Match Report
Thistle began the New Year with the traditional fixture with Clyde on a distinctly low ebb but in the hope that this was precisely the kind of fixture to help kick start Thistle's season. Despite defeat in each of the last two fixtures changes were still kept to a minimum, perhaps a reflection on the lack of options available to the manager due to a spate of injuries.
The previously suspended Marc Twaddle was drafted in at the expense of the injured Kevin McKinlay and Simon Storey came in for Willie Kinniburgh. Scott Chaplain, so often on target against Clyde, was preferred to Stephen McKeown in midfield while up front Ian McCall continued to rotate Liam Buchanan's striking partner, with Simon Donnelly getting the nod ahead of Mark Roberts for this fixture.
Thistle were the first of the two teams to test either of the goalkeepers when Simon Donnelly forced David Hutton to turn his shot from the edge of the box round the post for a corner. From Paul Paton's corner that followed Simon Donnelly found himself unmarked but his header lacked both power and direction allowing Hutton to complete a comfortable save.
Thistle continued to impress in the opening minutes and after Liam Buchanan had managed to push another Paton corner into the path of Gary Harkins it was a grateful Clyde defender that blocked Harkins' shot.
Thistle's bright opening nearly counted for nothing when Clyde came close to taking an 11th minute lead. Willie McLaren slid the ball through to Pat Clarke but Clarke wasn't quite able to direct his shot on target when left with just Tuffey to beat albeit from a tight angle.
In the 14th minute Liam Buchanan very nearly profited from a defensive miscue but his first time shot from 20 yards out was marginally too high.
Opportunities were falling at a rapid rate in the opening quarter of the game and Gary Harkins did well to block a Pat Clarke after Jonny Tuffey had only managed to push a Stevenson corner into the path of the Clyde leading goalscorer.
After 20 minutes Clyde took the lead following some calamitous Thistle defending. A lack of communication between Simon Storey and Jonny Tuffey resulted in Storey heading the ball straight into the path of Pat Clarke who left with an open goal found the net from 30 yards out.
When Scott Chaplain was able to head a cross field pass into the path of Liam Buchanan it looked as if Thistle might produce a reply to Clyde's opening goal less than four minutes after following behind but Hutton was sharp enough off his line to prevent Buchanan from being able to hit target.
Thistle were level though in the 29th minute. Marc Twaddle, who had seconds earlier been on the ground injured, collected a pass and his left wing cross was headed into the net via the underside of the crossbar by Simon Donnelly.
Equality was nearly maintained for less than a minute. Storey again got into a fankle inside the Thistle box and it took a fantastic blocking challenge from Alan Archibald to deny Tony Stevenson a goal.
In the 32nd minute Thistle were in front. Liam Buchanan was hauled to the ground by Alan Lithgow the Clyde defender earning a booking for his challenge. It was left to Gary Harkins to take the penalty and, as ever, he made an immaculate job of the spot kick to nudge Thistle in front.
Amazingly Thistle could have been 3-1 ahead in the 35th minute. Gary Harkins pushed the ball through to Liam Buchanan who shot wide from 15 yards out.
Thistle were 3-1 ahead though in the 41st minute. Gary Harkins set up Liam Buchanan and as Stuart Kettlewell tried to intercept Buchanan's cross towards goal, Paul Paton nipped in to give Thistle a two goal advantage to take into the dressing room at half-time.
While Clyde made two changes at the break, McKay and O'Reilly being introduced to the fray, Ian McCall left things as they were at the start of the second half.
Clyde could have reduced the leeway just seconds after the restart. Willie McLaren burst into the Thistle box only to be denied by a fine save from Jonny Tuffey.
Clyde again came close in the 47th minute. David McKay swung over a great cross from the Clyde right and although Trouten was able to get on the end of that cross his effort from inside the Thistle six yard box went wide of goal.
Play quickly moved to the other end and Thistle were close to a 4th goal when Hutton produced a fine stop to prevent Liam Buchanan after a sharp turn and shot from the Thistle striker.
Buchanan was proving to be a real menace to the Clyde defence and his never say die attitude created a scoring opportunity for Scott Chaplain only for Chaplain to send his volley from eight yards out high over the bar.
Clyde were doing a lot of pressing but Thistle continued to look a real threat on the counter attack. A Gary Harkins clearance was gathered by Liam Buchanan and Buchanan's close control wasb sufficient to hold off the Clyde defence but not enough to hit target and his shot went over the bar.
He perhaps should have scored a minute later though. Simon Donnelly knocked the ball across goal for Buchanan but rather than finding the net as most people expected Buchanan fired wide of goal.
A fourth goal would perhaps have sealed the game for Thistle but the game was right back in the balance when n the 62nd minute Clyde were awarded the game's second penalty. Marc Twaddle pulled down David McKay and Clarke's emphatic penalty beat Jonny Tuffey.
In the 66th minute Thistle made their first change of the game with Mark Roberts replacing Marc Twaddle.
With 17 minutes remaining the Thistle goal received another scare. Alan Trouten and Willie McLaren exchanged passed but the latter's shot was a weak one and Tuffey was able to get down and make a relatively routine save.
Thistle hearts were in mouths when Pat Clarke went to ground inside the Thistle box in the 77th minute.
The pace of the game at this point was frantic and as Clyde continued to appeal for a penalty Thistle broke clear and it took a great tackle from Mark Brown to deny Liam Buchanan a scoring opportunity.
With 9 minutes left Ian McCall looked to his bench once more replacing Simon Donnelly with Stephen McKeown.
Thistle took a massive step towards full points in the 86th minute. Mark Roberts did well to set up Liam Buchanan and Buchanan's performance finally had the goal that it merited when his fiercely driven shot left Hutton with no chance at all.
We nearly had a fifth Thistle goal with the game deep into injury time when Liam Buchanan ignore appeals for offside but on this occasion his finishing let him down but there was little complaint at the final whistle.
