Opening Day Defeat for Under-19s
Monday 17th August 2009
The Under-19s kicked off their season at home ground Beith Juniors with a 5-1 defeat to Cowdenbeath.
The scoring was opened in the 33rd minute when Rory Emslie slipped the ball under Ryan Scully. However, the Jags were to level three minutes later when substitute Shaun Fraser, replacing Scott Tully, had a cross come shot from just at the bye-line which dipped over the Cowdenbeath keeper, Murray Jackson.
Cowdenbeath looked the more likely to score again, and Martyn Robinson was unlucky for the Blue Brazil when his shot cracked off the bar, and Colin Stevenson cleared. The second was scored on the stroke of half-time as Kyle Miller put the ball across goal for Emslie to score his second of the day as he found an empty net.
Half-time 2-1.
The substitutes for the Jags were used up at half-time as coach Ian Cameron switched goalkeepers, Shepherd replacing Scully, and Scott Hodge on to replace Jonathon Baxter.
59 minutes gone and Cowdenbeath increased their advantage, Cyrus Moosavi done well to bring a save out of Graeme Shepherd, but as he parried the ball, Emslie was on hand to notch up his hat-trick.
Five minutes later, and with Emslie heavily involved in every attacking opportunity, he passed by Lochhead to slot it across for Martyn Robinson to net.
The young Thistle team were then reduced to ten men as with all three subs on, Andy Dunbar had to come off with a suspected broken toe, and nine minutes from the end the Jags were further reduced as Colin Stevenson hobbled off with an ankle knock.
Seven minutes remaining and Cowdenbeath added a fifth through Rory Emslie.
After the match, Ian Cameron spoke to www.ptfc.co.uk "We didn't have a great day at the office, so to speak. Cowdenbeath looked very sharp going forward and it's a lesson learnt. We travel to Dingwall next Sunday, where we will be expecting to bounce back."
