One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Clyde v Partick Thistle
Irn-Bru First Division Scottish League
Saturday 3rd January 2009
Broadwood Stadium
Reporter Partick the Dog (with assistance from Wee Honk)
Attendance: 2,016

Scoreres:Clyde: Clarke 21, 61(pen)
Partick Thistle: Donnelly 30, Harkins 33(pen), Paton 42, Buchanan 85

Referee:Mike Tumilty

It was a happy New Year in a sad New Town as Partick Thistle came from behind for a well-deserved and ultimately convincing victory over local rivals Clyde, ringing out the disappointing end to 2008 and ringing in the passion and form which could still see a promotion challenge and a cup run in 2009.

Cumbernauld or Carnar nan Allt, the Meeting of the Waters, marks a central point in Scotland from which streams drain both westward into the Clyde and eastward into the Forth. It was an old horse changing station, and hopefully signifies a pivotal moment in Thistle’s season, as we leave behind the bucking bronco and leap aboard the thoroughbred racehorse which will take us to the finishing post. Although the town formed the backdrop for the film “Gregory’s Girl”, there was no sign of rumoured signing target Gregory Tade of Stranraer. This epic battle with both sides throwing punches to the end spoke more of another of Cumbernauld’s famous residents, the boxer Ken Buchanan, and it was appropriate that his namesake Liam was to land the final blow.

John Brown wore his new camel coloured overcoat and introduced loan signing from Hamilton, Tony Stevenson, right away, with Craig O’Reilly, just picked up from East Fife, on the bench. Thistle were on normal 5-3-2 lines. Kevin McKinlay’s injury made it  inevitable that Marc Twaddle would be recalled to left wingback, while Scott Chaplain’s enthusiasm for vanquishing the Bully Wee earned him his first start for a while. What this reporter would regard as our best central defensive threesome took the field, Simon Storey sweeping between Alan Archibald and John Robertson.

A recent thread on the Jagsforum has speculated on circumstances in which one team might allow the other to score a goal to even up a perceived injustice. No doubt, even if our opponents stood back to let us walk the ball into the net, we would still do the same kick off routine and hammer the ball out of play over the left touchline.

After this false dawn, the Jags really got down to business. Mary Queen of Scots once visited Cumbernauld, but even she could not have staged as regal a performance as Simon Donnelly (given the nod today in place of Mark Roberts). The former Scottish internationalist gave a master class throughout the first half, displaying the full range of his skills. In the second minute his low drive forced Hutton into an awkward parry at his near post, and then from the corner the goalkeeper once more had to be alert to gather Simon’s header.

Donnelly found an eager companion in Scott Chaplain, who enjoyed being set free from the holding role of recent substitute appearances to resume his favoured position in the forefront of the midfield, driving the team forward. In one attack the pair exchanged four passes, resulting in a corner, from which Harkins’ shot was blocked.

Clyde had been generally anonymous in the opening exchanges, but suddenly announced their arrival as McLaren (who switched wings to good effect throughout the game) slid the ball through to Pat Clarke in the left hand side of the box. Tuffey came out well, but must have been relieved to see the shot crash into the boards behind the goal. In return, Harkins set Buchanan free on the left, and his shot from distance using the outside of his foot narrowly cleared the bar.

Wee Gus made a creditable effort to stimulate the centre stand to burst into collective song, but was defeated not so much by lack of enthusiasm from fellow supporters, but more by extreme cold, the deadening effect of the soulless stadium, and the nervousness caused by successive defeats and our barren run in front of goal. After a five minute solo, it was “Adios” as he went in search of a more receptive backing group.

Gus’ departure coincided with a difficult spell for Thistle. Tuffey was indecisive in dealing with a corner, but made amends by combining with Harkins to foil Clarke. Storey, Rowson and Robertson were all caught in possession, but each bailed the others out. This uncertainty in communication led to the concession of a soft goal in the twenty first minute.

Simon Storey has been an Ayres Rock in the centre of defence this season, but seemed discomfited by Pat Clarke, despite not being Australian, looking even more like a kangaroo than he does. As a long ball dropped 25 yards out, Jonny Tuffey yelled at Simon to leave it. Although Jonny would have dealt with the ball, he was probably further out of his goal than Simon could reasonably have expected him to be. Simon could not resist the temptation to jump as high as he could to head the ball himself and succeeded only in knocking it down to Clarke, who deserves credit for the speed and accuracy of his finish.

