One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Thistle’s promotion prospects were put firmly into perspective with this skelping at Raydale. All the damage was done in the first half thanks to a completely woeful defensive display that gifted a hat-trick to Gretna’s McMenamin. The Jags improved after the break but huffed and puffed to create and the rout was completed in 84 minutes when Jenkins added a 4th, and but for Kenny Arthur, the score could have been 6 or 7.

Having assessed Thistle’s stuttering performance against Clyde in midweek boss Campbell elected to make only one change to the line up bringing Billy Gibson in for Adam Strachan who dropped to the bench. Meanwhile, following three wins in a row, Gretna not surprisingly named the same starting eleven for the fourth consective match, with pre-match doubts Tosh & Innes both passed fit to start.

For 14 minutes life was looking rosy for the Jags. The vocal travelling support were enjoying Thistles positive and attractive passing play which had Gretna pinned back in their own half. Kicking with a strong wind Thistle over-ran the opposition, totally bossing the midfield. That said, despite dominating in this period Main in the Gretna goal hadn’t been required to make a save of any note.

With the Thistle fans enjoying the day to this point and having stated their intentions to bring down the roof in the so called East Stand it was somewhat ironic that the roof began to cave in on Thistles game in the 14th minute. In their first real attack of the game and totally against the run of play Gretna scored. McMenamin was given an easy header from a Tosh cross with the Jags defence posted completely absent without a sick note. Campbell and Keogh being the main culprits.

From here on Thistles fluency began to wane and it was Gretna who began to take control with slick passing and soon big holes started to appear in the Thistle formation. Not that the Jags were out of contention and they were still able to create some excellent chances for themselves.

Firstly Derek Young failed to connect with a pass from Mark Roberts, the ball whizzing narrowly past the post. Then Young again failed to score with one of the best chances of the game; he did well to bring down a long ball into the box, but with Main advancing rapidly Young fluffed his subsequent touch and the keeper was able to block. The rebound fell nicely to Donnelly but his effort was also stopped. On 35 minutes Main then pulled off a fabulous save from Billy Gibson who fired in from a Mark Roberts quickly taken throw on the left.

With some good end to end play and just as the Jags fans were feeling optimistic Gretna put the game beyond thistle with 2 goals in the space of 4 minutes. The first came on 42 minutes from a quick counter attack down the right side. Poor marking left McMenamin again unmarked and he slotted his second off the inside of the post. Thistle were then forced to replace Paddy Keogh who was clearly injured with Brown Ferguson. Billy Gibson was moved to centre back and Ferguson filled in on the right.

No sooner had Ferguson pulled on his shirt though when McMenamin scored his third right on half time. A Brady challenge was harshly called a free kick. The ball in fell to Billy Gibson at the right hand post and somehow he managed to twice put the ball in the air in front of McMenamin who finished at the second attempt.

At half time then despite overall having had decent possession and given a decent account going forward Thistle were dead and buried. The second half brought a change in tactics. Still playing 4-4-2, Dick Campbell replaced Darren Brady with Graham Gibson and Derek Young dropped to midfield.

As in the first half Thistle stared brightly if not with so much fluency and were working hard to find a goal but both payers and fans were becoming frustrated with Gretna working to close down play. The Jags best chances came in this early 2nd half period with Donnelly and Roberts combining well and both having attempts on goal. Roberts then tried to set up Graham Gibson but his pass was poor and Gretna cleared the danger.

Although Thistle were continuing to work hard their play was rather disjointed and it was Gretna who looked more threatening with some good play. Indeed Kenny was called into action a number of times after the 60th minute to keep the scores down making excellent saves from free kicks from Grainger and Tosh. Tosh in particular was playing very well and was enjoying the banter from the Jags fans. McMenamin then missed a chance for his 4th when he shot over following a poor McCulloch headed clearance.

Gretna’s hat-trick hero was then replaced with James Grady. Jenkins then replaced Tosh. These two made an almost immediate impact. Grady skinned Boab down the wing and sent in a great ball to an unmarked Jenkins who couldn’t miss on 85 minutes.

So another heavy defeat by Gretna and again Thistle were unable to cope with their penetrating midfield running and fast passing game. This game confirmed to many fans that Thistle are still some way short of the quality needed to win this league. Although very disappointed by the margin of the defeat it needs to be said that the boys and the manager got great backing from the travelling support.

Man of the match:
KENNY ARTHUR - Kenny deserves it for making at least 2 fine saves to keep the score down & who got no help at all from the defence. Other than Kenny the 12th man i.e. the support was the best thing about today

Thistle: Arthur, Campbell, McCulloch, Brady (G Gibson 46), Keogh (Ferguson 42), Boyd, J Gibson, Donnelly, Young, Roberts, B Gibson.
Unused subs; Tuffey, Strachan, McConalogue.

Gretna: Main, Townsley (Barr 7), Grainger, Tosh (Jenkins 84), Canning, Innes, Paartalu, Nicholls, McMenamin (Grady 80), Graham, Skelton.
Unused subs; Fleming, Berkeley, Barr.