Clyde 2-1 East Fife – Match Report by Oli Anderson
🏆KDM Evolution Trophy
📍New Douglas Park
🗓️Tuesday 23rd September | Kick-off: 7:45pm
East Fife faced their first defeat of the KDM Evolution Cup campaign at New Douglas Park when they were toppled 2-1 by Darren Young’s Clyde side.
East Fife failed to get going in the game, and Clyde were deserving of the three points in the end.
The Fifers started the game on the back foot, with Clyde in the driving seat from the off. After ten minutes, East Fife were under pressure as Robbie Leitch danced in behind. He fired a shot at Matty Rollo, who was equal to it, before he gathered the rebound.
Just five minutes later, they found the lead. The ball looked to run out of play following a set piece, although the Bully Wee were alert and kept it in play. They flashed the ball back across the box to Scott Williamson, who made no mistake with his finish.
East Fife looked to have a won penalty five minutes later, after the Clyde defender crashed through the back of Fash in the box. Alas, the referee said no foul and the teams played on.
There were no other real chances in the first half, and Clyde were deserving of their one goal lead.
Half Time: Clyde 1-0 East Fife.
Unfortunately, the second half continued as the first half ended, with Clyde in complete control. It should be noted that East Fife held much more of the ball in the second half, but failed to threaten for the most part, with the hosts comfortable for the majority of proceedings.
Our only real chance before conceding the second came from a Michael McKenna free kick after the hour mark. He sent it over the wall and forced a fingertip from the Bully Wee ‘keeper.
A string of defensive impurities led to Clyde’s second of the evening. A simple threaded pass broke the defensive line, sending Williamson through one-on-one with Rollo. Matty made the original stop but remained down injured. Brian Easton looked to then clear the loose ball, though it rebounded off Marley Redfern and onto the crossbar before he tapped in the rebound.
East Fife received a consolation in the dying embers, as Gregor Nicol slipped Rob Jones in behind. Jonesy made his finish look routine, as he drilled it low, and gave the Fifers a small chance against the run of play.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t grab a second, and the game ended with East Fife facing defeat for the first time in eight games.
Reporter’s Man of the Match: Rob Jones
A positive aspect of what was, in all truth, a poor day at the office for the Fifers. Jones put himself about and took his goal well.
Clyde – Kinnear, Trialist (Howie 51′), Campbell, Dunachie, Hynes, Leitch (Bradley 65′), Nevans (Redfern 65′), Fleming, Sutherland (Niang 84′), Murdoch (Hilton 84′), Williamson. Subs not used: Hogarth, Connell.
East Fife – Rollo, McLeod, Newton (Peggie 61′), Munro, Bah, Millar (Nicol 80′), McManus (Easton 85′), Latona (Norey 61′), McKenna, Austin, Goss (Jones 61′). Subs not used: Thomson, Slattery.
Referee – Joel Kennedy
Attendance 191
