One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

There is a duty for reporters to relay the facts. And this report of what happened at Firhill today will be, because it must be that way, quick and clean and to the point. Clyde took a little less than forty five minutes to demolish Partick Thistle in this so-called contest, thus bringing to an end the Dick Campbell era at this club.

However long the ultimate end will eventually take will be down to the directors of the club, and their future must surely be directly linked to the speed of their response. Should Messrs Cowan, Peden et al choose to view this latest debacle as just another “blip” then their tenure at the helm of PTFC may be as brief as the resistance shown by the team who took to the field at three o’clock today.

The fourth and final meeting of the season between these ancient foes was played out at Firhill, where once again Clyde seemed to have the early advantage as injury posted several Thistle regulars missing from action. Top scorer Mark Roberts was sidelined by a head knock and joined Smith, Hodge, Donnelly and Sives on the list of players unavailable to manager Dick Campbell. One bright spot was that Alan Archibald was able to return in he was one of four changes, with McChrystal, McConalogue and Strachan all starting while Keogh and Billy Gibson dropped to the bench. Clyde were almost at full strength and named an unchanged side for the fourth game in a row.

Within three and and half minutes of the kick off the Jags had begun their latest chapter in a team unravelling early. A quick free kick on the Clyde left saw the ball lofted towards the Thistle goal. Neither Boyd nor Archibald dealt with it and keeper Arthur seemed to have his boots stuck to the ground as the ball disappeared over his head and into the net for the first of a Clyde quartette. The visitors continued to press and a deep cross into the box saw Robertson having to block a shot on goal from close range, the ball spinning away for a Clyde corner.

In the tenth minute a misplaced pass in the Thistle defence saw Clyde break forward. The resulting pass into the Thistle box saw Imrie fall in as clear an example of ’simulation’ that you’ll see, but referee Clarke chose to ignore. This was quickly followed by a foul committed in concert by Thistle’s midfield duo of Brady and Jimmy Gibson. Such was the professional nature of their act that both were hurt in the process. Brady was led to the touchline and Gibson followed, assisted on his way to the changing room by referee Clarke’s yellow card.

While the Jags were reduced to nine men the free kick launched from twenty two yards crept under the splintered looking defensive wall, and keeper Arthur could only watch from the other post as the ball rolled into his net on the right side of the goal frame.

One Gibson replaced another, as captain Jimmy, unable to return, was substituted by Billy of the same name. Yet the song remained the same. Thistle were unable to make any impression on the game and in the twentieth minute defender McKeown came close heading just past the home teams’ right post. Still, the next blow to the home support was not long in coming.

After an interlude of ten minutes when Thistle looked for a way back into the game Clyde struck for the third time. A pass from Strachan, possibly the only player in red and yellow to show any sign of energy and enterprise, was intercepted and man of the match Craig Bryson raced away down the left side of the field. He left Robertson on his heels and the unstoppable shot unleashed by this player flew into the top left corner of Arthur’s net from twenty yards out.

The final nail in the Thistle performance came after thirty six minutes, and is a source of considerable debate. A seemingly innocent clearance from the Jags goalkeeper towards the left back position was picked up by Clyde winger McGowan. Some say that the ball was deflected, others that the shot on goal was in fact an intended cross, other still defend the keeper by saying that he was blinded by the spring sunshine. Whatever the reality of the situation, the ball crossed into the Thistle goal area was eventually scooped into the Jags net by by Arthur himself as he vainly tried to dive back across goal to cover his near post.

What followed will live long in the minds of the supporters of the Cream of Cumbernauld as the home team continued with a performance of the grandest ineptitude. A cross in the thirty ninth minute was clutched by Arthur to a chorus of jeers, while following on from a rare Thistle corner two of the red and yellow going after the same ball collided with each other providing an easy escape route for the visiting defence. At the other end another rampaging run down the Clyde left flank saw the viciously fired cross weakly palmed away by the Thistle keeper who was saved by the fact the Clyde supporting forwards were slow to react.

At half time the teams trooped off to the sound of Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars”, while most of the home support were looking for one to throw themselves under. Almost astonishingly both teams returned to the field with five minutes of the break still left. Referee Clarke, perhaps needing the rest, or the full fifteen minutes to sharpen his pencils, came back after the regulation break.

To record the depth of ineptitude shown by the team in red and yellow on a minute by minute basis would do inflict harm than is necessary to innocent readers. How Clyde managed not to rack up another four in the second half is beyond comprehension, Balls flew into, around and across Kenny Arthur’s box with unerring regularity, while for the most part the Jags defence stood static unable to cope with the flow against them.

When they had possession of the ball this team of disconnected parts tried very hard not to look like a joke and failed badly. The sight of Darren Young stylishly backheeling a pass into an area occupied only by three Clyde players was only bested by the sight of McChrystal demanding a pass from Strachan while standing a clear yard off the playing surface.

A black cloud appeared over Firhill at a quarter to five and lashed all concerned as they made their way home. Before departing the visiting team ran to celebrate with their fans while the home team, for the second week running, disappeared having never really appeared scarcely acknowledging the Red and Yellow Army. Perhaps they should have taken the time to acquaint themselves with a crowd that they may not see the likes off for some considerable time, if ever again.

Man of the match:
NO ONE - Twain, Shania not Mark, once wrote “You must be joking, right?”. Enough said.

Thistle: Arthur 3, Robertson 3, McChrystal 4, Brady 4, Boyd 4, Archibald 4, J Gibson (B Gibson 15, 5), Young 4, Russell 5 (Ferguson 72, 5), McConalogue 3 (Keogh 46, 5) Strachan 5.
Unused subs; Tuffey, Kane.

Clyde: Hutton, Harris, McCann, Higgins, McKeown, Masterton, Bryson (Bradley 66), Gilmour (Williams 84), Arbuckle (Ferguson 84), Imrie, McGowan.
Unused subs; Hunter, Cherrie.