Clyde 2 - 4 Partick Thistle: Partick get show back on the road

Published on Saturday 3 January 2009 18:39

Clarke 20, 53 pen Donnelly 29; Harkins 32 pen; Paton 41; Buchanan 86

THISTLE grabbed the spoils as Glasgow's alternative derby produced plenty of thrills at chilly Broadwood.

Yet the outcome was harsh on a Clyde side who have now failed to beat their old rivals in seven attempts.

Home boss John Brown handed a debut to Tony Stevenson, a loan signing from Hamilton Accies while Craig O'Reilly, another new boy, was on the bench. Thistle counterpart Ian McCall made four changes from the side which lost at Morton in midweek.

The visitors made the brighter start with Simon Donnelly trying his luck with a 30-yard snapshot inside the first two minutes.

David Hutton could only claw the ball behind at his right-hand post but did better when he dived to save Donnelly's header from Paul Paton's corner.

The Bully Wee failed to deal with a Paton corner moments later and this time a Gary Harkins shot was blocked by Mark Brown.

At the other end Willie McLaren sparked Clyde's first raid with a pinpoint diagonal pass which put Alan Lowing in the clear. However, the on-loan Rangers wing-back saw his cross-cum-shot deflected behind for a corner.

The skilful McLaren was at the heart of Clyde's best offensive work and he linked with Stevenson before slipping a neat pass behind the Jags defence for Pat Clarke, who hit the side netting.

A rare slip by the commanding Billy Gibson allowed Liam Buchanan a sight of goal and his volley from the edge of the box was just too high.

Thistle were quickly back in their own box as Clyde looked capable of seizing control and Jonny Tuffey was fortunate not to be punished when he flapped at Stevenson's corner and saw Clarke's shot blocked by Harkins.

However, the Jags keeper was at least partly culpable as the Bully Wee went ahead in 20 minutes. He and Simon Storey hesitated in dealing with a harmless through ball and Clarke coolly slotted into an empty net.

If Clyde thought they were in for an easy ride, they were quickly given other ideas as Thistle responded in a 12-minute purple period that yielded three goals – as many as they had scored away from Firhill all season.

Clyde should already have cleared the ball before Marc Twaddle was allowed to swing in a teasing cross which Donnelly bulleted high into the net for his first league goal of the seasonx.

Stevenson then saw his shot brilliantly blocked by Alan Archibald before Alan Lithgow's rash tackle on Buchanan resulted in a Jags penalty which Harkins calmly converted.

There was further calamitous defending as Thistle went further ahead before the break, Stuart Kettlewell's attempted interception falling for Paton.

Clyde responded on the restart with McLaren forcing a fine diving save from Tuffey before Alan Trouten shot wide from inside the six yard box.

Scott Chaplain blazed Buchanan's chip over the bar from 12 yards as Thistle squandered the chance to put the issue beyond doubt.

Instead the Bully Wee were handed a lifeline when McKay was upended in the box by Twaddle and Clarke gave Tuffey no chance from the penalty spot.

However, Thistle had the final say in a thrilling clash when Buchanan nipped in behind the home defence and rifled home the clincher.