The Thistle Archive

Media report

31-Mar-2012, ptfc.co.uk

Last week’s fixture with Ross County was more notable for a perceived lack of ambition from the runaway league leaders. This fixture between two sides lurking mid table couldn’t have been more contrasting, Livingston just edging out an encounter that saw five goals scored. Thistle welcomed back the now free from suspension Aaron Sinclair and Scott Robertson for the visit of Livingston and Thistle had the visiting defence under pressure for the first, but not by any means last, time as early as the game’s opening seconds. Thistle’s early enterprising play was reward with a deserved opening goal in the 7th minute. Chris Erskine’s fine flick sent Paul Cairney clear on goal and after taking a touch to steady himself knocked the ball past McNeil and into the net for his 12th goal of the season. Livingston’s response to falling a goal behind was positive and Ryan Scully made a fine save to keep out a powerful effort from Iain Russell. Scully again demonstrated what a fine young goalkeeper he is developing into with another excellent intervention in the 16th minute. Russell was again the Livingston player he denied touching the Livi player’s effort onto the top of the bar and over. The chances were coming at both ends with regularity and Thistle were close to extending their lead in the 18th minute when Chris Erskine’s effort was deflected wide of goal after a flowing Thistle move down the right hand side. Two minutes the game did have a second goal and it was a moment that young Ryan Scully will probably prefer to forget as he fumbled Rory Boulding’s effort, struck with more hope than intent, over the line. That error though didn’t seem to dent Scully’s confidence any and in the 34th minute he made an excellent save with his feet to deny Boulding a second goal. Indeed it was something of a surprise that there weren’t any further goal before half-time. The Livi keeper making fine stops to deny Aaron Sinclair and Kris Doolan.

It took Livi though no more than five minutes of the second half to establish a two goal lead. Firstly Rory Boukding calmly took the ball round Scully before knocking the ball into the empty net with Iain Russell taking advantage of a misdirected clearance to lob the ball into the unguarded Thistle net. The early second half goal fest continued in the 54th minute with Thistle hauling themselves right back into a game that minutes before looked to have been heading away from them. Stephen O’Donnell was fouled on the corner of the penalty box and Aaron Sinclair, as he had been threatening to do all season, sent a fantastic shot high past McNeil and into the net. Sinclair again had a chance with a free kick in the 65th minute but this time, from a more central position, smashed his effort against the Livingston wall. With the game deep into its’ final quarter there were loud appeals for a Thistle penalty when Paul Cairney’s effort from inside the Livingston box looked to strike the hand of a Livi defender but referee Charleston was interested in Thistle’s prolonged appeals. With 15 minutes remaining Mark McGuigan came on to make his Thistle debut and he was immediately involved in the action. He was able to connect with a Kris Doolan cross from the right but while McGuigan was able to direct his header on target there wasn’t sufficient power in his header to trouble McNeil. Thistle were doing the bulk of the pressing but were find it increasingly difficult to find a way through the Livingston defence. Livingston themselves reaming a threat when they ventured forward with Scully producing a decent save to keep out a low drive from Boulding. With the game in injury time Thistle were given one last chance to rescue a point. A free kick won just outside the Livi box was tapped to Sean Welsh whose effort went well wide of goal.

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