1 June, 2013

Larkhall Thistle 5 Port Glasgow 2 – 1st June, 2013

Stagecoach West of Scotland League Central District First Division
Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Port Glasgow

Larkhall Thistle went in to their final league game of the season knowing that a win would see them promoted to the Super League First Division – if county rivals Lesmahagow failed to win their home game against Dunipace which was taking place at the same time. The Gow had been on a good end of season run and were favourites to complete the task knowing that a win would guarantee them the final promotion slot, so all Thistle could do was win the game and hope for a slip-up at Craighead.

The Jags got off to the best of starts and any early nerves were blown away in the fifth minute. Mark Canning won the ball on the right side of midfield and played it forward to Graham Gracie who flicked it past the onrushing keeper and into the empty net to put the home side one up.

Ten minutes later it was 2-0, The Port Glasgow defence allowed Gracie too much space on the left of midfield and although there looked to be nothing on, the Jags top scorer swung a fierce dipping shot over the keeper and into the far corner of the net from 20 yards out. Gracie almost completed his hat-trick just two minutes later but his header from a Brian Jack cross was well saved by Port keeper Tucker.

Canning and Grant scrap for the ball in midfield

The lead was extended after 24 minutes though when Scott Nicholl took a corner on the right and it pinged back and forth before falling for Alan Fleming who drilled it low into the middle of the goals from 10 yards.

Port Glasgow were looking like a team who had played four games in eight days and were relegated already and it took until the 28th minute before they mounted their first real attack of the game but they should have scored with a free header from a corner on the right.

Mark Canning challenges for a ball in midfield

Thistle rounded off the first half scoring with a fourth, three minutes from the interval. Canning again won the ball and drove on before slipping the ball through to Gracie who coolly slipped it past the keeper from 10 yards. The final drama of the half came in injury time when Jags goalkeeper Davie McEwan was forced to handle a careless back-pass six yards out and was booked for the offence. McEwan himself led the charge from the resultant indirect free kick and produced a fine diving save.

AlaAlan Fleming first half free kick — Alan Fleming first half free kick

Thistle legend Martin Mulhearn takes in the game

Davie McEwan charges Port Glasgow free kick

Half Time: Larkhall Thistle 4 Port Glasgow 0

Thistle’s last game before this had been against Port Glasgow in the reverse league fixture and although it was almost a month ago, both teams seemed to remember the script. Once again, as at Parklea, Port came out for the second half four goals down but determined to salvage some pride from the game. And like last time they hit back early in the half with a goal in the 51st minute, slack defending allowing Devlin a free header from a free kick swung into the box.

The Jags restored their four-goal advantage six minutes later though when JP Grant latched on to a loose ball and headed over Tucker into the net from 12 yards out. Mark McKeever, playing his last game before retiring, nearly rounded off the day in the 65th minute when he made a good run down the left wing and dinked a shot over the keeper but just over the bar. The Jags were searching for a sixth and came close again when Gracie chested a through ball right into the path of Canning who took it in his stride and ran in but blasted his shot over the bar.

Thistle's goalscorers, Gracie, Grant, Fleming — Thistle’s goalscorers, Gracie, Grant, Fleming

McKay pulled another goal back for the visitors in 71 minutes with a low drive from the edge of the box that gave McEwan no chance. Thistle replied ten minutes later when substitute Scott McLachlan – who replaced Brian Jack – nicked in and stole the ball from a weary looking Port defender before making for the by-line and cutting the ball back for Gracie. The striker’s shot though for once was weak and easily saved.

The final chance of the game fell to Port Glasgow seven minutes from time and again it was a corner that led to another free header which was cleared off the line by Scott Nicholl.

Thistle won their game then as they had to do but meanwhile a few miles south on the M74 Lesmahagow had turned round a 0-1 half-time deficit to run out 4-1 winners and scupper the Jags promotion hopes. Like last season Thistle had beaten Port Glasgow in the last game to stay in the league, this time however it was for the wrong reason.

Thistle players troop off having heard the score from Lesmahagow

So the Jags wrapped up their season with a win that summed up the campaign. Five goals scored made it a round 100 for the season in all competitions and 80 in the league – by far the best. However the two goals conceded told another story, a poor defensive record was what cost promotion in the end.

