CLYDE'S fate was sealed in the cruellest fashion after a battling win counted for nothing thanks to Airdrie's late winner at Firhill.
The Bully Wee's perilous position was reflected in a nervy opening period during which misplaced and niggling fou
ls were commonplace.
However, John Brown's men shrugged off their nerves to create the first genuine chance in 17 minutes when the skilful Willie McLaren outfoxed David Cowan before crossing for the in-rushing Gregory Tade.
The midfielder's shot, though, was too close to Rab Douglas who saved comfortably.
Dundee responded immediately when former Clyde full-back Eddie Malone's cross had David Hutton at full stretch to tip over.
The keeper did even better moments later when Giorgos Efrem fastened on to Jim Lauchlan's long through ball and saw his firm shot brilliantly blocked.
Lauchlan came to his side's rescue twice in quick succession when he first blocked another Tade effort following a cross by Pat Clarke. The veteran defender was then in the right place to intercept McLaren's cross after the winger had played a neat one-two with Ricky Waddell.
Clyde stepped up the pace on the restart and the opener came when McLaren swung over the corner and Andrew Shinnie's attempted clearance deflected into his own net.
Clyde were by far the hungrier and they were rewarded when sub David Winters sent through a defence-splitting pass and McLaren drew Douglas before slotting into the empty net.
It looked enough to take the relegation battle into the final day until news of Airdrie's win sent the Bully Wee down.
The full article contains 285 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
