Clyde 2-1 East Fife

Despite there being nothing at stake for East Fife, they threatened to be the villain of the piece at Broadwood.
Aaron Dunsmore and Ross Davidson are in the thick of the action. Pic by Craig Black.Aaron Dunsmore and Ross Davidson are in the thick of the action. Pic by Craig Black.
Aaron Dunsmore and Ross Davidson are in the thick of the action. Pic by Craig Black.

This game was simply the last of the season for the Fifers but worth far, far more to the Bully Wee.

Danny Lennon's men needed all three points to leapfrog Dumbarton out of second bottom spot and with it escape the relegation play-off zone.

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It was their biggest game of the season and that certainly showed during a first half when East Fife were very much second best across the park.

Ally Love went close, as did Ross Cunningham more than once.

East Fife offered very little but arguably had the best sight of goal in the opening stages when Scott Agnew's free-kick was met by Greig Spence who headed inches wide.

In truth that would have been cruel on the home side and nobody could grudge them their goal when it arrived.

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Cunningham hung a high ball up along the East Fife goal which nobody could clear.

It dropped invitingly for Love who couldn't miss from close range.

East Fife had been poor while Clyde looked very much like a club battling to save their skin.

Darren Young had clearly seen enough and introduced Cole McKinnon, Danny Denholm and Jack Healy at the break.

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All three made an impact and the impetus their arrivals provided East Fife paid off straight away.

A Fife corner wasn't cleared by Clyde and, in the middle of it all, Ross Dunlop was hauled to the ground by Scott Rumbsy.

Scott Agnew stepped up and sent David Mitchell the wrong way.

East Fife were a completely different side in the second half, showing far more appetite and desire.

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Ross Davidson was immense in the middle of the park, breaking up everything Clyde tried to create.

Sean Brown had to do a lot of work up front and work he certainly did.

The forward put in a terrific shift and had a couple of sights of goal as East Fife pressed.

Clyde nerves were jangling and they failed to test Jordan Hart's goal.

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They were desperate for a goal and needed someone to dig them out of a hole.

Any surprise then that David Goodwillie did just that?

The striker had been relatively quiet but, typically, was in the right place at the right time when needed.

A shot was beaten away by Hart back out into the six yard box where Goodwillie was waiting to pounce on any scraps and he did just that, netting from close range.

Fife boss Young said: "Clyde were on top and a lot to play for.

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"We were lucky to go in at half time 1-0 down although we had a strong penalty claim when their keeper has gone through Sean Brown.

"But we weren't up to much so made a few changes at half time which brought us back into the game.

"For 30 minutes of the second half we controlled it very comfortably.

"But when we're on top we need to be ruthless and that's been something that's been there all season, getting into good areas and then not finishing or getting a shot on target."

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