Ian Campbell had a selection headache every manager wants, almost a full squad to select from. Only Gary Bollan was unavailable for the match while David Hannah, who has signed until the end of the season, made his debut at centre back.
Clyde started the better of the two teams and the lack of pace of the Brechin side was constantly put to the test by a youthful Clyde side.
The bully wee created a few half chances before they opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Kevin MacDonald’s free kick was cleared out to the edge of the box but only as far as Eddie Malone, who struck past a clump of bodies inside the box and high into the net to give Craig Nelson no chance in the Brechin goal.
Clyde continued to pile on the pressure but it was Brechin who popped up with the equaliser ten minutes from the break. Clyde elected to take a free kick despite one of their players requiring treatment, but the plan backfired and Chris Templeman knocked the ball low into the box for Stuart Callaghan to deftly touch the ball into the net. The Clyde players protested with the referee but it was in fact them who played on in the first place.
In the second half, the gulf in pace between the two teams really started to show and the Clyde attackers really started stretching the City rearguard. The Bully Wee deservedly regained their lead five minutes into the second half when Alex Williams swept the ball into the net after Eddie Malone’s clever pass.
Barely three minutes later and the game was effectively finished as a contest as Clyde added another goal. Dougie Imrie made a clever run down the left hand side before supplying a deep cross for Alex Williams at the back post, who headed past Craig Nelson from an awkward angle. ‘Nelly’ will no doubt have been disappointed to concede such a soft goal at his near post.
Williams completed an eighth minute hat-trick five minutes later. Some awfully poor defending by Brechin gave possession to Clyde and Williams was played through on goal with a neat pass, and the striker took his time before chipping the ball over Nelson and into the net with no Brechin defenders within 10 yards of the opportunist striker.
City’s day went from bad to worse as they were reduced to ten men 14 minutes from time. Danny Grainger picked up a second yellow for a rash challenge on a Clyde player and kicked the ball into the stand in frustration.
Clyde completed the rout 12 minutes from time when a flowing move involving Tom Brighton and Craig Bryson, with the latter flighting the ball into the box for Stephen O’Donnell who controlled neatly before dispatching the ball low into the net.