The Thistle Archive

Media report

PARTICK'S LOAN SWEDE LINDAU MANAGES TO TURN UP WINNER. THISTLE'S narrow victory was thanks to a well-taken goal by Peter Lindau, signed on Friday on a month's loan from Ayr United by the Firhill side. The Swedish striker had twice gone close for the home side in the opening 15 minutes but both his efforts had ended up in the side netting. However, Lindau was more successful in the 25th minute when mounting Thistle pressure at last paid off. Paul Macintyre's clever pass beat the visitors' offside trap and Lindau intelligently lifted the ball over advancing Stenhousemuir goalkeeper Lyndsay Hamilton. The home side's neat build-up play was repeatedly spoiled by a poor final pass though the bumpy surface did not help. Lindau's partner up front, new signing Scott McLean from Inverness CT, was also holding the ball up well as the Firhill side gained in confidence. Just before the interval, Thistle nearly increased their lead when a Landau cross looked to be falling nicely for Albert Craig, but Hamilton was able to gather the ball at the last minute.

The visitors squandered a marvellous chance to equalise on the hour mark. Ross Hamilton's pass found Alan Banks in plenty of space but somehow the wing back screwed his shot wide. Thistle responded to this narrow escape with a couple of near misses themselves. Mclean did well to find space before drilling a shot across the face of goal which only needed a touch. Then a flowing move involving Quinton Jacobs, Mclean and the tireless Danny Lennon ended with the former Raith and Ayr player shooting narrowly over from outside the box. Stenhousemuir stepped up the pressure in search of an equaliser and veteran Alan Lawrence somehow managed to totally miscue his shot in front of goal when the ball fell kindly to him. Only a last-ditch tackle by McIntyre prevented Colin McKinnon from breaking clear on goal. The visitors' inswinging corners were creating all sorts of mayhem for the home defence and from one such corner Tommy Graham's header was held by Thistle's young goalkeeper Kenny Arthur. From another corner, however, Arthur did not look so clever as he flapped at the ball but, fortunately for him, Ray Montgomerie was on hand to clear off the line. To finish off what had turned from a promising to a miserable afternoon for the visitors, Martin Mooney was only inches out with a last-minute drive. This result returns Thistle to winning ways after their defeat a fortnight ago at Ross County, but the Firhill side will need to offer much more than this type of display if they hope to be involved in the promotion race at the end of the season.

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