WE CAN WIN UGLY

CLYDE grabbed their first win in nearly four months as manager John McCormack vowed to prove the doubters wrong.

Goals from Willie Sawyers and Jordan White closed the gap on Arbroath to 11 points ahead of last night's (Tuesday) trip to Peterhead.

Then on Saturday is probably the Bully Wee's most important game of the season when they host Arbroath at Broadwood.

McCormack said: "We have been playing well but perhaps haven't had 90 minutes of concentration, we had that against East Fife.

"During my time at Morton, Queen's Park and Albion Rovers my team was written off at some stage, but on each occasion we proved everyone wrong and I am determined to do the same to the non-believers here.

"Against East Fife we showed we can win ugly, and while I thought everyone would prefer to see nice football if they are just happy with the result then I'm sure with nine games to go we can go out and win far more than we lose."

Clyde should have taken the lead on 13 minutes as a mistake by David Muir let in Kris Doolan, but one-on-one with goalkeeper Michael brown the on loan Partick Thistle striker couldn't hold his nerve.

Muir wasn't having the best of games and Alan Lithgow's header deflected off the defender's shoulder and fell nicely for Doolan but he dragged his shot wide.

East Fife broke out of their lethargy with player manager Stephen Crawford leading from the front as he crashed a 20-yeard shot off the bar.

But it was Clyde who continued to create the better chances as Brown tipped over a Sawyers header from close range.

Three minutes after the break Sawyers wouldn't be denied as he got on the end of Ally Park's cross to the back post to stab the ball home.

East Fife almost hit back immediately as Aaron Conway sent Crawford clear, he rounded Callum Reidford but took too long and Lithgow got back to clear off the line.

On 72 minutes it was 2-0 as Lithgow's long throw-in found its way to Doolan who headed into the path of White and the wide-man volleyed past Brown from inside the six yard box.

Twelve minutes from the end the visitors pulled a goal back in the most controversial circumstances.

Park was adjudged to have fouled Crawford in the corner and when the free kick came over Paul McManus got in ahead of Reidford to head goalwards but Lithgow cleared from what seemed to be well in front of the line.

Play continued and Lloyd Young had a shot that was again blocked on the line by Lithgow, at which point everyone realised that referee George Salmond had given a goal presumably for McManus's effort.

However, Clyde weren't to be denied and held on for the three points.

CLYDE: Reidford, Park, Boyle, Kinniburgh (McLachlan 37), Lithgow, McGowan, White, Stevenson (Gramovics 90), Sawyers (Borisovs 86), Doolan, Strachan.

EAST FIFE: Brown, Murdoch, Ovenstone (Look 50), Muir, Nugent, McCunnie, Conway (Cargill 59), Young, McManus, Crawford, Linn.

Referee: George Salmond.

Attendance: 583.

News and Chronicle Man of the Match: Alan Lithgow.