Tagged: Match Preview

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.

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
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
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

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.

 

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 take the lead
Bellshill take the lead

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.

JP Grant makes it 1-1
JP Grant makes it 1-1

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

Today’s games

Thistle have a day off today but there are two games being played that are vital to our promotion chances. Local rivals Lesmahagow take on leaders Greenock at home while Benburb face St Anthony’s in the Govan derby.

Incredibly, there are still eight teams who could still win the league and out of these the Gow still have most points to play for other than leaders Greenock so must be seen as serious contenders for a promotion spot. A win today would keep up the faint chance of somebody overhauling the long time leaders. A win for Greenock today would see them take the title.

Benburb also have a lot of games to catch up but they could blow the race for the other spot wide open with a win against the Ants today. A defeat today would see St Anthony’s chasing a maximum of 48 points with only one game left to play.

In the day’s only other fixture with a bearing on promotion, Dunipace who can still go up take on Neilston. The Pace still have an outside chance but have eight games left and they would need to be considered rank outsiders.

Match Preview – Thistle v Benburb

We go into the last five games of the season still withan outside chance of promotion, although there are a good few teams still in the shake-up for the two places. Greenock  are all but up, although St Anthony’s, ourselves, Shettleston, Lesmahagow and Benburb could all mathematically overtake them. In the night’s other fixtures, Lesmahagow should move closer with a win at East Kilbride while something has to give at Shettleston where they play host to St Anthony’s.

The Bens will be very difficult opposition given the fact that they beat us very convincingly in March, albeit we were reduced to nine men through a couple of very dubious refereeing decisions. (See match report here) Thistle have had problems with reduced squad numbers in the last few weeks with injuries, suspensions and holidays all taking their toll but it was good to see JP Grant back pulling the strings in the middle of the park on Saturday.

The winner of this game will stay in the running for the promotion places but for the loser it will probably be a bridge too far.

 

Match Preview – St Roch’s v Thistle

Thistle played St Roch’s in November last year and despite the loss of a player “The Candy” proved to be a very tough nut to crack, the Jags eventually running out 4-2 winners. St Roch’s were on a poor run of form at that point, our win being their sixth game without a win, having lost five of them.

After that game however, things became even worse for them with the loss of players and management having a devastating effect on their fortunes. They have lost all seven league games since, among them going down 7-1 at Lesmahagow and 7-0 at home to Neilston as well as 4-goal losses against Lanark and Benburb – both at home.

Worst of all however was last Saturday when things reached a new low with a 5-1 home defeat to East Kilbride, the visitors’ first and only points of the entire league campaign.

Our own form of late has been a bit hit or miss with excellent wins at the likes of Greenock and Neilston being cancelled out by poor performances at Carluke and Benburb. Despite our opponents toiling at the wrong end of the table nobody will be taking the win as a foregone conclusion and anything gained from the game will have to be hard-won.

There has traditionally been a bit of an edge in games between the teams over the years, going back to the early 70s when they met in the now infamous Scottish Cup ties. St Roch’s see this as a game they would love to win to start their fightback against relegation so despite the current form we can be sure of a hard game against a team that will be fired up and fully committed to getting a much needed win.

Here’s hoping for a good sporting encounter where the football is the only topic of after-match conversation.

Match preview – Benburb v Larkhall Thistle

Larkhall Thistle travel to Govan today to take on Benburb in the league. The Jags are aiming to continue their recent run since the defeat at Carluke and extend their winning streak to three league games in a row for the first time this season.

A win or draw would see Thistle move up a place to third in the league if Lanark lose today at Bellshill, a Lanark draw would also do the Jags if we can win today.

Benburb themselves are probably sitting in a false position at fourth bottom as they have a lot of games in hand and could move up with a couple of wins. There is the problem though of having to cram a load of games in at the end of the season so it is a bit of an unknown quantity.

Good luck to Thistle today, here’s hoping for three points.

Neilston v Larkhall Thistle – Match preview

Neilston were a bit of a mixed bag last season. In our first game with them at the Brig O’ Lea Thistle ran out comfortable 3-1 winners with the home team’s goal only coming late in the game as a consolation. However after parting company with ex-Thistle boss Bobby Crilly the Renfrewshire team’s fortunes had a remarkable turnaround and they finished the season as one of the strongest teams in the league.

The tables were turned in a big way in the corresponding fixture at Larkhall, with Thistle going town to a 4-0 home defeat in one of the worst performances of the season.

Neilston are one of a clutch of teams – including ourselves – who will fancy that they might go one better this season given how tight the league turned out to be last time round and the teams current league standings.

Another hard game in prospect then and hopefully a repeat of Thistle’s result last season.

Neilston Facts and Figures

Nickname The Farmers Boys
Founded 1945
Ground Brig O’ Lea stadium, Main Street,
Neilston.
Manager Robert Fox
Home colours – Red shirts, white shorts
Awat colours – Black shirts, white shorts

Honours:
Western League Champions 1947
Western League Cup Winners 1947
Renfrewshire Junior Cup Winners – 6 times
Renfrewshire & Dunbartonshire Cup Winners – 1953
Central League ‘C’ Champions – 1971
West Super League Division One winners – 2006
West Premier League Runners-Up – 2003
Sectional League Cup Winners – 1999, 2006

Although Neilston have never won the Scottish Junior Cup, they went very close to winning the Super League Premier division in 2002-2003, only losing to winners Pollok on goal difference.

Neilston’s most famous ex-player was Dixie Deans, who left the club to join Motherwell before playing for Celtic, Luton, Partick Thistle and Scotland. Other notable ex-players include Walter Reid, Jim McAllister, Willie Bell, Tommy McMillan and Peter Weir.

Neilston Playing Squad:
Goalkeeper
James Digney
Gareth Fulton
Defenders
Kieran McDade
Kevin Fraser
Robert Campbell
James Lennox
Craig Murphy
Tam Murdoch

Midfielders
Martin Hughes
Andy Gibson
James Canning
Steven Docherty
Andy Essler
Darren Christie

Forwards
David Adams
Robert Cameron
Derek Kennedy

Ex-Jags winger Andy Essler is on the books of Neilston and is still a handful at this level.

Match Preview: Larkhall Thistle v Port Glasgow

This is our first meeting of the season with Port Glasgow due to postponements but most people connected with the Jags will have fond memories of last seasons encounters between the teams. Thistle won the first game 3-1 in October 2011 but the real drama came in May in our last game of the season when Thistle had to win to avoid relegation. They travelled to Greenock on a Friday night and put up one of their best showings of the season, running out 4-1 winners.

This is a vital game for both teams and one which both need to win for different reasons. Thistle lost ground to Lanark and St Anthony’s who both had good wins last week, so they need the win to stay up with the promotion contenders. Any slip-ups now could see any of several teams overtaking the Jags and us slipping back towards mid table. The Jags were knocked out of the last remaining cup competetion of the season last Saturday so all the focus is now on the remaining 11 league games.

Port Glasgow need the win to pull clear of the relegation spots. They made a bit of a disappointing start to life at their new stadium and are currently sitting third bottom of the league but their form has picked up recently and they’ve won two and drawn one of their last four games including a surprise win at St Anthony’s.

Port Glasgow have been having a tough time of it this season but as we have found out there are no easy fixtures in this league and today once again we will be expecting a hard game.