One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Thistle turned in a performance as dire as the prevailing weather in going down by two goals to one at Hamilton today. For the second week running they found themselves two goals behind, and although Mark Roberts did manage to reduce the deficit with yet another strike, Thistle never really looked likely to claim any rewards from their third meeting this season with the Academicals.

The Jags had swept down the motorway heading for Hamilton looking to add to the precious point garnered against Gretna the previous Saturday. Dick Campbell had almost a full squad to choose from, and opted to stick with the same line-up as last weekend, the home team were not so blessed, as they were still recovering somewhat with the injuries and illness that had caused their previous fixture to be postponed. Manager Billy Reid had a number of selection doubts going into the match, but did manage to restore striker Offiong to the starting line-up.

The game kicked off under grey skies with Thistle in their blue and yellow kit attacking towards the goal where the visiting support were seated. It was the home team who made the better of scrappy opening possessions. In the seventh minute they forced a pair of corners which Thistle defended without too much concern. At the other end Thistle won a free kick which was taken quickly and resulted in a corner. The in-swinging cross was was punched clear by Jellema in the home goal and the resulting attack by the Accies saw Tuffey make a bit of a hash of clearing the ball when he shanked it well to his right for a throw in.

There was a moment of real concern for the Red and Yellow in the 18th minute. Following on from some sloppy defending the ball broke to Offiong in the inside right position. Fortunately for the Jags the linesman had his flag up long before his shot went low into the right hand corner of Tuffey’s net. The young Irish keeper had to look smart in coming to clear a Hamilton break in the twenty third minute and thankfully timed his tackle well, but he was powerless to prevent the home team from going ahead seven minutes later. After some poor defending by Thistle Hamilton’s Gilhaney was allowed to slot home the ball from seven yards.

The home team continued to press and in the thirty fifth minute they worked the ball from the right to left side where the Hamilton winger skinned Brady, hit the by-line and only his weak cross, which was easily collected by Tuffey, prevented Thistle from going further behind. The Jags sought to strike back immediately and they worked the ball back and forth across the Hamilton half before it fell to Mark Roberts in the inside right position. Thistle’s top scorer made good room for himself and his curling left footed shot clipped the right hand upright before spinning behind for a goal kick.

Thistle pushed forward late in the half in search of an equaliser but good defensive work blocked an effort from Brady before his fellow midfielder Jimmy Gibson shot high over the Accies bar. And so the half ended with the home team a goal to the good.

The second half began badly for Thistle. Within six minutes of the restart they found themselves further behind following on from some dreadful defending by Smith. Twice the full back had the chance to head the ball clear upfield but his efforts only saw the ball eventually break to Offiong. From close-in the Hamilton number nine was able to slot the ball low past the diving Tuffey. Smith was quickly replaced by Keogh who was pushed into a three-pronged attack as Dick Campbell went for 3-4-3 formation in a bid to change the course of the game.

The Jags efforts saw Jellema have to tip the ball over his bar under some strong pressure and in the sixty second minute the more adventurous shape earned the visitors a reward. After some good work from Russell on the Thistle left his deep cross into the Hamilton box found Roberts free and the number ten was able to float the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net. This was to be Russell’s last kick of the ball with Dick Campbell replacing him immediately after the goal bringing on McConalogue.

It might have been expected that the Jags would be the team to press forward in search of an equaliser, but instead it was Hamilton who were to look the team most likely to score again. In the sixty seventh minute they missed a glaring opportunity when the ball was worked down the left all the way to the dead ball line. With red and white hoops lining up along the six yard line to put the ball away Accies sub Brian Wake chose instead to hit the ball weakly straight at Tuffey.

Thistle began to chase the game at this time and both Brown Ferguson, who had replaced Brady, Jimmy Gibson and Simon Donnelly all found themselves yellow carded, the latter for a petulant tackle on Hamilton’s teen sensation McArthur who had been dangerous throughout whenever the ball came his way.

Inside the last six minutes the home team could have added to their total. A fast break down the Hamilton left wing saw Tuffey having to rush headlong from his line to the edge of his box. In doing so he missed the ball and the Hamilton attacker but managed to drive the player wide enough for the covering defenders to get back and clear the danger. Tuffey was again called into action a few minutes later when another Accies sub David Winters went for goal, but the Jags keeper did well to touch his shot over the bar.

Thistle did have a late chance to snatch what would have been an undeserved draw when Ferguson intercepted a slack pass in the middle of the Hamilton half. He drove forward but his cross into the box was scrambled onto the bar and out for a corner by the Hamilton keeper.

In then end Hamilton earned their points and Billy Reid will be much relieved. They seemed able to make better control of the ball on New Douglas Park’s artificial surface. The Jags looked ill at ease often allowing the ball to bounce or run too far for good work to be done. Russell and Roberts toiled away up front but never received the required support from Donnelly and Young. Brady and Gibson chased and harried in the midfield but never got close to taking a grip of the game, while Thistle’s defence contributed their usual two goals, and remain a headache that Dick Campbell has yet to find the Disprin for.

Man of the match:
MARK ROBERTS - So few to choose from…. no-one was worth a real positive mention, not even the mugs like myself who turned up and deserved better entertainment for their fourteen quid. And a half time pie would have been welcome as well but, like talent in the current Jags squad, they were sadly no-where to be found. Pass marks perhaps for Boyd, Tuffey and Roberts, with the latter probably best of a bad bunch. He did at least score, and also had the only other decent effort in the game for Thistle.

Thistle: Tuffey 6, Smith 4 (Keogh 56, 5), Robertson 5, Brady 6 (Ferguson 70), Boyd 6, McChrystal 5, J Gibson 5, Donnelly 5, Young 5, Roberts 6, Russell 6 (McConalogue 63, 4).
Unused subs; Arthur, B Gibson.

Hamilton: Jellema, Wilson, Stevenson (Winters 76), Easton, Sharp, McCarthy, McArthur, Neil, Gilhaney, McLeod, Offiong (Wake 64).
Unused subs; Gibson, Fleming, White.