The Thistle Archive

Media report

HOT-SHOT JAGS PROVE THEY'RE THE FOURMOST TEAM IN THE TABLE. PARTICK THISTLE blasted in four goals in the second half to power 21 points clear at the top of the Second Division. Although nearest rivals Stranraer have four games in hand, John Lambie's men took certain to fly the Championship flag.

Cash-strapped Bankies were given a huge boost to their coffer by the huge travelling Thistle support on the Cappielow terraces. But on the pitch there was never going to be any love lost between these bitter rivals. The Jags fielded the same 11 that beat Forfar on Saturday but it was Bankies who had the first attempt on goal in five minutes when Martin Glancy's volley narrowly missed the target. At the other end striker Scott McLean skipped past Gerry Farrell and Scott Murdoch but his cutback to Martin Hardie failed to provide the deserved finish and the ball sailed over the bar. McLean then watched in dismay as his brilliant shot on the turn hit the side netting. In-form Swede Peter Lindau looked lively and in 14 minutes he forced Bankies keeper David Wylie to dive low to save. Wylie was a hero again moments later when Lindau was sent clear by Alan Archibald but his downward shot, which bounced wickedly, was pushed out for a corner by the keeper. Virtually every 50-50 ball produced a scrap and referee Cammy Melville booked Kenny Brannigan after he sent Lindau crashing. James McKinstry came closest to scoring in the first half with a 25-yard drive that skidded inches wide.

After the break the Jags' supremacy began to tell. McLean raced down the left and his cross saw Hardie's goalbound header cleared off the line by Bankies player-coach Fraser Wishart. But the Jags took the lead three minutes later. Lindau linked well with McLean and the striker shrugged off three Bankies defender. He fed Hardie and as the Bankies claimed for offside, the midfielder squeezed his finish beyond the reach of Wylie and into the net. There was no doubt about Thistle's second two minutes later. Hardie's pass across the edge of the box fell to Lennon and Wylie failed to hold his first time shot, allowing McLean to poke home the loose ball. With nine minutes left the Bankies' task was made virtually impossible when 68th minute substitute Stevie Murray was sent packing for a crude challenge on Archibald. Thistle made it 3-0 in 83 minutes when Lindau knocked the ball in after Wylie pushed out McLean's drive. Goal aces Lindau and McLean then made way for George Shaw and Allan Moore. Shaw was barely seconds on the pitch when he was picked out by Hamilton on the edge of the box to rifle home into the corner of the net.

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