The Thistle Archive

Media report

09-Aug-2011, ptfc.co.uk

As expected Thistle were without both Alan Archibald and Willie Kinniburgh for this Ramsdens Cup tie with Hamilton Accies. In the absence of the two centre backs, Conrad Balatoni came back into the side with Scott Robertson, impressive in midfield against Dundee at the weekend, dropping back to the heart of the Jags defence. Elsewhere, Kris Doolan’s knock picked up against Dundee kept him on the bench which meant a first start of the season for Martin Grehan while Johnny Lindsay made his debut at left back in a move that saw Aaron Sinclair push forward into midfield.

It was Lindsay that had the game’s first shot on goal in the 9th minute and while his effort was a little too straight to really trouble Cerny in the Hamilton goal it offered encouragement to Thistle all the same. Five minutes later there was further encouragement for Thistle with David Rowson a whisker away from giving his side the lead. The Thistle captain won the ball in midfield before shooting only narrowly wide of target from 20 yards out. The home fans were getting frustrated with their side’s efforts at this point with only a Hopkirk effort that went well over the bar to show for their efforts against a hardworking Thistle side. Opportunities were hardly flowing at the other end, although in the 22nd minute Thistle did have a half chance to take the lead. Chris Erskine, operating on the right side of midfield, combined well with Paul Paton with Paton’s near post cross headed wide by Martin Grehan. If Thistle had been, marginally, the better side in the first 30 minutes or so that certainly wasn’t the case in the final 15 minutes of the first half. On the half-hour mark Martin Canning was given a free header at the back post following a corner on the left and Scott Fox was forced into making his first save of the night with a good block low down. Three minutes later the Thistle keeper was in action again this time keeping out Derek Lyle’s downward header after the former Thistle player had connected with a McLaren cross from the left. Thistle at this point were struggling to clear the ball at corner kicks and twice Accies came close to punishing them for that. Derek Lyle saw his drilled drive break off a couple of players before the ball was finally cleared in the 37th minute but Hamilton had an even better chance to score three minutes later. After more poor defending at a corner the ball broke to Simon Mensing directly in front of the Thistle goal but from just outside the six yard box he could only knock the ball over the bar. Thistle had been under a lot of pressure at this point but in a rare break forward Aaron Sinclair unleashed a shot from 25 yards that went just over Cerny’s crossbar.

Hamilton started the second half in much the same way as they had finished the first, firmly on the front foot and Scott Robertson did well to head a dangerous McAlister cross behind for a corner in the 52nd minute. Thistle though had their own opportunity to score early in the second half. Martin Grehan won the ball in midfield with Paul Cairney collecting the loose ball. Cairney in turn was able to push the ball through to Chris Erskine who was tackled just as he was pulling his foot back to shoot. In the 58th minute Accies came the closest yet to opening the scoring. Grant Gillespie’s shot looked net bound only for Scott Fox to get a hand to the ball and turn it round the post for a corner. Fox though was helpless two minutes later when Simon Mensing saw his header from another Accies’ corner strike the post before being cleared. In the 65th minute Thistle introduced Kris Doolan to the action when he replaced Martin Grehan’s and his first involvement in the game very nearly saw him open the scoring. After collecting a pass from Paul Cairney he saw his shot blocked with Tommy Stewart’s shot from the rebound suffering the same fate. With the action coming fast and furious at this point, Scott Fox again demonstrated what a fine keeper he is with a save high to his right. There were just five minutes remaining when for the second game in a row Thistle were again dealt the body blow of a late penalty. Again it was a soft award, Scott Robertson this time judged to be the guilty Thistle defender. Scott Fox went the right way but Chambers penalty was well placed and found the corner of the net.

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