Clyde 0 Gretna 0

Last updated : 04 February 2006 By Footymad Previewer

Celtic's conquerors Clyde drew a blank against second division Gretna in a disappointing match at Broadwood.

Both sides played for most of the match with 10 men after Clyde striker Alex Williams and Gretna defender Chris Innes were sent off by referee Iain Brines for an ugly exchange.

Clyde finished with nine players when Chris Higgins was sent off for his second booking. But there was little else of note as the game became bogged down in a dire midfield battle.

Tom Brighton had a great chance to put Clyde ahead after 16 minutes when Mike McGowan sent him clear, but he shot wildly over the top.

Both teams had chances in an untidy first half, and Gretna's Ryan McGuffie was just inches away from connecting with a David Graham cut-back after 25 minutes.

McGuffie then forced Peter Cherrie to get down smartly to his right to block a header from a Gavin Skelton corner.

The game erupted in the 29th minute when Mr Brines showed the red card to Williams and Innes after the players had reacted angrily following a challenge in the Gretna box.

Mr Brines then showed yellow cards to Clyde pair Tom Brighton and Craig McKeown and Gretna's Steve Tosh as tackles started flying in from both sides.

John O'Neil had a chance to put Gretna in front shortly before half-time after Skelton set him up, but he pulled his shot well wide.

Skelton looked the most likely in the second half and cracked in another effort midway through which Cherrie dealt with well.

Brighton had a chance to win it with three minutes left, but headed wide from a Stephen O'Donnell corner. Then came Higgins' second booking and red card.