Clyde have their noses in front in East Fife play-off crunch, but only just, admits boss

Clyde boss Jim Duffy hopes for another break that puts his side in the League One play-off final next week, after taking a 1-0 lead into their semi-final second leg on Friday.

Martin Rennie’s 53rd-minute goal was enough to take a win from East Fife last night, while Annan Athletic put one foot in the final with a 6-0 rout of Duffy’s former club Dumbarton.

Duffy expects another stuffy game at New Douglas Park, and hopes his side have enough to get over the line.

He told the Clyde website: “It was a very tough match, there were chances for both teams, and fortunately we took one of ours.

“Our keeper had a couple of brilliant saves in the first half and I think there was another really good save in the second half.

“We scored and Cammy [Salkeld] had another great chance that just missed the far post, so overall, these games are highly competitive, very difficult and invariably – I know it wasn’t quite the case tonight , I’ve just seen a couple of the other results – but invariably they’re really tight.

“That’s the way it was tonight and I expect the same on Friday.”

Clyde went close to scoring an early opener when Liam Scullion’s free kick was cleared by keeper Allan Fleming, but bounced back off Rennie and was flying towards goal before Fleming grabbed it again.

East Fife went close in 35 minutes but Scott Shepherd’s shot was well saved by Ryan Mullen.

But the Bully Wee took the lead seven minutes into the second half when good work by Salkeld set up Rennie for what proved to be the winner.

East Fife nearly levelled when Brogan Walls forced Mullen into another good save, before Jack Healy curled a shot just wide.

Salkeld was given a chance to score a second for Clyde, but dragged his effort just wide.

Duffy added: “You’re