Full Time: Larkhall Thistle 5 Port Glasgow 2
Thistle Scorers: Gracie 3, Fleming, Grant

Larkhall Thistle Team:
McEwan; Brown, Kelly, Fleming, Nicholl, McKeever, Canning, Grant, Jack; McGeachie, Gracie. Subs: Russell, McLachlan, Moss

Port Glasgow:
Tucker; Casement, McDonald, Coyle, McGuire; Jamieson, Brown, Haggerty, Frizzell, Devlin, McKay. Subs: Smith, Beattie, Boyland

Best for Thistle on the day was Gracie with a good performance too from Canning, and a special mention and thanks for his years of service to the club to Mark McKeever, all the best for the future Mark.

27 May, 2013

Gow win takes promotion out of Thistle’s hands

Lesmahagow beat Benburb 4-1 tonight to set up a final day in the league that promises to be tension packed and nail-biting to say the least. Thistle take on Port Glasgow at home on Saturday, while at the same time phones will be pointed to Craighead to see how the Gow are doing in their final game at home to Dunipace.

Unfortunately the situation is now out of the Jags hands, if Lesmahagow win they go up – it is now as simple as that. If they don’t win and Thistle do win then the Jags are promoted. If neither team wins the league’s form team Shettleston go up thanks to their late surge which has seen them shoot up the standings to second place.

25 May, 2013

Can anybody help?

There’s a chap looking for some information on Glasgow Perthshire games with Thistle from the past, it’s a long shot I suppose but if anybody has anything they can contribute please reply here or to the post (on the right in Comments).

Games with missing scores, do you know how any of these finished?

1973-74 Glasgow Perthshire v Larkhall Thistle Division B
1980-81 Glasgow Perthshire v Larkhall Thistle RJ McLeod Trophy 3rd Round
1980-81 June 10 Glasgow Perthshire v Larkhall Thistle RJ McLeod Trophy 3rd Round Replay
1992-92 April 23 Larkhall Thistle v Glasgow Perthshire League

18 May, 2013

Game OFF today

Today’s game with Port Glasgow is a late call off at 1:20 due to waterlogged park.

14 May, 2013

Under 14 final at Gasworks Park

Larkhall Thistle’s Gasworks Park is to host another boys cup final, this time it’s the Under 14 District final beween Gow Valley and Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers.

The final will take place on Tuesday 28th May with a 6:50pm kick off, so why not come along and see some of the stars of the future.

4 May, 2013

Port Glasgow 1 Larkhall Thistle 4, 4th May 2013

Larkhall Thistle kept up their promotion push with the win they needed today at the new Parklea sports complex and with Lesmahagow losing it turned out to be a very good day for the Jags. The situation at the top of the league is now more clear-cut, St Anthony’s have finished their programme and are on 49 points and only Thistle and Lesmahagow can overtake them. If Thistle win their last game – also against Port Glasgow – they will finish on 50 points, Lesmahagow need to win their remaining four games to reach 52 points so if the Gow drop any points and we win our last game then we will be promoted.

It’s all ifs and buts and the only thing Thistle can do is concentrate on winning the last game, whenever that is scheduled. There will need to be a bit of an improvement from today’s second half performance though because if Port Glasgow carry on where they left off today they could cause an upset.

The Jags started looking determined to get the job done and the points tied up and were four goals up in a devastating 11 minute spell before Port knew what had hit them. Ross McGeachie had served an early warning of what was to come, after only six minutes Mark McKeever took the ball on the right wing after a well worked move and put in a great cross for McGeachie to see his header fly past the left post. Port Glasgow’s only real threatening move of the early stages came a couple of minutes later when a high ball over the top caught out the Thistle defence and as the Port striker raced clear with Hugh Kelly, the Jags man fell over and took him down as well inside the box but the home side’s loud penalty claims were waved aside.

JP Grant opened the scoring for Thistle after 13 minutes, a free kick on the right of the goal was swung in by Scott Nicholl and his header flew into the top left hand corner of the net.

JP Grant scores Thistle's second goal — JP Grant scores Thistle’s first goal

Two minutes later the Jags doubled their lead, a long ball out of defence was flicked on by McGeachie for Graham Gracie to run on to, the big striker sprinted past the defence from 40 yards and took the ball in on the keeper before slotting it low into the net. The home side were claiming offside but he had clearly started his run from between two Port Glasgow defenders.

