Clyde make their point with spot kick victory

Clyde started brightly, and the majority of the first half went their way. It took only two minutes before the first good chance of the game presented itself to the home side, when a Dylan Easton corner found the head of David Gormley who could only steer it over.

The chance of the half, though, came on 17 minutes. Peter MacDonald and David Gormley had been linking up well in the early exchanges, and when a MacDonald cross from the right found Gormley’s head at the back post, only an excellent piece of goalkeeping by Sean Brennan stopped Clyde taking the lead. Gormley was first to the rebound but could only hit the side netting.

Berwick had another chance on 33 minutes. It was another long ball, this time finding eventual man of the match Jordyn Sheerin, who attempted to chip the ‘keeper, and looked for a fleeting moment as if he would be successful, but Gibson held.

This would be it for action in the first half. As the second half kicked off, though, Clyde showed no sign of letting up. Just three minutes into the second period of play, the impressive partnership of Gormley and MacDonald linked up once more, as the former cut back for MacDonald to coolly slide the ball to the away ‘keeper’s right – 1-0 Clyde.

Just six minutes later, the striker could, and should, have had another. In what was almost a carbon copy of the move that led to the goal, David Gormley again cut back for Peter MacDonald, but this time he could only clip the top of the crossbar from close range.

Shortly after, Berwick found themselves on level terms. Jordyn Sheerin, who had gradually grown into the game and begun to cause Clyde some serious problems, chased down a loose ball, and when Michael Oliver and Phil Johnston both failed to clear their lines, the forward took advantage to cut inside and finish brilliantly to Gibson’s right after a mazy run during which many thought the chance was gone. An outstanding goal from the number 11.

Following the equaliser, Clyde seemed to lose focus. Two chances to take the lead came for Berwick in as many minutes, firstly with Stephen Thomson going close at the near post, and then Sheerin again heading just wide.

Clyde, then, really should have retaken the lead via David Gormley, but with Ewan McNeil’s ball from the right, he could only hit the ‘keeper from 6 yards.

In the last notable action of the 90 minutes, though, it was Berwick who should have snatched it. It was Jordyn Sheerin again, in a similar position to that of his first, but this time he was thwarted by a Michael Oliver block.

With the score tied at full time, both sides would leave with at least a point, but there would be a penalty shootout to determine who takes home the extra bonus point.

As it turned out, it would be quite the penalty shootout. Scott McLaughlin set the tone, taking the first penalty and confidently sending Brennan the wrong way, and there would not be a penalty missed by either side until sudden death. Just as it felt like we would be here all day, though, Lowdon converted Clyde’s sixth penalty, and Gibson dived to save Graeme Beveridge’s effort to earn his side the two points.