IAN Little tasted defeat for the first time in his five games as acting manager of Berwick Rangers, but is keeping his sights firmly fixed on becoming the permanent boss.

“I am still very much on a learning curve, ” admitted Little. “There are certain things I have taken on board from this defeat.

“We started the game with three up top but I realised early on that it was not working and reverted to 4-4-2 after which we settled more into the game.

“I have no complaints about the first-half penalty decision but I am disappointed with the second.”

Steven Notman squandered a chance for the hosts before Clyde took the lead after 24 minutes when keeper Jamie Barclay was judged to have brought down Jordan White after a botched clearance by Michael Deland.

John Sweeney made no mistake with the spot-kick.

Only the bar prevented John Neill doubling the tally before the break with the Bully Wee playing the more fluent attacking football.

Liam Cusack missed a great chance early in the second half when he fired wide after rounding the keeper.

Berwick finally got their act together and applied sustained pressure with Ross Gray shaving the frame after Clyde’s trialist keeper saved a fierce 25-yard strike by Kevin McDonald.

But any hopes of Rangers salvaging a point fizzled out four minutes before the end when the alert Cusack darted in front of Barclay to guide home a cross from Michael Oliver.

BERWICK: Barclay, Elliot Smith, McLean, Townsley, Deland (Damon Gray 78), Notman, Currie, McDonald, Noble, Gribben (Lavery 64), Ross Gray. Subs (not used): Wood, Greenhill, Thompson. Booked: Elliot Smith, Currie, McDonald, Deland.

CLYDE: A Trialist, Gray, B Trialist, McQueen, Sharp, Hay, Neill, Scullion, Sweeney, White (Oliver 83), Cusack (Irvime 89). Subs (not used): McCue, Fitzpatrick, Archdeacon.

Booked: McQueen, Sweeney, Hay.

Goals: Sweeney 25 pen, Cusack 86.

Referee: David Somers (Scotland) Attendance: 410