Saturday 18 March 2006
| Thistle 0 - 2 Gretna
Written by Lianne |
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| Saturday, 18 March 2006 | |
| Thistle failed to lift their performance against Gretna at Firhill today and consequently after going behind to Deuchar’s 42nd minute opener, there only ever looked like one winner and Deuchar’s 2nd goal duly wrapped up the points for the runaway league leaders.Thistle made just one change to the side that defeated Dumbarton in midweek, a knock in that game meant Scott McCulloch hadn’t trained since so he dropped to the bench to be replaced by Sandy Hodge. The former Hamilton defender slotted into the left of a back three, with Darren Brady moving back into midfield. Gretna welcomed back Steve Tosh from injury in place of Allan Jenkins, while former Jag James Grady partnered joint top scorer Kenny Deuchar in attack.
The opening period of the game was fairly even, but although both sides started the match promisingly enough, there was little in the way of goalmouth action and it wasn’t until the 11th minute that the first notable effort on goal came when Skelton’s cross was met by Deuchar, but he failed to get his header on target. That chance seemed to spark Gretna into life and five minutes later Arthur was called into action for the first time when he had to push an Innes header round the post from Skelton’s corner. A couple of minutes later some neat interplay on the edge of the Jags penalty area created an opening for Tosh, but although well placed, his low drive lacked power, which enabled Arthur to get down and touch it round the post for another corner. Gretna should have opened the scoring from it when the ball was played into the danger at the second attempt and Townsley ran in unmarked to cushion a header over Arthur from close range, but fortunately it dropped just over the bar. Thistle responded when Gillies and Jimmy Gibson combined on the left and the latter knocked in a low cross that flashed right across the face of goal, but there were no takers in red and yellow and the defence were able to shepherd it to safety. At the other end Deuchar held off a strong challenge to set up the lively Baldacchino on the right, but after striding towards goal and hitting a ferocious shot he was denied when Arthur stood up strongly to block at his near post. McConalogue’s clever pass then sent Ritchie through for what looked like a great chance to test the keeper for the first time in the game, but he simply didn’t have the legs to stride forward and go for goal with a first time effort, and by trying to retain possession he took the ball away from goal and the chance was gone. Five minutes before half-time Strachan, who had replaced the injured Brady just before the half hour mark, did cause concern for the Gretna defence when he rose high to meet Gillies’ free-kick, but his powerful header was just wide of Main’s left hand post. It would have been an injustice if Thistle had taken the lead as Gretna had dominated and created all the chances, but just as it was looking as if the Jags would hang on and make it to half time without conceding, Arthur was cruelly beaten. McGuffie took possession of the ball after Tosh’s free-kick was only half-cleared and he curled in a fine shot that Arthur did superbly to tip away, but Deuchar was following in and he had the easiest of tasks to knock the ball home at the far post. There was little improvement in the second half for the suffering Jags support, the play was much scrappier and Gretna weren’t anywhere near as dominant, but the chances were still few and far between and Thistle struggled throughout to retain any possession. There were only a couple of promising moves, neither of which resulted in a shot on goal. Roberts ran onto a through pass from Billy Gibson but was unable to pick out a Thistle player with his chip back across goal. The same player then combined with Strachan to give the winger a rare chance to get in behind the Gretna defence, but again his cutback was mopped up by Gretna. It was still the visitors who looked the more dangerous, and Ryan McGuffie had a half-chance to extend Gretna’s lead when he collected Arthur’s punched clearance on the edge of the box, but his attempted lob cleared the bar. But in the 73rd minute they did score a second when they won possession inside their own box from a Thistle throw-in; two passes later Deuchar ran through on goal and held off the challenge of Boyd before showing great composure to slide the ball low past Arthur. The game was all but over as a contest as soon as Gretna scored their second; they had another couple of chances to increase their lead - a half volley from Nicholls just over the bar and a Skelton effort that was deflected wide, but at the other end Thistle offered absolutely nothing in attack until late on. With a couple of minutes remaining, someone finally twigged that launching a high ball for the Gretna defence to knock clear and set up another attack was a waste of time and instead Gillies found Roberts in space out wide, he fired in a dangerous cross but Townsley was on hand to head clear from the lurking Scott Boyd. It was deep into injury time before Thistle finally tested keeper Alan Main, substitute Stevie Nicholas ran onto Roberts’ flick on and went for goal but Main had read the danger and rushed out to narrow the angle and block his effort. Even a consolation goal would have been unfair on Gretna, as Thistle were simply outplayed by the better side in this match. Few people expected anything else, but what is worrying about today’s performance is the complete lack of threat posed by the Jags, and for what seems the umpteenth match in succession, there was very little to be positive about. Never has the DJ’s choice of track been more apt than at the end of today’s game - the road to nowhere indeed… Starting with Raith Rovers on Tuesday night, Thistle now face five matches away from home in their remaining seven games - one of which is a trip to face Stirling. And unless they can pick up their form, it’s difficult to see Stirling not closing the gap and making the closing weeks of the season pretty nervous ones for the Jags support. Man of the match:
STATS Attendance: 2447
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