Sunday 16 July 2006
Lancaster C 1 - 2 Thistle
Written by Graham McNair (cheadle jag)
Sunday, 16 July 2006
Thistle’s first pre season friendly saw them line up against Conference North outfit, Lancaster City, at the wonderfully named and extremely hot Giant Axe. The weather, bumpy pitch and numerous changes (everyone bar Boyd featured) meant it wasn’t the greatest of games, more of a glorified training session than anything else, but Thistle got their pre-season action off to a good start with a narrow 2-1 win.
There was a fairly sizable Jags support (around 300-400) who had trekked down from Glasgow, along with fans from Manchester, London and Bognor that I met. Many of whom had a drink or two before the game at John O’Gaunts and Merchants Inn in the town, before moving to the Dolly Blue’s own bar. Special thanks to Lancaster lad for showing Jags fans where to go from the station and for arranging a great spread of food in the club bar.
Thistle lined up 4-4-2 with Sives and Boab McCulloch at right and left back. In the absence of the injured Scott Boyd, Smyth and Hodge lined up in the middle. The midfield was along familiar lines, the two Gibsons along with Brady and last season’s top scorer Mark Roberts, while Donnelly and Keogh led the line. Notable names for Lancaster were Iain Swan , who played a couple of games for Thistle under John Lambie, and Jamie Tandy , who is probably best known for being the recipient of a cigar in the eye from Joey Barton whilst at Man City.
After a quiet start, the first chance game after around 10 minutes when Donnelly turned neatly on the edge of the box and had a shot which went straight at the keeper. This was followed shortly after by another nice bit of play by Donnelly , whose cross was headed narrowly over by Pat Keogh. The linesman had his flag up for offside , so it wouldn’t have stood, but it was a signal of what was to come from the player who was the recipient of some good natured “he once was a gypo but is alright now” chants.
Thistle were dominating possession at this point and it took until 20 minutes for Lancaster to get into the Jags box , but the cross from Lancaster’s number nine was headed weakly by Zico-Black(!!) and the danger was cleared easily by Smyth. After a bit of a slow start, Craig Sives was looking extremely comfortable at right back and had no problems with Tandy when he came near him.
Following a neat bit of play between Jimmy Gibson and Darren Brady , the latter was scythed down in a poor tackle by ex Gretna midfielder Steve Skinner, for which he was rightfully booked. Big Boab stepped up and thumped a decent free kick over the bar from 35 yards.
Thistle continued to push Lancaster back, and Keogh linked up well with the midfield, allowing them to pick out decent passes down both wings. And they deservedly took the lead after 34 minutes Thistle when the ball was played out to Mark Roberts wide right, and his excellent cross was powerfully met by the head of Keogh. It was a decent goal and hopefully the first of many by Keogh.
Kenny Arthur got possibly his first touch of the ball after 40 minutes when he was very quick off his line to intercept a through ball, and that was also his last touch as the half time whistle was blown shortly after.
Thistle made 5 changes at the interval, McConalogue replaced Donnelly with Graham Gibson, Tuffey, Kane and Brown Ferguson all coming on for their first appearances in Jags colours. They stuck with the 4-4-2 formation, with the impressive Sives moving to center half and John Kane taking up the right back position.
The first real action in the second half was a penalty to Lancaster after a Jags defender pulled back Zico-Black in the box and a penalty was awarded. Elderton’s spot kick was put low down to Tuffey’s right, who went the right way but couldn’t keep it out.
More changes followed with Billy Gibson and Craig Sives going off allowing McGoldrick and Strachan to come on. Thistle went to 3 at the back at this point, pushing up another forward. They began to dominate again with Graham Gibson looking very quick and McGoldrick offering a threat down the right hand side. Strachan was not getting much joy down the left, but on one cut back inside he was hauled to the ground, and the resultant free kick was thumped into the wall by McCulloch.
After 60 minutes a nice bit of interplay between Graham Gibson and McConalogue, set the latter free down the left wing and his cut back was just behind the onrushing Gibson. The ball would have reached McGoldrick, but he was tripped before it got there, and a penalty was awarded. Mark Roberts duly despatched the ball to the keeper’s right, giving him no chance. A mini pitch invasion (by two fans) followed, but they were swiftly escorted off.
After 75 minutes, a poor clearance by Hodge presented Lancaster’s center forward with a chance, and his snap shot cannoned off the bar, and a minute later Tuffey had to make a fine save to deny the same player, pushing his free kick past the post. Hodge came off injured at this point, meaning Billy Gibson cut short his sunbathing and went to center half as Thistle went back to 4-4-2.
There was just time for one more Jaggy shot, with Roberts planting a decent effort inches wide of the post with the goalkeeper beaten. The final whistle went shortly after on a very hot afternoon, and everyone went back to the Social club for more beer and a bit of singing.
The game was a decent workout, with all the new players looking comfortable without being overly stretched, and it is nice to see we have a few options up front this season. It would be nice to have some more defensive cover, but that seems unlikely to happen.
STATS
Scorers: Keogh 33, Roberts 70 pen, (PTh); Elderton 53 pen (Lan)
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