Match Report
Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld home of Clyde was the latest port of call on Thistle's pre-season itinerary. A minor injury kept Chris Erskine on the sidelines but otherwise Ian McCall was able to utilise his full first team squad for this fixture against Second Division Clyde who had signed no fewer than 7 players just 24 hours before this fixture. Even still they still included a smattering of trialists in their team selection.
Thistle were close to an opening goal with barely a minute on the clock. Liam Buchanan did well to work an opening for himself at the edge of the Clyde box but his final shot was just a shade too high.
Buchanan was close again in the 6th minute. A Patrick Boyle long throw eventually found it's way to Buchanan and after getting a clear sight of goal 12 yards from goal Buchanan may have felt that he should have done better that knock his shot wide of goal.
It was Thistle that were doing all the pressing and were close once more to an opening goal in the 11th minute. Liam Buchanan did well to push the ball into the path of Kris Doolan but the Clyde keeper was sharp off his line to smother Doolan's shot.
The Clyde keeper again ensured that score remained at 0-0 with a fine save from Stephen McKeown after 14 minutes after neat play involving Liam Buchanan and Kris Doolan.
The chances continued to come Thistle's way and in the 16th minute Kris Doolan wasn't too far away from heading home a Paul Paton cross but his header was just a fraction too high.
For all Thistle's early dominance though Clyde were able to survive the opening 20 minutes without conceding a goal but had the crossbar to thank for that on the 20 minute mark when Bryan Hodge's free kick from 20 yards out stuck the frame of the Clyde goal.
Next to try and open the scoring for Thistle was Patrick Boyle. Boyle collected a pass from Bryan Hodge but his shot from 20 yards out was always on the rise and the Clyde keeper wasn't required to complete a save.
With half-time just six minutes away Thistle again threatened the home goal. Hodge and McKeown combined to set up Liam Buchanan at the edge of the Clyde but Buchanan's shot went just the wrong side of the post.
Just when it looked as if Clyde would get to the break without conceding a goal Thistle finally, in the 44th minute, scored their long overdue opening goal. Liam Buchanan provided the spade work creating space for himself inside the box before cutting the ball back to Kris Doolan who found the net with a crisp low shot.
Thistle started the second half with Paul Cairney on in place of Paul Paton.
In the 55th minute Clyde were amazingly, given that they hadn't managed a shot on target to this point, back on level terms. William Sawyers looked to have fouled Craig Hinchcliffe but when referee McKendrick waved play on Sawyers rolled the ball into the empty net.
Two minutes after Clyde's equaliser Thistle made their second change of the game with Jim Hamilton coming on for Stephen McKeown.
Five minutes after equalising against the run of play a Clyde side playing this match as anything but a friendly were 2-1 ahead. A through ball from one trialist found another and he confidently shot past Hinchcliffe.
In the 63rd minute Thistle made a further switch with Patrick Boyle coming off and Ian Maxwell coming on in his place.
A net bound David Rowson shot was blocked by a defender in the 6 yard box in the 66th minute as Thistle strived for an equaliser.
Clyde's more robust approach to this friendly prompted a response from Thistle captain Alan Archibald who received a lecture from the referee.
In the 69th minute Bryan Hodge shot wide of goal following a Buchanan knock down but Thistle were struggling to find the rhythm that had seen so dominate the first half.
In the 71st minute we should though hav e had a Thistle equaliser. The Clyde keeper was able to push out Rowson's shot from the edge of the box with the rebound falling into the path of an off balance Liam Buchanan who wasn't able to direct his effort on target.
Thistle were beginning to get back on top again and Kris Doolan was a little unfortunate to see a hooked effort go over the bar after 74 minutes.
Thistle utilised their last out field substitute with 15 minutes remaining when Ricky Little replaced Martyn Corrigan.
In the 76th minute Craig Hinchcliffe was booked following a long lecture from referee McKendrick.
That was the last incident of note as Thistle contrived to lose a game that should have been out of sight at half-time.
