Match Report
After expressing his disappointment at how Thistle played middle to front at Cappielow on Saturday manager Ian McCall made a number of changes to his side for the visit of Falkirk. There were starts for Kris Doolan, Simon Donnelly and Bryan Hodge while at the back there was a return for Willie Kinniburgh.
Thistle started the game in positive fashion winning a corner inside the first minute but although Kris Doolan was able to get his head to Bryan Hodge’s corner it was a comfortable save for Robert Ojejnik in the Falkirk goal to make.
Falkirk too won an early corner when Bryn Halliwell produced a good save to turn a Brian McLean free kick round the post.
After that flurry of early action the game settled into a rather untidy pattern but Thistle were close to scoring in the 13th minute. Paul Paton’s excellent cross to the back post was headed back towards goal by Kris Doolan but Scobbie was across to clear before Simon Donnelly was able to apply a finish. The corner that followed presented Simon Donnelly with a chance but he could only lash his shot high over the bar.
Another excellent cross gave Thistle another opportunity in the 19th minute. David Rowson was the man to head the ball back towards goal this time but from a tight angle Simon Donnelly couldn’t quite squeeze the ball past Olejnik.
In the 24th minute former Thistle youth player Mark Stewart was denied a chance when after controlling the ball well deep inside the Thistle box, Bryn Halliwell was quick off his line to snuff out any danger.
A set piece was looking like the most likely source of a first goal and Falkirk’s Jack Compton wasn’t too far off target with a free kick from 30 yards out after Paul Cairney had clipped Ryan Flynn.
The half finished with the ever eager Kris Doolan forcing Oljenik into a smart save at his near post.
Thistle made a lively start to the second half and Simon Donnelly nearly scored a goal that he would have known next to nothing about. A clearance striking the Thistle player and bouncing wide of goal in the 52nd minute.
Three minutes later the ball was worked to Paul Paton in shooting position at the edge of the Falkirk box but his shot looked to come off his shin and went over the bar.
There were shouts for offside in the 56th minute when Jack Compton burst into the Thistle box but he could only find the side netting with his shot in any case.
A minute later though Falkirk were in front. Ryan Flynn had not one but two opportunities inside the box and with the second fired home.
It could, and probably should, have been game over on the hour mark. The ball was laid on a plate for Mark Stewart but from inside the Thistle six yard box he somehow failed to knock the ball into the net.
This were close to making the most of that let off in the 67th minute. After a spell of Thistle pressure a Bryan Hodge corner was missed by everyone bar Kris Doolan but he was stretching to reach the ball at the back post and couldn’t direct the ball.
It was Doolan’s last involvement in proceedings as he was replaced by Liam Buchanan with Chris Erskine coming on for Bryan Hodge’s.
Buchanan’s first touch nearly produced a Thistle goal. He touched the ball into the path of Paul Cairney but Olejnik got down quickly to save.
The Falkirk keeper was beaten, however, in the 73rd minute. Willie Kinniburgh was able to get his head to a near post Donnelly corner but a Falkirk defender was on the line to clear.
Buchanan was looking dangerous and after 78 minutes he was fouled by Brian McLean 20 yards from goal just when it looked as if was going to get clear. McLean was booked for his foul and Iain Flannigan sent the resultant free kick about a foot over the bar.
With four minutes remaining Thistle were close to scoring the equaliser that they deserved at this point. Chris Erskine’s shot from the edge of the box looked like finding the corner of the net only for Olejnik to get enough of a touch to take the ball round the post.
There was though to be no Thistle equaliser with our interest in the League Cup over for another season.
