Clyde gain upper hand in play-off battle

The Bully Wee were on the back foot early on before coming close when Jordan Kirkpatrick put a decent chance wide of the target.

Injury doubts Mark McLaughlin and John Gemmell were passed fit to play before kick-off and both were heavily involved when Barry Ferguson’s men made the breakthrough in 19 minutes.

Skipper McLaughlin powered in a header which came back off the bar, but striker Gemmell was on hand to scramble the ball home for the opener.

Clyde then put firmly themselves in control of the tie by doubling their advantage four minutes before half-time, Scott Linton beating Elgin ’keeper Mark Hurst with a terrific strike from 20 yards.

Elgin needed a goal to get back into the tie and they got it four minutes after the restart, Kyle McLeod heading in a Marc McKenzie cross from close range.

But Clyde gave themselves a potentially crucial cushion for Saturday’s second leg when McLaughlin headed home a third goal in 67 minutes.

The winners will play either Queen’s Park or Cowdenbeath in the play-off final.