Match Report

An early goal from Aidan Smith helped secure a point for Annan at home in a 1-1 draw against Clyde in what turned out to be a game of two halves.

Saturday afternoon’s game marked the fourth time these two sides would meet this season, as Wullie Gibson’s side looked to extend their unbeaten streak in the league since Clyde beat Annan in November.

Annan, off the back of a 2-2 draw to Edinburgh City, made two changes to the starting XI, with Daryl Carrick replacing Ryan Muir and Paul Smith replaced by Timam Scott. However, the squad remained the same.

Clyde’s starting team included one change from their last outing vs Spartans as Darren Hynes replaced Barry Cuddihy at right back.

It was Annan who had the first chance of the game in the opening minute. Gibson sprayed the ball out right to Scott, who drove down the wing into the box, but his one-on-one chance was saved by the Clyde keeper Jay Hogarth.

Aidan Smith would open the scoring for Annan after just seven minutes, when Joel Mumbongo won a corner on the left-hand side after a tussle with Logan Dunachie. Gibson whipped the ball to the back post, dropping to Aidan Smith, whose left-footed shot left Hogarth with no chance, and fired Annan into the lead.

Shortly after the goal, both Charlie Maxwell and Tommy Muir were given yellow cards following a scuffle between both teams, with Annan fans feeling Clyde went unpunished.

At 13 minutes, another Gibson corner would be sent into the box. The ball failing to be attacked would land to Scott on the edge, yet the wingers left footed shot narrowly went over the bar.

Gibson, involved once again, won the ball off the Clyde skipper, Andrew Murdoch in the middle of the park. Gibson dished it off to Scott, who took on Sam Campbell, but his shot would go off target.

Clyde’s first chance of the game fell after 20 minutes when Murdoch sent the ball across to Hynes. However, the right back’s shot would fly over the bar, not leaving Charlie Albinson with anything to worry about.

Annan had the ball in the net for a second time, but it was ruled out by referee Jordan Curran for a foul by Scott on the Clyde left back in the build-up to the goal.

Annan continued to look the better side after the first half hour. Scott, shining so far in the match, received the ball from Cammy Clark on the right wing. He created space for a shot and shifted the ball onto his left foot, but his effort was deflected and held by Hogarth.

Shortly after, Gibson would win a free kick on the left–hand side for Annan. Launching the ball into the area, Keith Watson met the cross and headed goalwards, whose shot looped onto the top of the bar, and out for a goal kick.

Right before the break, Campbell slid in on Scott, leaving the Annan man down. Turning to the bench,Josh Dixon would replace the injured Scott, who was unable to continue.

Half-time: Annan Athletic FC 1 Clyde FC 0

The home side would kick off, following on from a dominant first–half display, with the scoreline not doing the performance justice. Both sides would remain unchanged from the 11 that finished the half.

In the 49th minute, Albinson was forced into action early in the half. James Hilton’s curling effort from a free kick was heading goalwards, but Albinson would save acrobatically, forcing the attempt over.

Gibson stood over another corner and would deliver yet another dangerous set piece into the box. The cross was met by the head of Aidan Smith at the back post, but he could not convert as the shot went wide.

Myles Gaffney was introduced in place of Mumbongo in the 65th minute, bringing a pair of fresh legs to the attack as Annan looked to extend their lead.

73 minutes in, Clyde would level the scoring. Annan failed to clear the ball from a Clyde attack down the right, with the ball landing to Hynes in the box, who slotted the ball past Albinson with the outside of his boot.

Paul Smith would replace captain Tommy Muir with 15 minutes left to play, marking Annan’s third substitution and he was straight into the action when the ball was played down the line to him. Hogarth was caught in no man’s land, but Paul Smith was too wide to convert the chance.

The last chance of the game would fall to Clyde substitute Kyle Connell, who skipped past Hooper and shot from distance. Despite the power, it would not trouble Albinson as it went wide of the post.

The final whistle blew, and Annan claimed a point that they could rightfully feel they deserved.

Report by Owen Clanachan