Port Glasgow claim in the run up to the third goal

Three minutes later it was 3-0 and still only 18 minutes played. Grant looked to have lost the ball in midfield but did well to recover and collect it before playing it out wide to the right, McKeever took on the defender but the ball went out and again the home side were up in arms as they felt it was their throw. Canning managed to get the ball across into the box and McGeachie found a yard of space to get his head to it and score.

Ross McGeachie scores Thistle's third goal — Ross McGeachie scores Thistle’s third goal

Thistle were enjoying themselves now and Dean Richardson set off on a great run after 24 minutes, playing a neat one-two before bursting into the box and to be honest running into the back of a home defender. This time the Port Glasgow players and fans were entitled to their protests as the referee awarded a penalty which was converted by the reliable Grant who kept up his excellent scoring record from the spot this season.

Port Glasgow had a couple of chances just after the fourth goal, the first through a long ball which found a Port striker and as he was bearing down on goal only a fantastic last gasp tackle from Richardson kept the clean sheet intact. Richardson was forced into another similar challenge ony two minutes later and again won the ball cleanly to avert any danger.

Thistle looked content to see out the rest of the first half with their four goal lead and the only other time they came close was ten minutes from the interval when a good interchange between Richardson, Grant and Mark Canning set up Richardson for a shot which went just over the bar.

Half Time: Port Glasgow 0 Larkhall Thistle 4

The second half began with news that Lesmahagow were two goals down and whether or not that had an effect on the performance, it was low-key to say the least. It was a half that was best forgotten for the Jags as they lost a goal and were under pressure throughout, and could have lost even more on another day.

Port Glasgow got on the scoresheet after 61 minutes and it was a goal their play had deserved. A ball down the right wing wasn’t closed down and from the cross a straightforward header in the middle gave keeper McEwan no chance.

Thistle hit back quickly and Ross McGeachie reacted first to take a quick free kick which he played to Canning, the midfielder looked up and hit a long shot from 25 yards just over the bar.

Port Glasgow pushed again looking to close the gap further but in the 70th minute Jags manager Dunky Sinclair knew that the game was won, bringing on Brian Jack for Mark Canning. Andy Brown, who had been out with a hamstring injury, also got a run out in place of Mark Russell.

Richardson got involved in the opposition half again three minutes later when he played another one-two and went down in the box in a carbon-copy of the first half penalty incident. This time however there was no penalty claim and the referee didn’t see it as a foul.

Dean Richardson down but the referee's having none of it this time — Dean Richardson down but the referee’s having none of it this time

Thistle were under the cosh again 11 minutes from time when Port Glasgow won a series of corners that were defended a bit desperately, eventually the ball was scrambled clear and broke out to Jack in the middle of the park but his scooped pass out wide under no real pressure went out of the park and the move broke down.

Larkhall made a final substitution bringing on Stuart McFarlane for Scott Nicholl nine minutes from the end and were lucky to escape again two minutes later when Kelly made a desperate last gasp tackle with the Port Glasgow striker through on goal. The Jags had one more attempt at goal left with three minutes to go when McKeever set up Gracie for a run into the box and low left foot shot but the keeper saved comfortably.

So a bit of an anti-climax in the end as far as the actual game went but a great result that keeps Thistle firmly in the hunt for the other promotion spot, Port Glasgow can escape relegation mathematically but look to have too much to do, Dunipace only need three points from their remaining six games to send them down.

Full Time: Port Glasgow 1 Larkhall Thistle 4

Thistle Scorers: Gracie, Grant 2, McGeachie

Larkhall Thistle Team:
McEwan; Russell, Fleming, Kelly, Richardson; McKeever, Canning, Grant, Nicholl; McGeachie, Gracie. Subs McFarlane, Weir, Jack, Brown, Moss

Best for Thistle on the day was Dean Richardson, but Ross McGeachie also put in a great performance topped with a well-taken goal

4 May, 2013

Match Preview Port Glasgow v Larkhall Thistle 4th May 2013

Thistle travel to Parklea for the first leg of the double header with Port Glasgow knowing only a win will be enough to stay in the promotion race. St Anthony’s have played all their games and are five points in front so only two wins would see us overtake them. Even then the Jags would not be assured of promotion as Lesmahagow could overtake us.

The big park at Parklea suited Thistle last time and we go there with happy memories of the best result of the season, a remarkable 5-0 win against champions-elect Greenock. Nobody is expecting a repeat of that scoreline today, the Port are still in there fighting to stay in the division and will be giving it there all in both games so anything won today will need to be hard-earned.

