The Thistle Archive

Media Reports

GRABBING THE GOALS IS TOFFEE FOR WELSH. SEAN WELSH hopes to take his hot streak into the new campaign after firing Partick Thistle to the ARR Craib Trophy yesterday. The former Hibs kid struck twice, with Stuart Bannigan also on target, as the Jags claimed a 3-1 win over an Everton XI. That made it three goals in two games for Welsh after he netted in the 2-0 win over a Celtic XI in Saturday's semi-final. And the 22-year-old midfielder said: “I'll be looking to keep that form going when the action starts for real. The aim this season is to get forward as much as possible and try to get into double figures.” Welsh bulleted a header past Toffees keeper Mateusz Taudul then made it 2-0 from the spot after the break. Conor McAleny pulled one back for Everton but Bannigan's 16-yard strike secured victory. Celtic claimed third place as they thumped Airdrie 4-0. Patrik Twardzik, Callum McGregor and Glen Eadie were on target before Tony Watt finished off his old side. Watt said: “I loved my time at Airdrie - that's why I refused to celebrate.”

ptfc.co.uk

0 mins: Everton kick the game off. Thistle shooting towards the North Stand in the first half. 2 mins: Thistle make a great start to the game. Stephen O'Donnell swings over a great cross from the right that Sean Welsh is on the end of and he bullets home a header. We apologise, our reporter's laptop is on the blink. We're going to try and get by as best we can. 12 mins: Scott Fox makes a good save low to his right to keep Thistle a goal ahead. 14 mins: Just a half chance there for Stephen O'Donnell but he rather snatches at his shot and the ball goes wide of target. 20 mins: Another good move from Thistle but Stephen O'Donnell's cross this time is headed clear by the Everton defence. 24 mins: Thistle are continuing to play some nice football and win a free kick 30 yards from goal, left of centre. Aaron Muirhead takes the free kick and sends the ball wide of the Everton left hand post. 32 mins: Snap shot from Kris Doolan at the edge of the box is just wide of goal. Thistle still the better side. 33 mins: It's been mainly Thistle so far but Everton have a corner which is headed clear by Paul Paton. 36 mins: Thistle's turn to win a corner. It's over on the left hand side and James Craigen will take it. It's a good one delivered to the edge of the six yard box but Everton get the ball clear. 38 mins: Stuart Bannigan delivers an excellent ball deep into the Everton box. It takes an excellent bit of defending to get the ball clear with Kris Doolan lurking. The corner is initially cleared but played back into the box where Balaton turns before seeing his shot saved by Tadul. 40 mins: Kris Doolan cuts in front of an Everton defender at the edge of the box to reach Stephen O'Donnell's chipped pass but his header is wide of goal. HALF-TIME We're back underway at Firhill. 48 mins: THISTLE PENALTY. James Craigen is fouled in the box. Sean Welsh to take it and GOAL THISTLE. 52 mins: GOAL EVERTON. Conor McAleny is on the end of a ball into the box to pull Everton back into the game. 54 mins: GOAL THISTLE. Thistle are two in front again. Stuart Bannigan starts and finishes the move. He places a shot wide of Tadul and into the net. 55 mins: And Thistle are only denied a fourth goal by a raised flag. Tadul does well to save Stephen O'Donnell's shot but the rebound falls to Kris Doolan who nods the ball home. Doolan though had strayed offside. 58 mins: Thistle again have the ball in the net. Stuart Bannigan lifts the ball over the head of Tadul after collecting a pass from Craigen. The impressive Bannigan was clearly offside though. 61 mins: Thistle have a third goal disallowed. Sean Welsh plays the ball through to Mark McGuigan who tucked the ball home but up went the flag for offside again. 62 mins: Thistle make a triple switch. Doolan, Murray and McGuigan all go off and are replaced by Elliott, Lawless and Erskine. 66 mins: The football from Thistle at times is excellent and a Sean Welsh shot from a pass from Lawless is deflected wide for an unproductive Thistle corner. 67 mins: Christie Elliott has the Everton defence on the back foot but there's no Thistle player on the end of his ball across the six yard box. 68 mins: Chris Erskine in the thick of the action this time, forcing Tadul into a good save with a fierce shot that the Everton keeper just about pushes over the bar. 70 mins: Steven Lawless forces a corner for Thistle on the left. James Craigen's corner is a decent one but it is missed by everyone and drifts out of play. 71 mins: Sean Welsh is replaced by Bradley Halsman. 79 mins: Thistle still well in control as the rain starts to fall. 83 mins: Tadul in the Everton goal just beats Christie Elliott to a through ball at the edge of his box. 84 mins: Everton are close to pulling a goal back. Ross Barkley's shot takes a deflection and with Scott Fox struggling the ball goes over the bar. Chris Erskine heads the corner. FULL-TIME THISTLE WIN THE ARR CRAIB CUP.

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