Arbroath boss Allan Moore was delighted to see his side get back to winning ways after defeats from closest rivals Queen’s Park and Albion Rovers in the previous two League Two fixtures.

The Lichties were ruthless in crushing Clyde with four first half goals.

Moore said: “Coming off the back of two defeats it was good to send a message out to the rest of the league that we are back on form again.

“It was important to get a victory otherwise we might have been knocked off the top where we have been almost since the start of the season.

“Apart from the first 10 minutes, when I felt Clyde had the upper hand, we dominated.”

The home side edged ahead from the penalty spot in the 16th minute, Paul McManus calmly slotting the ball into the net after Adam Hunter had been tripped.

The Lichties doubled their advantage two minutes later, Simon Murray blasting home from close range after a McManus effort was deflected into his path.

It should have been 3-0 on the half-hour mark when Bobby Linn found himself through with only Alan Martin to beat but the Clyde keeper did well to turn the ball behind.

Linn was not to be denied, however, and three minutes before the break he jinked in from the right and unleashed a powerful left-foot shot which sailed high into the top corner.

Michael Daly came within inches of reducing the leeway shortly afterwards but on-loan Dundee United keeper Marc McCallum tipped his header over the bar.

Arbroath swept back up the park and Linn once again tormented the visiting defence with a run and shot which Martin could only push into the path of Murray who tapped home to make it 4-0.

Perhaps not surprisingly the second half was something of an anti-climax, with Clyde shoring up their midfield.

Arbroath seemed content to play out the game and any chances the Bully Wee created at the other end were expertly dealt with by McCallum and his defenders.

Moore praised the young keeper who was making only his second appearance for Arbroath.

Moore said: “The big man is loving being here and his attitude is brilliant.

“Some people said he might not want to come down to this level but I don’t know where that came from because he has been great.