Diamonds are left deflated as Kane guides Clyde to a classy victory

CLYDE 4-1 Airdrie

AFTER a poor opening half Clyde hit Airdrie with four second half goals to secure a comprehensive, and by the finish, comfortable victory.

Oddly enough, Airdrie can claim to have enjoyed the better of the exchanges before the interval and kept the ball better than their opponents. Had their finishing come any where near the standard of their open play, it might have been a different story.

Airdrie took the game to the opposition from the outset and John Elliott turned and shot high and wide from 20-yards inside the opening 20 seconds. David Fernandez was next to try his luck but his finish was just as bad and Clyde keeper Bryn Halliwell could afford a smile as the ball sailed harmlessly wide of his charge.

Clyde's first possible threat to the Airdrie goal came courtesy of a free kick impeded by Antonio Calderon when he pulled down Jamie Mitchell 25-yards out.

Nicky Henderson took the kick but what started as a rehearsed training ground set piece move ended with the Airdrie defence clearing the danger comfortably as the Clyde players appeared to lose the plot.

Paul Clark caused Clyde an anxious moment when he cut inside Gordon Greer but hesitated when an immediate cut back was called for and the danger, such as it was, passed. Fernandez was proving a handful for the Clyde defenders and, having rounded the keeper, failed to go directly for goal and allowed the Clyde players to crowd him out.

The tricky Fernandez was also guilty of play acting and, when he was refused a free kick towards the close of the half, an incensed Steve Archibald was ordered to the stand by referee Stuart Dougal. This was the Airdrie manager's second such experience in the last 10 days.

Clyde showed much more determination on the restart and went in front through Andy Kane.

The move began on the right where Steve Convery slipped past Miguel Alfonso and crossed to the far post where Kane was on hand to drive the ball home.

Airdrie looked stunned but were to suffer even more within three minutes. Once again Kane was involved in the build up by providing the left wing cross which Pat Keogh chested into the path of Mark McLaughlin whose close-in hook shot finished in the roof of the net.

Deflated Airdrie were now losing the midfield battle and Clyde threatened to run riot.

One of the many highlights of Clyde's period of pressure was another Kane cross which was headed at Wilson by Mitchell from point blank range. The brave Airdrie keeper not only kept out Mitchell's effort but somehow recovered in time to block Convery's follow up strike and turn the ball to safety.

That man Kane provided the opening for Convery to add a chance for Clyde when he raced down the left flank cut inside his defender and squared to Convery at the far post for an easy tap in. Airdrie pulled one back when substitute Martin Prest took a pass from the hardworking Fernandez to score with a rising shot.

However, Clyde soon had their three-goal advantage restored when, a minute from time, Alfonso clearly pulled down McLoughlin on his way to goal to concede a penalty kick. Airdrie's Stuart Taylor was then booked for dissent for protesting too zealously about the award.

After the dust had settled Clyde substitute Phil Cannie coolly slotted home the spot kick to put Clyde in joint top position in the league table.

Copyright 2000
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