Elgin City manager Jim Weir shrugged off the disappointment of this first leg defeat to insist his side can still reach the play-off final.
A goal from Mark McLaughlin midway through the second half means Clyde have a two-goal cushion going into Saturday’s return leg at Borough Briggs.
That effort came after Kyle MacLeod’s header had reduced the deficit following first-half goals from John Gemmell and Scott Linton.
Weir said: “The tie is not over. We have an excellent home record and getting the first goal at Borough Briggs can change everything. If the boot was on the other foot I would not be thinking my team was through.”
The Elgin manager added: “We started well so it was disappointing to find ourselves a goal down, especially as it was a poor goal to concede.
“We were naive and let them take a quick free kick. It could also have been offside but I could complain about decisions all day long, especially as, at their third goal, it was our throw-in.
“However, we did not help ourselves with our defending at the first and third goals.”
Clyde assistant manager Bob Malcolm, deputising for manager Barry Ferguson who is in Switzerland on a Uefa coaching course, said: “It was an excellent result and a good performance, but we all know nothing has been achieved as yet.”