Raith Rovers 3 Clyde 3

Last updated : 12 February 2005 By Footymad Previewer
Clyde extended their unbeaten run to five games in a six-goal thriller at Starks Park, the hero for the Bully Wee being striker Ian Harty who scored all three of his side's goals, two of which came via the penalty spot.

The talking point from an eventful first half was a 22-man brawl which occured in the 28th minute. The incident was sparked off by a two-footed tackle by Raith's Jonathan Smart on Clyde's John Potter, the challenge resulting in every single player on the pitch rushing to become involved.

In the aftermath referee Colin Hardie gave out three bookings, Smart of Raith for the tackle, along with Clyde pair Gary Bollan and Darren Sheridan for their respective contributions to the mayhem which followed.

Prior to that particular incident, Stephen Tulloch had given Raith an unexpected 16th minute lead, the youngster glancing home a header from a Scott Crabbe free-kick in what was his first start for the club.

The visitors equalised seven minutes from the interval when Harty collected the ball on the edge of the penalty box before sending a ferocious angular shot beyond the diving David Berthelot.

Clyde took the lead early in the second half from the penalty spot, Harty firing home after Iain Davidson had brought down Graham Jones in front of goal, but Raith levelled after 71 minutes through on-loan striker Pat Clarke, who forced the ball home from close range after Tulloch had headed on Eamon Fullerton's corner.

Another penalty award to Clyde three minutes later, however, given this time for a foul by Tulloch on Harty, gave the Cumbernauld the chance to restore their lead. Harty again drove the spot-kick home to record his hat-trick, but the visitors' celebrations were cut short when Clarke fired a low shot past Bryn Halliwell in the 74th minute to give Raith a point.