A dozen games without a win

Berwick Rangers 2Clyde 1The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Third Division

CLYDE can count themselves unfortunate as their 12-game run without a win continued when they crossed the border on Saturday.

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The inclusion of this season's top goalscorer Mark McCusker and last season's hotshot Willie Sawyers into the line-up gave cause for optimism with JC Hutchison, Ally Park and Kevin Finlayson also recalled to the starting line-up.

However, even with director of football Neil Watt making his presence known in the dugout, it was the same old story as the Bully Wee dominated the match but were undone in a crazy two-minute spell late in the second half.

The surface at Shielfield Park may more closely resemble a rugby pitch, but Clyde quickly got to grips with the task at hand and McCusker had the first effort on goal. However, his header from Finlayson's cross went wide.

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Paul McMullan had been the difference between the sides when they met in the Scottish Cup last month and he showed once again how dangerous he can be with a mazy run that deserved a better finish than his weak effort at Hutchison.

The home side should have ended the first half ahead as McMullan put a free-kick to the back post and Steven Notman somehow headed just wide when it looked easier to at least hit the target.

In the 62nd minute the Bully Wee took a deserved lead as Nicki Paterson touched a free-kick into the path of Alan Lithgow who rifled the ball past Peat.

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Sawyers could have made it two-nil one-on-one with Peat but he fluffed his shot and the goalkeeper prevented Adam Strachan squeezing the ball in at his near post.

Sawyers did have the ball in the net on 75 minutes but was ruled out for a Lithgow foul in the build-up and unfortunately, Clyde's afternoon then fell to pieces.

On 78 minutes Andy McLean released McMullan down the left and substitute Ian Little sneaked in at the near post to head in the winger's cross.

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Two minutes later the Borderers were ahead as Hutchison did well to save McMullan's powerful drive and referee Kevin Clancy decided Lithgow then touched McLean's follow-up over the bar with his hand.

The inevitable red card followed for Lithgow and Paul Currie stepped up to blast home the penalty leaving the Bully Wee with another defeat.

Due to the Scottish Cup Clyde have no game this weekend and will be back in action when they face Queen's Park at Broadwood on November 27.

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BERWICK RANGERS: Peat, Smith, Thomson, McLean, McLeod, Notman, Gordon (Little 69), Currie, Brazil (O'Reilly 69), McLaren (Ponton 89), McMullan.

CLYDE: Hutchison, Park (Henderson 81), McGowan, McMillan, Lithgow, Paterson, Finlayson, McCusker, Sawyers (Mills 81), Sweeney (Waddell 86), Strachan.

Referee: Kevin Clancy.

Attendance: 432.

News & Chronicle Man of the Match: Alan Lithgow.