Partick Thistle Reserves 2, Stranraer Reserves 0
Tuesday 13th October 2009
At the fourth time of asking the Thistle Reserve team claimed their first three points in this season's Reserve League campaign thanks to a thoroughly merited 2-0 win against Stranraer.
Including in the Thistle line-up were Martyn Corrigan and Stephen McKeown returning to action for the first team after absence through injury and both players completed the 90 minutes without any apparent problem. Of a little more concern was the ice pack strapped to the leg of Jim Hamilton who was replaced towards the end of the 90 minutes.
Returning to the action, although the goals in this match didn't arrive until the final quarter of the match Thistle had dominated the match almost in its entirety to that point.
Clear cur chances, however, in the first half were fairly limited. Kris Doolan, playing wide on the right in the first 45 minutes, did have the ball in the net in the 16th minute but his effort was ruled out after an earlier infringement following a MacBeth corner kick.
Two minutes later the trialist number 9 was tackled just before shooting after he had did well to create and opening for him and in the 32nd minute MacBeth shot wide of target after a neat Thistle build up.
The best chance of the half though came with the half-time whistle just seconds away. Kris Doolan was able to flick on a MacBeth corner but his effort was cleared off the line.
Thistle kept the personnel the same at the start of the second half but moved Kris Doolan to a more central role and as a consequence Thistle carried a greater goal threat in the second 45 minutes.
Just three minutes into the half an excellent run and cross from Doolan set up Jim Hamilton who mishit his shot and the chance was lost.
Stephen McKeown, however, was able to test the Stranraer keeper with a fierce shot in the 54th minute. The keeper did well to push out McKeown's shot with Doolan just unable to direct the rebound on target.
Still the chances continued to come. Some excellent play down the left from Chris Erskine gave Ryan MacBeth a great opportunity but his finish let him down before the trialist came close with a volley from a neat flick from McKeown.
An attempted chip from Jim Hamilton took a deflection that took the ball over the bar in the 62nd minute and the impressive Doolan was denied by the visiting keeper 8 minutes later as it began to look as Thistle wouldn't find a goal.
One did finally arrive though in the 72nd minute. Some excellent play from Kris 
Doolan gave Ryan MacBeth the chance and he found the net with a cool finish (pictured, right).
There were just four minutes remaining when Thistle made sure of the win. The trialist shooting powerfully into the back of the net from 20 yards out after e himself had created the opening.
Team: Hinchcliffe, McGeough, Corrigan, Kinniburgh, Little, MacBeth, Doolan (Tully), McKeown, Trialist, Hamilton (Burns), Erskine (Bannigan).