McLaren switched to the right and after having his heels clipped by Alan Archibald threw himself theatrically to the ground to turn a straightforward freekick into a booking for Archie. The referee was not helped by the nearside linesman who was shocking throughout and seemed to have perfected the art of sleeping standing up.

The action finally switched to the other end and after a header down by Chappie, Liam got to the ball just ahead of the keeper, but bundled the ball wide from just a few yards out, an unlucky miss reminiscent of Billy Bremner against Brazil. The horrible feeling that this was not going to be our day was creeping visibly through the Jags support, and was heightened on the half hour as Marc Twaddle put in another effective run to the left corner flag, but was caught by a defender’s boot and collapsed in apparent agony as the play raged on.

By the time Archie retrieved the ball, the Twadfather had been criminally abandoned by his marker and hobbled back onside. After a quick glance to check that Twaddle was OK, Archie threaded a pass to him and Marc whipped over a superb cross which Simon Donnelly met smack on the forehead to plant it off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net, a carbon copy of his goal against Stirling Albion last season.

Storey and Tuffey had further communication problems as the ball bounced in the Thistle box, but fortunately Archie was on hand to deflect Stevenson’s shot over the bar.

The name Broadwood has nothing to do with the few straggly trees near the stadium but is a reminder of the area’s dignified past as part of the Great Caledonian Forest. I am reliably informed that the mysterious White Scottish Ox used to roam these woodlands. Possibly his memory is preserved in the conveyor belt of whiteshirted baldheaded defenders with giant oxters that Clyde seem to manufacture in numbers. The latest in the line is Alan Lithgow, and the Ox Factor came to Thistle’s aid three minutes after the equaliser.

Donnelly played a perfect throughball to Buchanan, who advanced on Lithgow from the left corner of the box. Liam tricked him by feinting to the right and then dashing left before being flattened by the inevitable challenge. It was an indisputable penalty and Lithgow was perhaps fortunate that the card he received was yellow rather than red. Glorious Gary Harkins was having one of his up and down days, but there was no doubting the quality of his finish, low to the left corner of the net.

Thistle were on song now, and Liam might have done better than fire wide after being put through by Harkins. Clarke hit a shot with a strange trajectory which fortunately did not fool Tuffey. Chaplain smashed a volley into the building under construction at the north end of the stadium.

There was still room for a third Thistle score just three minutes before halftime. I have read differing accounts of this goal which tend to indicate that it was fairly scrappy. It is always difficult to have precise recollection on one viewing of happenings at the far side of the park, but for me this was a superb team move with contributions from Harkins and Chaplain before Donnelly passed to Buchanan who in turn teed up the ball for Paul Paton to slot home from the righthand corner of the six yard box. His celebration was equally as uplifting as his finish. It is great to see players who really enjoy scoring for Thistle and want to share this with the fans.

Chants of “Bomber, Bomber, What’s the score?” rang out and the halftime DJ even played the Sean Kilgannon/Simon Donnelly tune. Clyde were out so quickly after the break that they beat the Hinchcliffe/Tuffey training duo, who were still two minutes ahead of their team-mates. Brown introduced the giant O’Reilly and McKay in place of Stevenson and Lowing (the noise made by the White Scottish Ox).

The alertness of the players corresponded with the order in which they came out of the dressing room. Clyde were right up for the battle and pummelled Thistle immediately from the kick off. McLaren burst into the box from the left and Tuffey did well to beat out his strong low shot. McLaren returned the ball almost along the goal line from where Storey ushered it to the temporary safety of a corner kick. McKay’s cross fell to Trouten, whose volley flashed narrowly over the bar.

After surviving a five minute bombardment, Thistle gained some relief when Buchanan again turned his defender (now Mark Brown who was going to have a torrid second half) and saw his shot saved by Hutton. Shortly afterwards Liam broke free from the illegal attentions of McLaren (who was lucky to escape a booking) to hang up an inviting cross which Chaplain volleyed over.

