Saturday 06 May 2006
| Thistle 1 - 2 Stranraer
Written by Lianne |
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| Saturday, 06 May 2006 | |
| Thistle did it the hard way against Stranraer at Firhill today. Mark Roberts cancelled out Stranraer’s 79th minute opener, but a last minute winner by David Hamilton meant Thistle had to endure a nerve-jangling end to the game before claiming their spot in the final with a 4-3 aggregate win.Manager Dick Campbell made just one change to the side that won at Stair Park on Wednesday, Sandy Hodge starting in place of the injured Davie Craig. On the bench a fit again Paul Ritchie was preferred to Jose Quitongo. An injury to keeper Barry Corr meant Allan Morrsion made only his second start of the season for Stranraer, while former Jag Ian Ross started but Leigh Hinds dropped to the bench and Michael Moore was deemed fit enough to start in a three-man attack alongside Ian Harty and Murray Henderson.
Stranraer were eager to get an early goal to get themselves back in the hunt, but nerves seemed to play a part in what was a fairly scrappy opening 45 minutes. Early on it was Thistle who again looked the stronger of the two sides, but apart from a 35-yard free kick that whistled narrowly wide of the post from the boot of Scott McCulloch, and a couple of long range efforts from McConalogue and Strachan, there was little to get the fans excited. Indeed, it was the visitors who created the best opening of the half after 18 minutes when a high ball was nodded onto Michael Moore; he ignored Thistle’s offside claims to compose himself for the shot but was superbly denied by Kenny Arthur. Stranraer’s Allan Morrison was called into action moments later when Strachan’s corner was flicked on at the near post by Roberts, and Billy Gibson managed to get his foot to it but the keeper pulled off a fine reaction save to deny him. The remainder of the first half was disappointing, Stranraer came more and more into the game as it wore on, but apart from a couple of off-target efforts from Harty and Ian Ross, they were unable to make any real impression on the Jags defence and the game deteriorated into mediocrity. Stephen McConalogue had a decent shot on the turn shortly before half time, but like so many efforts in the first half, it sailed over the bar. But, thankfully things did improve after the interval with Thistle stepping up a gear. Strachan had already seen an effort saved by the keeper before Billy Gibson should have fired the Jags in front in the 53rd minute. He collected a throw in on the right and played a one-two with Roberts to break clear inside the box, but the legs of the keeper superbly blocked his low shot. Strachan played a cushioned pass into McConalogue after a header had dropped to him in the box, but his shot was blocked by a last ditch tackle from Wingate. Then in the 70th minute Billy Gibson had another chance to get on the scoresheet when he almost timed his run into the box to perfection to meet Roberts’ cross, but he was just a fraction too late and although he stretched to reach the ball, could only knock it over the bar. Stranraer gave the Jags a reminder that the tie was far from over when substitute Willie Martin beat two players to create an opening for himself, but just as he looked certain to score, Kenny Arthur made a fine save to deny him. A couple of minutes later Thistle came agonisingly close to edging in front when Adam Strachan again beat his man on the left and his cut back from the by-line was met by Roberts, Thistle’s top scorer appeared to take it off the toe of the better placed McConalogue, but he managed to turn and get his shot away, only to be denied by the keeper palming it onto the crossbar before claiming it on his line. And they were left to rue this miss in the 79th minute when they gifted possession to Stranraer cheaply, the ball was spread wide to Leigh Hinds, his shot took a slight deflection and although Arthur was able to save, he couldn’t hold it and Ian Ross was on hand to knock the ball home from close range. The visitors had a faint glimmer of hope now and top scorer David Hamilton tested Arthur with a vicious drive seconds later, but Thistle responded and although there were groans from the fans when Adam Strachan’s cut back failed to pick out any player in red and yellow a few minutes later, they quickly turned to cheers when Thistle equalised with their next attack. Billy Gibson’s clever ball over the top picked out the run of Mark Roberts, he moved in on goal and from a tight angle, calmly took his time before placing the ball past the keeper to make it 1-1. That was far from the end of the drama however, and in the 90th minute Stranraer set up a tense finish when they piled everyone forward for a free kick and a spectacular overhead kick from David Hamilton edged them back in front. Thistle had the chance to level again in injury time when Darren Brady raced clear, but he was never quite in complete control of the ball in his run from the half-way line, and he had to stretch to try and knock it wide for the supporting Stevie Nicholas as he closed in on goal, and although the Jags sub fired the ball into the empty net, his over-eagerness to score meant he had ran into an offside position. To make matters worse, Brady was injured when he collided with the keeper and had to be carried off on a stretcher, meaning the Jags had to endure a frantic final few minutes with only ten men. But they deservedly hung on to book their place in the final, where they will now face the much harder task of having to beat Peterhead to win promotion – something they’ve yet to do in four attempts this season. Man of the match:
STATS Attendance: 3,596
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