The Thistle Archive

Media report

12-Aug-2008, ptfc.co.uk

Looking to extend the winning run to five games Ian McCall, although limited in terms of numbers, was able to freshen the side for this Alba Challenge Cup tie with Peterhead. In goal Craig Hinchliffe came in to replace Jonny Tuffey for his first appearance of the season. There was also a season's first start for Willie Kinniburgh with Marc Twaddle a pre-match doubt missing out. Elsewhere Kevin McKinlay replaced Simon Donnelly who occupied a place on the bench alongside Tuffey, McStay, McKeown and Ricky Little who featured in the 16 for the first time this season.

Peterhead arrived at Firhill defending a 100% record away from home against Thistle and they started the game in confident fashion but it was Thistle that had the game's first shot on goal. Kevin McKinlay, playing up front alongside Damon Gray, dragging a shot wide of goal from the edge of the box. Gary Harkins was next to threaten the Peterhead goal but after working himself into a nice position inside the Peterhead box he let himself down with a poor finish and Kula was able to make an easy save. Nice skill from Scott Chaplain gave him the chance to deliver a cross which the Peterhead defence were happy to clear as Thistle began to establish some kind of rhythm. There was further encouragement when Gary Harkins was a little unfortunate to see a shot blocked following a Paul Paton free kick. It was very much against the run of play then when Peterhead took the lead in the in the 22nd minute. Graeme Sharp skipped past Paul Paton and although Craig Hinchliffe was able to make a save from the first shot from Sharp's cut back Craig Gunn pounced on the rebound to fire high into the net. Thistle wasted an excellent opportunity for an immediate response when Kevin McKinlay failed to pick out Damon Gray in front of goal. In the 28th minute Kevin McKinlay was able to latch onto a Damon Gray pass but his effo rt slid wide of the post. Damon Gray was able to collect the misdirected goal kick that followed but his shot was wild and off target as anxiety started to grow in the Thistle ranks. Paul Paton was able to work an opportunity for himself on the half hour mark but his shot was with his weaker left foot and Kula wasn't stretched in making a save. With half-time just a minute away Thistle came the closest yet to an equaliser. Gary Harkins pushed the ball out wide to Simon Storey whose cross was headed into the path of Damon Gray by Kevin McKinlay. Gray though was quickly closed down and the opportunity was lost. A John Robertson header wide from a Paul Paton corner was the last action of a first half in which Thistle, as they had done so 7 days earlier against Forfar, had disappointed.

Manager Ian MCall, no doubt frustrated by the Thistle first half display, made one change at the interval with Simon Donnelly so impressive against Airdrie United replacing Paul Paton. Thistle could have been level inside two second half minutes. Kevin McKinlay sent over a cross that Gary Harkins headed wide of goal. Thistle came close to a goal again just 60 seconds later. Simon Donnelly chested the ball into the path of Damon Gray but on this occasion Thistle's leading scorer finishing let him down. Still there was much more purpose to Thistle's play at the start of the second half and Simon Donnelly collected a cross from John Robertson, who moved to right back in the half-time reshuffle, only to see his shot blocked. Damon Gray flashed a shot wide as Thistle continued to force the pace in the early stages of the second half yet still a goal wouldn't come. The goal did finally arrive in the 52nd minute. David Rowson passed to Scott Chaplain who in turn fed Simon Donnelly who found the net with a shot from the edge of the box for his first goal in over a year. Thistle could even have been in front less than a minute later but Damon Gray sent his shot over the bar. Thistle were within inches of taking the lead in the 67th minute. Some excellent play involving Scott Chaplain and Simon Donnelly gave Damon Gray a chance but his shot went just the wrong side of the post. Thistle were playing some excellent football at this point and Kula did well to get his body behind a powerful Scott Chaplain shot. Simon Donnelly was inches away from a second goal when he latched onto a John Robertson cross but his flick was blocked more by good fortune than anything else. As the chances continued to come thick and fast Scott Chaplain sent a shot about an inch wide of goal. It was becoming harder and harder to understand how Peterhead were still level in this game and David Rowson just failed to gather a Simon Donnelly pass. Peterhead though came close to punishing some poor Thistle defending a reminder that the outcome of this game still hung in the balance. The chances though continued to come Thistle's way and Simon Donnelly was close to making contact w ith a Stephen McKeown header. A Thistle header cleared off the line was just about the last action of the 90 minutes and so for the second Tuesday night in a row it was into extra-time.

Thistle started extra-time with Ryan McStay on in place of Scott Chaplain. After having battered the Peterhead goal for much of the second half it took Thistle about 90 seconds of extra-time to take the lead. After a header had struck the Peterhead bar Ian Maxwell headed the ball on and from about a yard out Stephen McKeown knocked the ball home. McKeown was denied a second goal a minute later by a fine save from Kula with McKeown's effort from the rebound cleared by a Peterhead defender. Just as they had done against Forfar Thistle seemed to think they had the game won at 2-1 ahead and they were punished for their slackness when Kosminski forced the ball home from close range.

Just two minutes into the second period of extra-time and Thistle were in front again. Gary Harkins twisted and turned inside the Peterhead box before drilling a low shot into the back of the net. Thistle finally had some breathing space when Stephen McKeown scored his second goal of the night in the 117th minute. He latched onto a Simon Donnelly cross before despatching the ball low past Kula and into the net.

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