Match Report
With injuries leading to a restructuring of the squads for a fixture, Mark Roberts and Simon Storey were both down to play in this match but instead featured against Ayr United, double header it was a somewhat weaker than intended Thistle side that faced Stranrear at Stair Park with only Jonny Tuffey, Willie Kinniburgh, Gary Harkins and Scott Chaplain considered genuine first team regulars. Stranraer, who included a whole host of players with Thistle connections, took full advantage of the inexperience of the remainder of the Thistle line up and recorded a comfortable win. The bulk of the damage being done inside the game’s opening quarter.
The home side’s opening goal arrived after just 4 minutes. Philip Middlemiss’ clearance at the edge of the was a poor one and was seized upon by Andy Gibson who in turn set up Gregory Tade who made no mistake with a low drive.
Graeme Eaglesham came close to an equaliser with an angled drive just two minutes after Thistle fell behind but for the best part of the first quarter Stranraer had Thistle pretty much hemmed in inside their own half.
After 8 minutes former Thistle player Stephen McConalogue came close to scoring when he saw his header from an Andy Gibson cross tipped over the bar by Jonny Tuffey.
A second Stranraer goal did arrive though after 21 minutes. A powerful run down the Thistle right from Craig Frizzell took him clear of the Thistle defence and his cross was converted from no more than a yard out by Gregory Tade.
After creating his team’s second goal Frizzell nearly got in on the act himself in the 37th minute but from six yards out failed to seriously test Tuffey in the Thistle goal. Not so Martin McBride who saw Tuffey turn his effort round the post for a corner and with half-time fast approaching Tuffey was again well placed to deny McConalogue a goal.
Thistle’s best chance in the first 45 minutes was very much presented to them. Graeme Eaglesham collecting a misdirected pass some 25 yards from goal but his attempted chip drifted wide of goal.
Thistle may feel that they should have made some inroads into Stranraer’s advantage in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. Ricky Little tried his luck from 30 yards with his shot tipped over the bar. The corner that followed wasn’t cleared and after the Trialist No.11 saw his shot saved Scott Chaplain should really have done better than find the side net from the rebound. Graeme Eaglesham too came close in the 54th minute when he tried to squeeze the ball home at the Stranraer keepers near post.
Eaglesham did have the ball in the net in the 62nd minute when he converted a Chaplain pass but the Thistle striker had strayed marginally offside.
That was a close as Thistle would come to a goal all night and before the end Stranraer managed to extend their lead when substitute Stuart McComb shot home from the edge of the box.
They came close to a fourth goal as well. Jonny Tuffey did well to keep out an effort from Mullen but when the rebound fell to the same player it took a goal line clearance to keep the score at just 3-0.
Although Thistle’s largely inexperienced side were well beaten it was still an essential part of the football education of some of the younger members of the team who will now have a better idea of what is required to be able to perform at first team level.
