Clyde striker Pat Clarke scored the only goal of the game to give his side a narrow advantage over Airdrie after the first leg of their Irn-Bru Scottish Football League play-off final.

The 22-year-old struck in the 77th minute at the Excelsior Stadium to give Clyde, who finished ninth in Division One, a lead ahead of the second leg against the Division Two side on Saturday.

The first half was devoid of any major incident although the loss of centre-back Bobby Donnelly through injury after only nine minutes unsettled the Airdrie defence.

An error from Marc Smith allowed Jimmy Gibson through on goal in the 15th minute in what was the best chance before half-time but Paul Lovering got back to clear the danger.

Gary Arbuckle's 25-yard volley was well saved by Stephen Robertson six minutes after the interval.

The match seemed to heading for a goalless draw before Michael McGowan's long cross-field ball eluded Darren Smith 13 minutes from time and Clarke controlled well before sliding the ball into the net.

Airdrie pressed for an equaliser and Gibson cleared a Lovering header off the line in stoppage time to maintain Clyde's one-goal advantage.