DUNFERMLINE 1 - 1 CLYDE
Davie Hay's first ever Pars team had a familiar look to it, lining up in a 3-5-2 formation with long-term absentees Scott Thomson and Scott Wilson returning to the starting eleven after spending many months on the sidelines.
With the departure of Stevie Crawford and the absence of the injured Brewster, youngsters Noel Hunt and Billy Mehmet formed the front two.
In a largely one-sided contest the Pars had the bulk of the early possession with Noel Hunt bringing out a good save from the Clyde keeper after a deflection put him clear through on goal.
Skerla, Dempsey and Mehmet all came close before Clyde opened the scoring late in the first half after a slack Greg Shields pass-back let in Clyde midfielder Craig Bryson who rounded Derek Stillie before slotting the ball into the empty net.
The Pars almost hit straight back when Billy Mehmet took on two defenders before sending a shot just of the Clyde keeper's right-hand post. Shortly after, Noel Hunt showed good skill to set up Mehmet only for the big striker to see his shot fly into Row Z.
Just before half-time the home side won a penalty when Noel Hunt's cross was blatantly handled by Simon Mensing. The young Irishman stepped-up to take the spot kick only to see his weak shot palmed away by Clyde's trialist goalkeeper.
The start of the the second-half continued in the same vein as the first half with the Pars pressing the Clyde defence without ever causing the visitors any real problems.
After the Pars saw a Noel Hunt goal dissalowed for offside in the 53rd minute the Pars management rung the changes with the introduction of new signings Jamie Langfield, Derek Lyle, and - impending signing - Simon Donnelly.
All looked impressive with Lyle and Donnelly causing the Clyde defence all sorts of problems.
With the end drawing nearer and nearer, it looked increasingly likely that Davie Hay's first game in charge would end in defeat, especially when Clyde's No.6 was put through one-on-one with Jamie Langfield in the closing stages only for the big keeper to make an excellent diving save.
One last hopeful clearance up the field by Scott Wilson was met by Simon Donnelly on the edge of the box only for the striker to be brought down under a quite cynical challenge.
With the last kick of the game Gary Dempsey swung a terrific right-footed free-kick round the wall and into the Clyde net to salvage a draw and send the Pars fans home with at least a slight amount of satisfaction after forking out a fiver to get in.
All-in-all a good workout for the Pars with long-term absentees Thomson and Wilson looking close to full fitness, youngsters Hunt and Mehmet putting in a good shift up-front, and the new signings looking impressive.
PARS TEAM :- Stillie, (Langfield), Wilson, Skerla, Thomson, (Tod), Shields, Bryne, (Labonte), Mason, Dempsey, Nicholson, Hunt, (Lyle), Mehmet, (Donnelly).
SUBS NOT USED :- Campbell, Smith.
Man of the Match - Andrius Skerla
Davie Hay's first ever Pars team had a familiar look to it, lining up in a 3-5-2 formation with long-term absentees Scott Thomson and Scott Wilson returning to the starting eleven after spending many months on the sidelines.
With the departure of Stevie Crawford and the absence of the injured Brewster, youngsters Noel Hunt and Billy Mehmet formed the front two.
In a largely one-sided contest the Pars had the bulk of the early possession with Noel Hunt bringing out a good save from the Clyde keeper after a deflection put him clear through on goal.
Skerla, Dempsey and Mehmet all came close before Clyde opened the scoring late in the first half after a slack Greg Shields pass-back let in Clyde midfielder Craig Bryson who rounded Derek Stillie before slotting the ball into the empty net.
The Pars almost hit straight back when Billy Mehmet took on two defenders before sending a shot just of the Clyde keeper's right-hand post. Shortly after, Noel Hunt showed good skill to set up Mehmet only for the big striker to see his shot fly into Row Z.
Just before half-time the home side won a penalty when Noel Hunt's cross was blatantly handled by Simon Mensing. The young Irishman stepped-up to take the spot kick only to see his weak shot palmed away by Clyde's trialist goalkeeper.
The start of the the second-half continued in the same vein as the first half with the Pars pressing the Clyde defence without ever causing the visitors any real problems.
After the Pars saw a Noel Hunt goal dissalowed for offside in the 53rd minute the Pars management rung the changes with the introduction of new signings Jamie Langfield, Derek Lyle, and - impending signing - Simon Donnelly.
All looked impressive with Lyle and Donnelly causing the Clyde defence all sorts of problems.
With the end drawing nearer and nearer, it looked increasingly likely that Davie Hay's first game in charge would end in defeat, especially when Clyde's No.6 was put through one-on-one with Jamie Langfield in the closing stages only for the big keeper to make an excellent diving save.
One last hopeful clearance up the field by Scott Wilson was met by Simon Donnelly on the edge of the box only for the striker to be brought down under a quite cynical challenge.
With the last kick of the game Gary Dempsey swung a terrific right-footed free-kick round the wall and into the Clyde net to salvage a draw and send the Pars fans home with at least a slight amount of satisfaction after forking out a fiver to get in.
All-in-all a good workout for the Pars with long-term absentees Thomson and Wilson looking close to full fitness, youngsters Hunt and Mehmet putting in a good shift up-front, and the new signings looking impressive.
PARS TEAM :- Stillie, (Langfield), Wilson, Skerla, Thomson, (Tod), Shields, Bryne, (Labonte), Mason, Dempsey, Nicholson, Hunt, (Lyle), Mehmet, (Donnelly).
SUBS NOT USED :- Campbell, Smith.
Man of the Match - Andrius Skerla