Match Report
Changes were promised in the wake of Tuesday's defeat against Queen of the South and changes were made. Stephen McKeown and Simon Donnelly dropped to the bench while there were starts for Ian Maxwell and Chris Erskine.
The game's first chance came Thistle's way in the 4th minute. Liam Buchanan was able to lay the ball back into the path of Mark Corcoran but Corcoran couldn't keep his shot from the edge of the box down and the ball cleared the bar.
There was little between the two teams in the opening quarter of the match. Morton with a couple of corners in quick succession had the Thistle defence under a little pressure while at the other end good play from David Rowson earned Thistle a corner that Paul Cairney rather wasted.
A sharp incisive passing move from Thistle in the 18th minute produced a promising position but Patrick Boyle's cross from the right hand side was over hit.
Three minutes later a chipped pass into the box from Paul Paton picked out Liam Buchanan but the Thistle striker couldn't direct his shot on target.
He did precisely that though in the 25th minute as Thistle took the lead. No danger had looked apparent when the ball was knocked forward but Liam Buchanan was able to latch onto the ball and after taking the ball forward a few yards he shot past McWilliams.
In the 31st minute it was very nearly 2-0. Chris Erskine's shot from almost on the 18 yard line producing an excellent save from McWilliams and a Thistle corner.
Four minutes later there were loud appeals for a Thistle penalty as Corcoran took a tumble inside the box but referee McKendrick right up with play waved play on.
Corcoran, however, had plenty to celebrate a short time later as twice inside the space of three minutes he was able to extend Thistle's lead.
His first goal came in the 36th minute. Paul Cairney was able to pick out Liam Buchanan with a great through ball. Buchanan's powerful drive was saved by McWilliams but he was only able to push the ball into the path of Corcoran who was left with a tap in for his first goal in Thistle colours.
Buchanan was heavily involved in Corcoran's 2nd goal as well. After Buchanan took the ball to the bye line his cross was only partially cleared with the ball falling perfectly into the path of Corcoran who barely broke stride before lashing the ball high into the back of the net.
With Morton in some apparent disarray there could even have been a 4th Jags goal before the break. Paul Cairney and Liam Buchanan both seeing shots blocked.
Thistle started the second half where they left the first half off and Mark Corcoran came close to completing his hat-trick two minutes after the restart. Liam Buchanan and Chris Erskine did well to set Corcoran up but from just a few yards inside the Morton box he dragged his shot wide of goal.
Morton though were close to reducing the deficit in the 53rd minute. Substitute Brian Wake had just come off the bench when he got his head to a left wing cross but couldn't keep his header down.
Morton were certainly throwing men forward in search of a way back into the game but Thistle were close to a 4th goal on the hour mark Corcoran again being denied a hat-trick. Jonny Tuffey's clearance found Patrick Boyle whose perfectly weighted cross fell invitingly for Corcoran but McWilliams was able to get down and save.
We did have a fourth Thistle goal, however, in the 66th minute. It was hat-trick of assists for Liam Buchanan. His shot was pushed out by McWilliams but only as far as Paul Cairney who scored a birthday goal from about an inch out.
With ten minutes left Thistle made it 5-0. Liam Buchanan gathered a ball into the box and turned before despatching a shot low into the corner of the net.
Liam was close to hat-trick a short time later but his shot was cleared off the line. There were though few complaints at the end of an excellent all round afternoon.