Robertson and Archibald were putting in some excellent headed challenges, but this was turning into the Liam Buchanan show as he pulled right and then drove in on the angle against Brown. One long clearance gave him the chance to get ahead of a couple of defenders but his shot went over. Just a minute later a peculiar, possibly half deflected, creeping cross from Donnelly provided Liam with an excellent opportunity but just a few yards out, with Hutton scrambling to cover, he screwed his shot wide.

Another clueless decision by our favourite linesman just after the hour mark awarded Clyde a goalkick rather than Thistle a corner. This was to prove significant as McKay drove deep into the Thistle rearguard. Marc Twaddle seemed to be doing a good job of getting back and pushing him wide. However the Twadfather foolishly went to ground and his attempted side on tackle succeeded only in taking out the Clyde player for the game’s second stonewall penalty. A perfectly timed telescopic leg Twaddle tackle is a thing of beauty, but when he gets it wrong the consequences can be catastrophic.

Clarke gave Tuffey no chance from the spot, putting the ball in the same corner of the net as Harkins had done, though slightly higher up. This got the home fans and players really fired up, and there was a danger of Thistle being swept away by the maelstrom. Ian McCall calmed the gathering storm by taking off Twaddle (partly to save him from another red card) and replacing him with Mark Roberts. Thistle went 4-4-2 with Storey going to left wingback and Donnelly and Chaplain moving respectively to the left and right sides of midfield to allow Marko to partner Liam up front. Clyde introduced former Thistle favourite Ricky Waddell in place of Marvin Wilson.

Marko went down in the Clyde box and was booked for diving. Strangely the referee failed to book Clyde players guilty of the same alleged offence. Roberts nearly made amends by almost getting on the end of another fine Buchanan cross. Ex-Jag Billy Gibson hauled down Gary Harkins to earn a booking, though this seemed to be for his reaction rather than for the original offence. Trouten swam clear in the box but toepoked lamely into Tuffey’s arms.

There was concern that Thistle were sitting back too much and inviting Clyde to take control of the game, and in particular to attack down their right, taking advantage of Storey not being a natural leftsided defender.  However, gradually the changes made by Ian McCall began to work and Thistle reassumed their previous dominance. Rowson was putting in a power of work in the engine room. Buchanan had a further shot cleared by Brown and both Harkins and Robertson put headers just over the top.

Donnelly had faded in the second half and was replaced by Stephen McKeown with around ten minutes to go. Five minutes later Liam Buchanan finally scored the goal his performance merited, and proved that he can produce a quality of finish to match his workrate. Paton’s longball was headed on by Roberts, and Liam capitalised on one of the day’s harder chances, smashing the ball well wide of the keeper into the far corner.

Clyde’s final attack consisted of three players jumping simultaneously on Jonny Tuffey. Despite the usual protection given to keepers in such situations, no freekick was awarded and it was left to Archie to save the day with a crunching challenge. Thistle had the last word. Harkins danced round three opponents and sprung the offside trap to put Liam clean through. He had more time than when he scored, but this time dragged his shot wide. Clyde had barely restarted the game when the referee blew his whistle.

The players acknowledged the support they had received and turned away to prepare for two significant Saturdays. The results against Inverness and St Johnstone will go a long way towards determining how interesting and enjoyable the remainder of the season will be.

As we headed back to the cars, I thought I caught a glimpse of the White Scottish Ox slinking off into the undergrowth.
Teams:-

Thistle (ratings): Tuffey 6, Paton 7, Twaddle 6 (Roberts 6), Storey 6, Robertson 8, Archibald 7, Chaplain 8, Rowson 8, Buchanan 7, Donnelly 8 (McKeown 6), Harkins 7 

Unused Subs: Hinchcliffe, Kinniburgh, Lennon

Clyde: Hutton, Lowing (McKay), Brown, Wilson (Waddell), Gibson, Lithgow, Trouten, Kettlewell, Clarke, Stevenson (O’Reilly), McLaren

Unused Subs: Cherrie, McLennan

Referee- Mike Tumilty
Assistants- Stuart MacAulay, Rodney Marshall

Goals:
Clyde: Clarke 21, 61(pen)
Partick Thistle: Donnelly 30, Harkins 33(pen), Paton 42, Buchanan 85

Attendance- 2016