The Thistle Archive

Media report

02-Apr-2011, ptfc.co.uk

Thistle and Queen of the South this served a game that was the very epitome of an end of season affair with the crowd of just over 1,800 getting little in the way of entertainment for their money. Thistle though did dominate long periods of the second half.

The swirling wind and difficult underfoot conditions didn’t aid the playing of good football any and it was the 13th minute before either side managed an effort on goal. Even then, Martin Grehan’s header from a Paddy Boyle cross was well off target. In what was becoming a game of few opportunities, Queen of the South wasted one of the few that came either team’s way. Colin McMenamin was the lucky recipient of the break of the ball on the edge of the Thistle box but when presented with the chance to fire the ball Scott Fox he mishit his shot harmlessly wide of goal. In the 34th minute Thistle’s best move of the game thus far nearly led to an opening goal. Chris Erskine and Kris Doolan combined to set up Iain Flannigan but with just Hutton to beat in the Queens goal he sent his shot over the bar. And that was pretty much it for the first half.

A hoped for improvement after the break failed to materialise although there were shouts, in hope more than anticipation, for a penalty when Kris Doolan went to ground inside the Queen of the South box. A dangerous cross from Paddy Boyle in the 65th minute was sliced over his own crossbar by ex Jag David Lilley and from the corner that followed Kris Doolan saw his header tipped over the bar by David Hutton. Jamie Campbell, an early second half replacement for Chris Erskine, was looking industrious in midfield and he saw a shot from 20 yards out deflected for a corner as Thistle enjoyed a period on top. Campbell was again in the thick of things with a driving run to the bye line where he cut the ball back for Martin Grehan. Neither Grehan, nor Iain Flannigan who in turn would receive the ball, elected to shoot for goal and Thistle failed to capitalise on what had looked a promising situation. Thistle were much the better side in the second half but were struggling to find clear cut chances. With just a couple of minutes remaining, Jamie Campbell was able to cross from the left with fellow sub Shaun Fraser’s header saved by David Hutton in what proved to be the last significant action of the game.

.