The Thistle Archive

Media report

STRAN-DED BY A DOUBLE. SIZZLING Stranraer last night blew a gaping hole in Partick Thistle's promotion challenge. Two goals in the first 11 minutes set up the Stair Park side to clinch their first league victory since the week before Christmas. For John Lambie's Jags it was only their third defeat since the beginning of October. But it cost them the chance to cut the gap on leaders Clyde, who were held 2-2 at Ross County.

Stranraer made a blistering start and rocked Thistle with two goals in as many minutes. With just eight minutes on the clock they split the Jags defence with a great three-man move. Paul Watson sent Ian Harty on a run and his square pass was rammed home by Paul Ronald. Two minutes later Harty raced on to a long ball and without breaking stride fired goalwards, the ball chipping the inside of the post on its way into the net. Jags struggled to recover but on the half-hour Albert Craig burst into space only to find goalkeeper Mark McGeown racing out of goal to block his shot and send the ball spinning out for a corner.

Lambie's men finally woke up at the start of the second half. McGeown fumbled a Danny Lennon shot, Willie Furphy cleared and then the keeper tipped over an Alan Archibald drive. Stranraer's defence crumbled in 75 minutes. McGeown punched clear but Des McKeown lobbed the ball straight back into the net. But Jim Smith made sure of the win with a header seven minutes from time.

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