Clyde 1-2 Dunfermline

Feb 24 2008 Brian Welsh Reports

CLYDE boss John Brown saw his side slump to a third straight home defeat but he was given hope that his strugglers can beat the drop by the performance of striker Pat Clarke.

Clinical Pars were 2-0 up at half-time thanks to Stephen Simmons and Mark Burchill.

But Clarke bagged his first Clyde goal from the spot after the break and almost earned a point to leave Bomber with a silver lining ahead of this week's clash with Partick Thistle.

Brown said: "It was great to see Pat get his first goal which was richly deserved given his work rate throughout the game.

"He and David worked well against two experienced centre-halves in Scott Thomson and Scott Wilson and that was a big plus. But we must play for 90 minutes not just 45."

Clyde almost opened the scoring after just seven minutes but Pars keeper Paul Gallacher tipped David McGowan's powerful downward header round the post.

Dunfermline hit the front minutes later when Simmons stooped to head Alex Burke's cross beyond the flat-footed David Hutton.

The visitors doubled their advantage in 35 minutes when Burchill tapped in after Hutton had spilled Scott Morrison's 30-yard drive.

Clyde grabbed a lifeline midway through the second half when Clarke slotted home from the spot after Wilson tripped McGowan and the livewire striker had two more chances to earn his side a point before the end.

Keeper Gallacher did well to parry from Clarke's left-foot volley before his next effort took a deflection and drifted wide.

Clyde probably deserved a point but Pars held on to the relief of boss Jim McIntyre.

He said: "We were excellent in the first half and took our goals well but Clyde put us under pressure after half-time so it was hard fought."

MoM: Clarke (Clyde)