11 at right back with Nipper Thomson moving to the centre in what was otherwise an unchanged starting line up. So the Pars team that took to the field in their yellow change strips was Gallacher in goals, a back 4 of Woods, Thomson, Wilson and McCann; a midfield of Harper wide right, Phinn, Glass in a holding role and Burke on the left; Kirk and Bayne striking. The bench was equally predictable, Reidford, Wiles, Bell, Campbell and Williamson making a late dash from the stand and continuing with his solo warm up after the rest of the 16 had disappeared up the tunnel to get their last minute instructions.

After Harper was alert to clear as Clyde tried to surprise straight from the kick-off, the Pars had some early pressure but Kirk couldn’t find the target. Instead it was the home team who seemed to settle, with former Par Pat Clarke proving a handful, being penalised for using a hand to charge down Gall’s clearance from a pass-back, then heading well over in 10 minutes, shortly after a McKay shot from the right had eluded everyone before sliding past the post.

The Pars seemed to think their best chance of advancing was through feeding Harper on the right - in 13 minutes the winger found Kirk with a back-header and although Bayne, Burke and McCann also featured as the ball was moved from one side to the other, the Clyde rearguard held firm. A minute later Harper skipped past Ohnersorge but put too much curl on his cross which dipped behind the goal line.

Pat Clarke received the game’s first yellow card when he was late with a sliding tackle on Thomson who received treatment on the pitch. Halfway through the half Gemmill outpaced Wilson to go clear but the home-side assistant referee had seen the Clyde man’s tug on Dinger’s jersey and play was halted, to the disgust of the home faithful.

Immediately afterwards it became clear that Thomson was more badly hurt than feared and he was replaced by Bell with Woods moving to the middle. Woods’ first action as centre-back was to hare up the left wing, but he soon settled into a more traditional stopper’s role. Although Harper might have been many people’s choice to fill the right back slot, Jim McIntyre opted to move Bell there and persist with Harper in an attacking capacity. This was to prove a significant decision, although this was not immediately apparent as Bell got caught upfield in 26 minutes with Wilson having to shin behind to give away a corner. As is his wont Gallacher attempted to punch the delivery clear, but succeeded only in sending the ball skywards, before danger was cleared.

Harper again showed a flash of skill with a neat switch of feet before sending Bayne clear but only a corner resulted.

The game entered a scrappy phase, the pitch having taken a real soaking from a pre-match cloudburst with Waddell getting a needless yellow for kicking the ball away on the half-way line and Phinn being unable to capitalise on robbing McGregor in the centre-circle However in 37 minutes the Pars took the lead; Kirk played the ball to Harper on the half-way line; the former under 21 international created a bit of space for himself before playing what used to be called a slide-rule pass into the path of Kirk. Barely onside, the forward ran into the box, drew keeper Hutton before squeezing a shot in at the near post. A fine finish (and the first in five for the marksman) although Phinn was quick to acknowledge the creator.

Clyde tried to hit back immediately and McCann was booked for his first foul, before the Pars doubled their lead two minutes before the break with a goal of some class. There were shouts for a penalty as Kirk fell trying to slither his way through the defence, but referee Allan was not interested. The home side were unable to clear the ball which eventually fell to Harper, 25 yards out in a central position, who almost nonchalantly struck the ball with the outside of his right boot low to the keeper’s left.

Half time: Bully Wee 0 Pars 2