Match Report
After a series of pre-season games on the road Thistle returned to Firhill for the first of two home pre-season fixtures with English League One side providing the opposition in the first of the two matches.
There was a familiar look to the Thistle line up. Ryan McStay, a pre-match doubt, missed out but there was a place on the bench for the other injury doubt Kevin McKinlay. Elsewhere summer signings Paul Paton and Ian Maxwell were handed their first opportunity of appearing in front of the Firhill faithful.
Carlisle were the first of the two teams to have an opportunity to open the scoring and Jonny Tuffey needed to be alert to keep out a shot from Simon Hackney at his near post.
Carlisle came even closer five minutes later when Cleveland Taylor laid the ball back to Grant Smith who saw his chipped shot strike the top of the Thistle bar.
Thistle didn't manage their first shot on goal until the 11th minute when after a nice passing movement Gary Harkins rather dragged his shot wide of goal from the edge of the Carlisle box.
In the 18th minute Simon Donnelly came within a whisker of giving Thistle the lead. Ben Williams in the Carlisle goal having to produce an excellent save to prevent Donnelly's free kick from the edge of the penalty area from finding the corner of the net. The rebound not quite falling into the path of Paul Paton.
Marc Twaddle was next to come close for Thistle when he was able to get his head to a Paul Paton free kick but his header was just a couple of inches too high.
Carlisle though probably felt that they should have been in front by the half hour mark. Twice in a minute Scott Dobie wasted excellent opportunities to open the scoring. Firstly he shot wide when left with just Jonny Tuffey to beat before the Thistle keeper was able to grab the ball from Dobie's feet when he again looked set to score.
Paul Paton was impressive when getting forward and another dangerous cross from the Thistle right from the Jags' new boy was cleared with Scott Chaplain lurking in close attention. From the corner that followed the ball eventually fell to Mark Roberts but his effort was always on the rise and cleared the bar with some comfort.
An excellent through ball from Peter Murphy gave Simon Hackney a chance in the 38th minute but his finish let him down and he could only find the side net with his shot. In Carlisle's next attack Marc Bridge-Wilkinson saw his shot from 12 yards clear the Thistle bar.
Mark Roberts did have the ball in the net after 41 minutes but the flag had long since been raised for offside although it had looked a tight decision.
With half-time approaching Mark Roberts saw a shot blocked at the expense of a corner after being set up by a neat through ball from Paul Paton.
Thistle brought on Kevin McKinlay for Paul Paton at half-time while Carlisle introduced no fewer than 6 substitutes at the break.
Thistle should have taken the lead in the 54th minute when a corner was touched into the path of Kevin McKinlay but he was unable to hit target firing his shot from 8 yards out over the bar.
Early exchanges in the second half were fairly low key but Jonny Tuffey needed to be well positioned to make an easy save from a Danny Carlton shot 20 minutes into the second half.
Goalmouth action was becoming limited as both teams continued to introduce substitutes and Thistle somewhat wasted a promising situation when Gary Harkins sent a free kick directly in front of goal no more than 20 yards out tamely over the bar.
With ten minutes remaining Thistle came closest yet to an opening goal. Some excellent play from Marc Twaddle inside the Carlisle box gave him the opportunity to deliver a cross right across the Carlisle six yard box with Graeme Eaglesham only just failing to make contact.