2 May, 2013

Larkhall Thistle 4 East Kilbride Thistle 1 – 1st May, 2013

Stagecoach West of Scotland League Central District First Division
Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v East Kilbride Thistle

Larkhall Thistle went into this game knowing only a win would be good enough to maintain their push for promotion and having won the corresponding fixture at the Show Park by 8-0, were strong favourites to do so even though they were missing three of the regular back four in Dean Richardson, Alan Fleming and Andy Brown. Fellow promotion chasers Lesmahagow and Lanark were playing each other so at least one of them was going to drop points.

The game started quietly with Thistle looking a bit nervous and it was the ninth minute before the first chance was created. Jordan Marshall and Graham Gracie worked the ball between them before laying it back for Mark Canning to volley from the edge of the box, his effort going narrowly past the right post. The visitors showed that they intended to make a game of it and as they grew in confidence they managed their first real attempt at goal when striker Scott hit a dipping shot past the post after picking up a loose ball from a free kick.

JP Grant breaks up an East Kilbride attack

Thistle then replied with a couple of half chances, first Joe Doyle – who looked like he has never been away – made a 30 yard run but hit his shot tamely straight at East Kilbride keeper Wilson then Graham Gracie and Ross McKeever combined to set up Mark McKeever but the keeper managed to block his shot with his feet.

Hugh Kelly picked up the game’s first booking after 21 minutes when he left the referee with no option after fouling an opponent who was racing into the clear on the halfway line but five minutes later Thistle were in front. Mark Canning picked up the ball halfway inside the East Kilbride half and poked a ball through the middle into the path of Gracie who looked up and picked his spot with a lob past the advancing keeper into the middle of the goal.

Thistle were pressing for a second and after a couple of attempts the incident that was to confirm the home win came in the 38th minute. McKeever picked up the ball on the edge of the box and hit a hard drive that caught an East Kilbride defender on the arm, the referee decided somewhat harshly that it was a penalty and JP Grant made no mistake from the spot.

Grant and Mark McKeever celebrate Thistle's second goal — Grant and Mark McKeever celebrate Thistle’s second goal

Having gone two up some of the Jags players might have thought that the job was done but were to get a sharp reminder that East Kilbride weren’t going down without a fight just four minutes later, when Boyle picked up an excellent through ball and lobbed high into the net past Davie McEwan.

Fortunately for Thistle they heeded the warning and restored their two goal advantage four minutes later through a magnificent solo effort from Gracie. He picked up the ball just outside the left edge of the box and weaved his way past the whole East Kilbride defence before crashing the ball high into the roof of the net.

Half Time: Larkhall Thistle 3 East Kilbride Thistle 1

The second half started with a complete chance of attitude from Thistle as they looked for the early goal to make sure the points were safe. Gracie nearly got the goal after only two minutes when he crashed a fierce shot from the edge of the box, unfortunately for him Wilson was well placed to make the save. Next to threaten the visitors goal was McKeever who struck his shot wide after being played in by a great ball from the outside of Jordan Marshall’s boot. Marshall was becoming increasingly influential and his hard work and range of passing was what had been missing in the right midfield role.

Larkhall were pressing hard without any real cutting edge up front and although they had nearly all the pressure the goals weren’t coming with JP Grant in particular frustrated at not getting his name on the scoresheet.

Mark Russell puts adangerous ball into the box

Thistle did add one more goal to their tally in the 71st minute and it came from the best move of the match. A long ball from McEwan was headed on by Grant and Gracie took a great touch to bring it down and control it in one move, passing it square to Canning 20 yards out in front of the goal. The midfielder looked up and spotted Marshall on the right and played a perfect ball into his path for the youngster to run on and place the ball low into the left corner of the goal.

The Jags made a couple of late substitutions, bringing on first Sandy Strang in place of McKeever then Jack for Marshall and saw the game out safely although there was a late chance for East Kilbride. McEwan had to dive full length to tip past a 20 yard effort for a corner and from the resultant kick the visitors should have scored with a free header from 8 yards.

