The needle between these two sides was evident from the onset, and the emphasis was very much on the physical side at the expense of creativity.
Clyde came close when Craig McKeown's header from Stephen O'Donnell's free-kick was well held by David McEwan. Chances were at a premium at both ends, but Clyde eventually made the breakthrough after 24 minutes.
Eddie Malone's corner from the right was headed across goal by Tom Brighton, and Alex Williams stooped at the far post to score with his head. This provoked a confrontation between the management teams causing the referee to intervene to restore calm.
Clyde should have gone further in front a minute after the restart, but Williams missed an open goal following a great through pass by Brighton.
Clyde almost lost a goal when a defensive mix-up allowed Scott Tunbridge to send a header just wide, but the equaliser wasn't far away. Derek Fleming sent over a cross from the left flank, and Pat Keogh beat the advancing keeper with a flick of the outside of his right boot.
Keogh netted again a minute later, but the goal was rightly chopped off for a foul against the keeper.
Both sides pushed for a winner with Tunbridge hitting the bar for Hamilton and Clyde's Michael McGowan was denied by McKeown's point-blank save in the final minute.