Maryhill Jnrs v Larkhall Thistle Sat. 27th. Feb

Thistle returned to action with their first competitive game since the 19th. December when they faced Maryhill Juniors on a pitch which in places resembled a ploughed field. If there ever was a good reason for changing the timing of the playing season it was pitches like this. Thistle were forced to make a very late change when Niall Reynolds injured his ankle in the warm up.

Stuart Thomson returned in goals with the rest of the team on the usual lines.

Both teams looked rusty in the early stages on what was a very difficult pitch . Maryhill pressed in the early stages and Stewart Thomson had to look lively on a few occasions . The Jags slowly came into the with Graham Gracie and Bryan Felvus testing the home keeper. Thistle went ahead when after a Scott Nicol corner a stramash in the home goalmouth resulting in a block by Andy Brown ending up in the net. Thistle pushed on and a ScottNicol  free kick rattled the crossbar and was scrambled away for a corner. Graham Gracie then struck a free kick from the edge of the box into the wall and there was a loud appeal by the Thistle players for a penalty for handball but the referee waved away their appeals. The home team got back on level terms when the Jags attempted to play football out of the worst area of the pitch which resulted in them losing possession and the Maryhill no9 eventually hit a great shot which Stewart  Thomson pushed on to the crossbar and their no 11 was first to the rebound to net the equaliser. Thistle had a chance to go back in front when a Graham Gracie pass put Bryan Felvus clear but the Maryhill keeper smothered his effort.

The home team came out in the second half and immediately took the game to their visitors and after some sustained pressure and some top stops by Stewart Thomson they finally managed score again the keeper making a first class save but was helpless to stop the resultant shot from the Maryhill no9 who like the first goal was first to the ball. Thistle were really beginning to struggle with the conditions and Div. Reid was replaced by Hugh Kelly  and Bryan Felvus by Matty Clarke. Thistle came in to the game a bit more but never really threatened the home goal. Maryhill then scored the decisive goal when there no 11 evaded some poor  attempts at tackles to race clear into the box and score with a fine drive giving Stewart Thomson no chance.

The home team were deserved winners adapting much better to the underfoot conditions and over the piece were physically too strong for the Visitors

Team; S, Thomson. Doyle. Brown,Marshall, Burns, Reid,Jack, Innes, Nicol, Gracie, Felvus

Subs, D.Thomson, Payne, , Kelly, Clarke,McStay

On a day when the Thistle just could not get going pass marks for Andy Brown, Jordan Marshall and Paul Burns but without a doubt the man of the Match award can only go to Stewart Thomson who had tremendous afternoon between the sticks.