Harvey Swann ensured that personal and refereeing wrongs were put right as his spot-kick earned Cowdenbeath a draw – even though his legs were shaking when he did it.
Despite drawing blanks in five consecutive games, Billy Brown’s side showed no lack of confidence at Broadwood and Bradley Smith almost volleyed them in front before the half-time whistle.
Within 90 seconds of the second half getting under way, Josh Morris was presented with a great chance to end the long wait for a goal when Ryan Connolly picked him out after a surging run but he failed to connect properly with the ball.
Clyde then enjoyed their best spell and Scott Ferguson set up Smart Osadolor to put them in front with 15 minutes left.
Cowdenbeath shrugged that off and looked to be getting the chance to level from the penalty spot when Jack Breslin’s arm pushed David Syme’s header off the Clyde goal-line.
Referee Craig Charleston awarded only a corner and a sixth consecutive defeat loomed large until Swann was tripped by Ferguson at the edge of the box in injury-time and this time a spot-kick was awarded.
Swann said: “I may have got the benefit of the doubt about being in the box but we should have had a penalty for handball.”
The left-sided midfielder grabbed the ball and after Breslin was sent off for his protests he slotted in to take a deserved point back to Fife.
The 20-year-old said: “I felt that I was at fault when Clyde scored and it was up to me to do something about it.
“I am delighted that the boys trusted me with the penalty especially as it was the last opportunity to score.
“That was my first penalty – in fact it was my first ever senior goal. To be honest I was far from calm and my legs were shaking.
“David Syme usually takes them but I said that I wanted to redeem myself and I did.
“We have not been playing badly but we have not been able to score goals It was important that we got something from the game.”