Although the result was what was required, other games didn’t go in Thistle’s favour on the night and nothing was gained. St Anthony’s came back to beat Dunipace, Shettleston won and Lesmahagow beat Lanark in the derby. The Ants have now played all their games and we can overtake them on points with back to back wins against Port Glasgow, the other contenders being Lesmahagow who would top us if they won all their five games and Shettleston who would now need us to slip up.

Full Time: Larkhall Thistle 4 East Kilbride Thistle 1

Thistle Scorers: Gracie 2, Grant, Marshall

Larkhall Thistle Team:
McEwan; Russell, Doyle, Kelly, Nicholl; Marshall, Canning, Grant, McKeever; McGeachie, Gracie. Subs , Jack, Strang, Bulloch, Moss

Booked: Kelly

Best for Thistle on the day were youngsters Marshall and Nicholl, with Doyle and Kelly doing a good job of controlling the defence.

East Kilbride Thistle:
Wilson; McMillan, Sloan, McAnenie, Borg; Stuart, Kelsell, Johnstone, Scott, Jeffrey, Boyle Subs: Findlay, Clark, Meek, Winter, Kennedy

1 May, 2013

Match preview -Thistle v East Kilbride Wednesday 1st May 7:00pm

East Kilbride were relegated from the West of Scotland League Super League First Division last season and like ourselves, were involved in a very tight relegation battle that went right down to the wire. Indeed if it hadn’t been for goal difference we could have found ourselves two divisions apart today instead of playing each other!

The visitors had spent the previous four seasons in the Super League so we haven’t played them for a while, they have been relatively successful with three top half finishes in that spell. The “other” Jags have had a miserable season but have picked up a bit lately starting with a 5-1 win at St Roch’s.

About East Kilbride Thistle:
Founded: 1968
Ground: The Showpark, The Village, East Kilbride
Managers: Brian McMillan & Mark Wilson
Home colours: Black and White stripes
Away colours: All Red

Honours:
Scottish Junior Cup 1983
Central League Division 1 1992-93
West of Scotland Cup 1973–74
Central League champions 1974–75, 1975–76
Central League A Division winners 4 times
Sectional League Cup: 1974–75, 1982–83, 2002–03
Evening Times Cup Winners Cup: 1982–83

Although East Kilbride Thistle are a relatively new club to the juniors, they have done what many others have failed to do in lifting the highest honour in the junior game. Their proudest moment came as recently as 1983 when they beat Bo’ness 2-0 in the Scotish Cup final at Ibrox.

East Kilbride are currently campaigning to get South Lanarkshire Council to approve plans to redevelop the Showpark into a “community sports hub”. The ambitious plans include 7 and 11-a-side 3G parks as well as a 500-1000 seater stand in the main park. Part of the plan is for Clyde to relocate there and share the ground.

East Kilbride squad:
McGuiness
Kelsall
Emslie
McAneny
Sloan
Borg
Scott
McQueenie
Stewart
McRobert
Hastie
Jeffrey
Smith
Dolan
Gillies
Connolly
Campbell
Douches
Buchanan
McCrae
Martin
Harkins
Bennett
King
Craig
Bolato
Winters
Findlay
McBride
Clarke

East Kilbride were relegated last season from the Super League First Division and have found life just as tough in this division, losing all but one of their 16 games so far. They have been on the wrong end of some bad defeats, the worst of which was our 8-0 away win in the first game of 2013. They did a bit better in the Scottish however, travelling north to Ellon to take on the Aberdeenshire side and came back with a great 2-1 win before losing to Kinnoull in the next round. They also managed a win in the Euroscot Eng Central League Cup against Benburb, the only meeting so far between the sides this season.

30 April, 2013

Larkhall Thistle 2 Bellshill Athletic 2 – 29th April, 2013

Stagecoach West of Scotland League Central District First Division
Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Bellshill Athletic

Thistle went into this match with a poor league record this season against local rivals from Lanarkshire and unfortunately kept the bad run going by only just scraping a draw. Yet again the game was played like a cup tie from the start with Bellshill just as desperate to win as Thistle even though they had nothing to play for and were already safe.

Thistle's young fans created a bit of atmosphere — Thistle’s young fans created a bit of atmosphere

Thistle were forced into making changes with two of the regular back four missing through suspension so they started with Scott Nicholl at left back and Joe Doyle at centre half alongside Andy Brown, Mark Russell returning to right back. Ross McGeachie dropped to the bench to allow JP Grant to play as supporting striker and accommodate Jack in the midfield.

