Saturday 29 July 2006
Thistle wrapped up their pre-season friendly programme with a narrow win over Accrington Stanley at Firhill this afternoon. The Jags edged out the English League new boys 1-0 courtesy of a Scott McCulloch free-kick right on the stroke of half-time, but had keeper Kenny Arthur to thank for holding onto that narrow lead.
Accrington have won three and lost three of their pre-season fixtures as they prepare to return to English League football for the first time in 44-years. But two of those defeats came against Premiership and Championship sides (Blackburn and Burnley), and in their last game they defeated League One side Blackpool, so are clearly no mugs - and they showed that in this game.
Thistle lined-up in a 4-4-2 formation for this one, Ferguson, Roberts, Billy Gibson and Donnelly were all rested with the latter finding a place on the bench. So Hodge partnered Boyd in defence with Scott McCulloch at left back; Strachan and trialist Ryan McCann played on either wing, with Pat Keogh returning to the starting line-up to partner McConalogue in attack.
The two Thistle frontmen combined to create the first opening of the game when Keogh turned inside the area and managed to squeeze a pass through for Stef, but the keeper reacted quickly to close him down and got enough on his shot to allow a defender to get back and stop the ball trickling over the line.
McCann made a good start to the game in his preferred right midfield role, and he was involved with Keogh to set up McConalogue for Thistle’s next attempt, but Stef’s drive from the edge of the area flashed narrowly past the keeper’s far post.
Kenny Arthur was then called into action to collect a 20-yard effort from midfielder Ian Craney, but it was Thistle who continued to press and a taste of what was to come for Accrington keeper Ian Dunbavin followed when he had to react smartly and with strong hands to block McCulloch’s thunderous free kick from right on the edge of the box.
After a promising opening 20 minutes or so from Thistle, their English opponents began to come more and more into the game and Dunbavin’s earlier save from McCulloch was more than matched at the other end by Kenny Arthur after Boco had ran onto a clearance and hit a fine dipping volley that the Jags keeper superbly touched onto the bar and out for a corner. And Arthur was called into action again a few minutes later to make a good block to deny Craney from 12-yards.
Thistle weathered the spell of pressure from Accrington and finished the half with the upper hand as after Keogh had saw an effort well saved by Dunbavin, the keeper was left helpless when Scott McCulloch stepped up to curl a free-kick round the wall and it glanced off the head of Welchy and into the back of the net to make it 1-0.
Neither side made any changes at half-time and the visitors set about trying to get themselves back on level terms. Conference and Non-League Player of the Year last season, Ian Craney, was the first to threaten with an audacious effort from just inside the Thistle half after he’d spotted Kenny Arthur off his line. He wasn’t too far away, and it certainly gave the Jags keeper a nervy moment.
Thistle responded with another free kick from McCulloch, this time from a little further out, and this time it was comfortably dealt with by the keeper. Good play by young striker Andrew Mangan at the other end presented Roberts with an opening but his shot was well dealt with by Arthur, and the visitors continued to threaten with Craney and Mangan both hitting efforts just wide of target.
Accrington should have been back on level terms with just under 20 minutes to go when they broke down the left wing and crossed low into the area, but when a goal looked certain a terrific double save from Kenny Arthur, both at point-blank range, kept the Thistle goal intact.
Thistle responded when Strachan and McGoldrick combined to try and set up McCann, but the midfielder was just unable to connect with the cross into the danger area. McCann departed the action soon afterwards but on this performance looked like he could be a useful option in a wide midfield role; unfortunately it’s not really an area we need to strengthen, and since Campbell is unlikely to drop Brady and play Billy Gibson in his most effective central position, that doesn’t leave much room for McCann in the squad.
The second half substitutions didn’t add anything to the Thistle performance, and after Keogh and Jimmy Gibson went off, Thistle struggled allowing Accrington to enjoy the bulk of possession. However, with the visitors making their own share of substitutions in the latter part of the game, the action fizzled out with no further scoring chances and Thistle held on for a narrow win.
On the plus side for the Jags, Kenny Arthur put in a fine performance, Keogh showed he is a far better option than Gibson up front, and it’s comforting to know that even the slimline version of Boab McCulloch packs a punch at free-kicks!
STATS
Scorers: McCulloch 45
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