David Goodwillie floors Edinburgh City after inspired fightback

David Goodwillie was on target for Clyde against Edinburgh City

Former Dundee United striker and Scotland internationalist Goodwillie opened the scoring before Barry Cuddihy made it 2-0, only for Scott Shepherd to reduce the deficit before half-time. Josh Walker’s early second-half penalty levelled things and City had chances to win it themselves before conceding late.

“Any late goal you concede to lose a game is a sore one,” said City manager James McDonuagh. “We showed good character at 2-0 down, but we pretty much pressed the self-destruct button for the three goals.

“At 2-2 though we’re on the front foot and we got through a few times and certainly could have been 3-2 ahead ourselves.”

Clyde were almost ahead within four minutes when Goodwillie teed up Mark Lamont. His first-time left foot strike had City goalkeeper Calum Antell beaten, but came back off the post.

The Bully Wee’s next attack did bring the opening goal. Ally Love’s driving run through the middle wasn’t halted before he fed Goodwillie, who took a touch before firing across Antell and in at the far post.

Clyde increased their lead ten minutes before the break and City were the architects of their own downfall. Jesus Garcia Tena was caught in possession and although Antell parried Goodwillie’s initial shot, Cuddihy followed up to volley home the rebound.

Just as Clyde looked to be going in at the break with a comfortable lead, City got themselves back in the game. Cameron Blues motored forward from midfield and slid the ball in behind the Clyde defence for Shepherd. His pace took him away from Callum Home before slotting his fifth goal in five games past the hosts’ keeper Blair Currie.

It took the visitors only five minutes of the second half to complete the comeback. Again Shepherd’s pace took him in behind the Clyde rearguard, this time the chasing Kevin Nicoll tripping the Falkirk loanee. The striker looked to have been initially clipped just outside the area, then hitting the ground once inside, but referee Mike Roncone pointed to the spot. Walker stepped up and dispatched low to Currie’s right to make it all square.

Some great one-touch play between Walker and Marc Laird put Shepherd in again, but the striker checked rather than shooting first-time and his effort was straight at Currie.

That was the ball City were looking for each time and again Shepherd raced away yet again, only to see his effort deflected over. Shepherd thumped home the resulting corner from close range, but it was disallowed for a foul by Pat Scullion in the build-up.

“I didn’t think it was a free-kick if I’m being honest – I’m not even sure what he’s given it for,” said McDonaugh. “He must have seen something that no-one else has. I think it was for a foul, but it’s a harsh one because Pat’s won the header at the back post and Scott’s turned it in.

“I think a draw would’ve been a fair result, although it’s easy to say that when you’ve lost. Had we gone ahead, I’m not sure we’d done enough to win, but we certainly didn’t do enough to lose.”

Clyde manager Danny  Lennon praised City’s reaction. “I had to tweak it because Edinburgh City did really well and had the ascendancy at half-time,” he explained. “Then they get the equaliser and we have to try and steady it. We did that and it’s a fantastic finish from Goody. We’re delighted.”

Eighth-placed Clyde now move five points clear of City in ninth, who themselves are eight points ahead of bottom club Cowdenbeath.

Clyde: Currie, Lang, Stewart (Cogill 78), McNiff, Home, Lamont, Cuddihy, Nicoll, Goodwillie, Millar (Grant 62), Love (Boyle 62).

Edinburgh City: Antell, Walker, Laird, Thomson, Blues, Grimes (El Alagui 82), Shepherd, Dunn, Garcia Tena, Morrison, Scullion.

Referee: M Roncone.

Attendance: 421.