Bellshill made the early running and had most of the possession in the opening exchanges but it was Thistle who came closest to scoring in the ninth minute. Graham Gracie made his first telling contribution with a run down the left and was fouled, JP Grant took the resulting free kick and was unlucky to see it cannon back off the left post.

Keeper Donnelly watches JP Gran't free kick come back off the post — Keeper Donnelly watches JP Gran’t free kick come back off the post

Shortly after that Nicholl was booked for needlessly kicking the ball away and from then on he walked a tightrope with the referee showing leniency on more than one occasion, his inexperience showing through.

Fifteen minutes into the game the Jags had their best chance of the first half when Gracie again did well to win a free kick. Joe Doyle swung the ball in and it fell perfectly for Russell 10 yards out but the keeper dived well to smother his shot. Thistle’s pressure looked like resulting in a goal but it was Bellshill who took the lead after 21 minutes against the run of play. They won a couple of corners and the second one fizzed into the middle of the goal, Nicholl swung his boot to try and clear but it spun off him and past Davie McEwan. The Jags were facing a strong wind and the ball seemed to have moved in the air, deceiving the keeper.

Bellshill passed up a couple of chances to go into the half-time break ahead, firstly a soft looking free kick from 28 yards which beat the wall and goalkeeper but sailed just over the bar, then an even better opportunity when a ball floated to the back post forced McEwan into a point blank save from 6 yards.

Half Time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Bellshill Athletic 1

The second half started with Larkhall on the offensive but again it was Bellshill who created the best scoring opportunity three minutes into the half when striker Miller wriggled past two defenders and got a shot away but it went just over the bar. The visitors bench made some half-hearted appeals for a penalty but the referee got this one right.

JP Grant picked up a booking after 57 minutes – even although it was him who was fouled – for swinging a leg at his opponent and was possibly slightly fortunate to stay on the park. Two minutes later Mark McKeever followed him into the book for a tackle.

Mark Canning chases down Bellshill's star man Dolan — Mark Canning chases down Bellshill’s star man Dolan

Ross McGeachie replaced the anonymous Brian Jack and immediately made an impact, winning header after header and getting some very dangerous flick-ons and it was big Ross who was on the end of Thistle’s next chance when he got his head to a Joe Doyle free kick from the half way line but sent it just past the post. The Jags were pushing hard for the equaliser but the visitors were looking dangerous on the break and Davie McEwan had to be at his best in the 75th minute when he pulled off a point blank save to keep them in the game.

Thistle made another change to push for the equaliser and replaced Mark Russell with Sandy Strang, switching to three up front.

If Thistle were to get the breakthrough it always looked likely to come from a set piece and in 79 minutes they drew level from a free kick. Joe Doyle swung the ball in from the right and when it landed in the middle of the six yard area JP Grant reacted first and poked it home.

The joy at drawing level was short-lived however as two minutes later Bellshill regained the lead with a free header in the middle of the goal from a cross from the left. Gracie was booked shortly after in an extremely harsh incident when he swore at a team mate.

Bellshill's second goal — Bellshill’s second goal

It was attack on all fronts now for Thistle but their attempts looked like falling short while at the same time Bellshill always looked capable of scoring on the break and McEwan saved the day on a couple more occasions. The goal did eventually come two minutes into added time and it was the simplest of moves. Gracie took a long throw on the right hand touchline and McGeachie rose highest to flick the ball up and over the keeper into the far corner of the goal.

Bellshill were now starting to regret the time wasting tactics as the Jags pressed again and looked for the winner but time got the better of them and the game ended in a draw that didn’t really satisfy either team.

Full Time: Larkhall Thistle 2 Bellshill Athletic 2

Thistle Scorers: Grant, McGeachie

Larkhall Thistle Team:
McEwan; Brown, Doyle, Nicholl, Russell; Jack, Canning, Kelly, McKeever; Grant, Gracie. Subs: McGeachie, McInall, Strang, Bulloch, Moss

Booked: Nicholl, Grant, McKeever, Gracie

Bellshill:
Donnelly, Brady, McDowell, Dolan, Wilson, Morris, Woods, Redpath, Miller, Selkirk, Holmes. Subs: Connolly, Love, Steele, MacDonald, Calder

Best for Thistle on the day was McEwan with another string of great saves but young Scott Nicholl also had a very good game and showed his versatility by filling in at full back