A goal in each half from Barry Cuddihy and Scott Williamson sealed three points for Clyde and confirmed Edinburgh City’s place in the SPFL Pyramid Playoff. Caitlyn Gordon reports:
Several changes were made to Michael McIndoe’s side with a selection of players from the cup-winning Under-20s appearing on the teamsheet. Jason Jarvis, Quinn Mitchell, Malik Zaid and Innes Lawson were all absent through injury as Ouzy See, Erik Sul’a and James Lyon returned to the starting eleven.
Mason Beattie made his SPFL debut from the start, with fellow academy players Jack Dewar, Brandon Davis, Kasper Kitchin and Callum Law making up the bench.
The visitors had the first opportunity of the game which resulted in a goal after four minutes. Barry Cuddihy wasted no time in striking from the centre of the box to hand Clyde an early lead.
The Citizens aimed to draw level moments later with a chance of their own, Divine Iserhienrhien bypassed Clyde’s midfield, ran up the right hand side, and let fly with a shot, but Jay Hogarth saved the ball well.
A gilt-edged chance opened up for City in the 27th minute as Callum Brodie’s throw-in found Max Guthrie, who half-volleyed goalwards. Hogarth was equal to the effort from City’s number nineteen.
City were determined to bounce back, and started the second half in promising fashion. Dylan Williams lined up a free kick which flew narrowly wide of the post.
The Bully Wee doubled their lead in the 61st minute after a controversial penalty decision. Scott Williamson made no mistake from the spot.
City almost pulled a goal back in the 80th minute after Williams once again threatened Hogarth, but the Airdrie loanee could only watch as his shot cannoned off the crossbar. Iserhienrhien then looked certain to score as he caught Hogarth in no-man’s-land, but his effort bounced wide of the target.
Michael McIndoe gave his thoughts on the game after the full time whistle:
“A decent game, we tried something different today, changed formation”
“We are up to nine injuries now, so it was important to give the squad players some minutes, and a lot of them did really well. I thought the game’s first and second half were even.”
“It was hard to pick any negatives today apart from the two goals. We got caught a little disjointed for the first goal, the spaces were a little too big in our defensive third. Apart from that, there were a lot of young players out there today, competing against a lot of experienced players.”
McIndoe was quick to praise the impact made by Mason Beattie, Brandon Davis, Kasper Kitchin and Callum Law, who all made their SPFL debuts for the club:
“That’s four SPFL debuts today, which is great for the academy, a lot of the boys have done well, strong, aggressive, powerful when they need to be”
“We got four SPFL debuts there, Callum (Brodie) who is 17, the two Williams brothers and Divine are 18. About eight or nine players on the pitch today are under the age of 19, which is fantastic for the football club”
Edinburgh City’s next match is away to table-topping East Kilbride on Saturday 18th April.
