Motherwell left it late to secure the win they needed to take the top spot in group G and progress to the last 16 of the Betfred cup.
Three goals in the final 15 minutes from strikers Curtis Main, Danny Johnson and Conor Sammon saw off a plucky Clyde side which had looked determined to hold onto David Goodwillie’s first half opener.
In the knowledge that nothing less than three points would guarantee their progress from the group stages, Motherwell had only injured pair Charles Dunne and Ryan Bowman missing from what might be considered their strongest line-up.
That meant Peter Hartley returned to partner Carl McHugh at the centre of defence while at the other end Main was back to pair up with mid-week goal hero Sammon.
The pressure on the Clyde goal was immediate and a couple of efforts from Main and Andy Rose sailed over Kieran Hughes’ crossbar.
The Bully Wee ‘keeper made his first save when he comfortably gathered Main’s tame effort from 20 yards. Hughes’ next stop was much more impressive diving full length to palm Elliot Frear’s left foot drive, at the end of a mazy run, round his right hand post.
In a collision with his own ‘keeper, McHugh came off second best and having failed to recover after onfield treatment, was replaced by Liam Donnelly.
Another tempting cross from Frear found Main six yards out but he sent his header narrowly wide of goal.
At the other end, Carson was virtually a spectator for the first half hour until he picked the ball out of his net after 31 minutes.
David Goodwillie looked offside as he chased a long ball into the ‘Well box, closely marked by Hartley. As the former Scotland striker checked back though, the ‘Well captain slid and won the ball, only for it to sit up kindly for the forward who kept his composure and side-footed beyond Carson in to the far corner.
That stunned the ‘Well players who failed to muster a response for the remainder of the first half.
When the game resumed, Alex Rodriguez Gorrin had replaced Alan Campbell. The Spaniard’s first action came within five minutes but he could only rattle a 25 yard free kick into the defensive wall.
The tempo of Motherwell’s game was lifted, though, with crosses from Frear and Cadden whizzing across the home box with no takers.
On the hour Stephen Robinson decided to go with three up front bringing on Johnson for Tait.
As Clyde bravely defended their lead and Motherwell needing a break in front of goal, it came after 76 minutes. Gorrin, who enjoyed an influential 45 minutes, whipped in a corner which Rose headed towards goal. And although the ‘keeper got a touch to turn the ball on to the bar, the ball rebounded down for Main to nod it over the line.
The ‘Well players sensed a killer second goal and within two minutes they were in front. Cadden burst from the middle of the park before feeding the ball out to Frear. His cross found Johnson beyond the six yard box who lashed his finish high into the net to put Steelmen ahead.
Danny Lennon’s side kept chasing an equaliser but in the final minute another sweeping move sent Frear heading for the goal line. This time his cross into the centre found Sammon who cushioned his header directing the ball in off the post to ease any doubts that ’Well would take the three points they needed.
