Halliwell
Mensing Potter Bollan
Arbuckle Sheridan Bryson Fotheringham
Gilhaney Wilford Harty
Raith fielded practically a different side from last season, following Claude Anelka's appointment as manager. They lined up with two trialists in their side.
Pounoussamy
Ouattara Hajovsky Trialist McAlpine
Young Paquito Brady Trialist
Sacko O'Reilly
The match started off in a fairly tepid fashion, however after four minutes, Clyde took the lead. After Pounoussamy missed a cross, the ball found its way back to Darren Sheridan who found Ian Harty on the left. After a couple of ricochets, the ball found it's way to youngster Bryson and he slotted home from about 14 yards out.
Raith then began to get the ball down and pass it about, with Paquito looking particularly effective. After a couple of easy saves for Halliwell, Paquito struck an acrobatic overhead effort which went just past the 'keepers left hand post. Despite their pressure, Raith didn't create many clear cut chances, similar in fact, to Partick's performance against the Bully Wee last week.
With half time looming, Clyde were given a chance to double their lead after Gilhaney was pulled back in the box by the trialist centre half. After booking the offender, the referee stepped back and watched Harty slot home, high to the 'keepers left.
Another late run by Harty saw him being forced wide when he should've got a shot away, before being barged off of the ball. The referee, probably correctly, deemed it a fair challenge. So, at halftime, it was Raith Rovers 0-2 Clyde.
As the second half got under way, Clyde were once more forced back into their own half. Raith however, still looked vulnerable to the longball. When Clyde won a freekick on the left wing and as Kevin Fotheringham swept it in, Clyde captain John Potter stretched to flick it past Pounoussamy, who jumped over the ball as it slid into the net.
Clyde seemed to have the match tied up and introduced young defender Paul Doyle for Aron Wilford, as they changed to a 442 formation. Losing the big striker meant that the ball was being kept almost constantly by Raith Rovers. The impressive Paquito tried an audacious chip that was superbly tipped over by Bryn Halliwell for a corner before the Spaniard brought an even-better save out of the big Englishman with a pointblank strike that was stunningly blocked.
A goal was coming for Raith and it came, when a longball by Joe McAlpine saw Doyle miss the ball completely in the air and leave Hamed Sacko with a simple finish in the box. Then, with five minutes left, Clyde again shot themselves in the foot, as a Doyle was dragged out of position by Craig Malcolm, who saw his low cross diverted into his own net by Potter. After a nervous last five minutes, which saw Raith break the rules of sportsmanship by failing to return a throw-in after the ball was cleared to allow a Raith player treatment, Clyde were thankful for a couple of good claims in the air from Halliwell and some good time wasting in the corner from Bryson, as the final whistle went.
Raith have been described as relegation certainties, however after a useful display yesterday with players injured, they may still surprise a few people. Clyde scored three goals, but didn't play at all well. Too many players looked tired and Gibson was missed, however three points at this stage of the season are vital.
Despite having several players, who were clearly not 100% and who have hardly played together, Clyde defeated a team who were desperate for their first point. Bryn Halliwell had several superb stops and looked safe throughout the match, but Craig Bryson's first team debut, was a composed display, in which he scored a good goal and ran until the final whistle, and for that he earns my Man of the Match award. If Billy Reid can get another centreback with a bit of pace, and a couple of wide midfielders, then Clyde can have another excellent season. To be the only team with 6 points so far is an achievement in itself.