Partick Thistle Football Club

RAITH ROVERS 4, PARTICK THISTLE 0

 FULL-TIME

89 mins: Raith Rovers corner. Cleared.

Crowd: 2,238

83 mins: GOAL ROVERS. John Baird is unmarked at the back post at a free kick and from about a yard out completes his hat-trick.

81 mins: Thistle look like being denied even a consolation goal. Chris Erskine does well to escape the attention of the Rovers defence but can't get an angle on his final shot and McGurn saves.

79 mins: Martin Grehan comes on for Liam Buchanan.

71 mins: Thistle break quickly and Liam Buchanan plays in David Rowson but Rowson takes one touch too many in front of goal and the chance is lost.

67 mins: Allan Walker catches the ball on the volley but the shot though well struck is high over the Thistle bar.

64 mins: This time Buchanan sees his shot blocked after a Rowson pass and Thistle have a corner. Balatoni gets his head to the corner and his header strikes the base of the post.

61 mins: Nearly a Thistle goal. Paul Paton's excellent ball from defence finds Liam Buchanan and he is unlucky to see his shot well saved by David McGurn.

58 mins: Thistle showing a little spirit bit Paddy Boyle's free kick is well over the bar.

55 mins: Raith Rovers corner. Thistle get it clear. Only 10 second half minutes played, already feels about a 100.

51 mins: Liam Buchanan gives the Thistle fans something to get at least a little excited about but his shot goes wide.

46 mins: A Raith corner quickly followed by a second. Grant Murray gets his head to the second and is only an inch or so off target.

Chris Erskine and Conrad Balatoni on for Paul Cairney and Simon Donnelly. Damage limitation is surely all we can expect.

HALF-TIME

45 mins+: An easy save for McGurn from Flannigan's free kick.

44 mins: A Raith Rovers corner, strangely their first. It's worked all the way back to the half way line.

43 mins: A train goes by and there isn't a single Thistle fan that doesn't wish they were on it.

41 mins: Nightmare upon nightmare. Willie Kinniburgh fouls Mark Ferry is sent off and Rovers have a penalty. Baird to take it and GOAL ROVERS.

40 mins: A Paddy Boyle free kick is about a foot or so the wrong side of the post.

36 mins: Nearly three. An Allan Walker free kick from 35 yards takes a deflection and with Halliwell wrong footed hits the post.

31 mins: Thistle need a goal and Donnelly nearly provides it but McGurn turns his shot round the post for a corner.

30 mins: GOAL RAITH ROVERS. Thistle in real trouble now. Paddy Boyle is caught in possession after a Halliwell throw and when the ball is squared John Baird tucks the ball home.

27 mins: Play moves to the other end and it's Thistle's turn for a half chance but Liam Buchanan's effort is wide.

26 mins: Half a chance for Rovers at the edge of the Thistle box but John baird's shot goes over the bar.

18 mins: Mark Ferry is given too much space inside the Thistle box and it is just as well that he doesn't make proper contact witht he ball.

16 mins: Thistle on top and the Jags fans in good voice but Paul Cairney drags a shot from inside the box wide of goal. Liam Buchanan is furious that he didn't square the ball to him.

13 mins: Nice ball from Buchanan to Cairney but Cairney is tackled as he shoots though Thistle do earn a corner. Flannigan's corner is a good one and it reaches Donnelly at the back post whose shot is tipped over the bar.

9 mins: Nearly a quick response from Thistle but Iain Flannigan's shot from 20 yards out is just about a foot over the Raith Rovers bar.

6 mins: GOAL RAITH ROVERS. Just the start Thistle didn't want. John Baird crosses to Iain Williamson who touches the ball to Mark ferry who scores with a low shot.

3 mins: Thistle have a free kick some 35 yards from goal. Iain Flannigan's effort hits the wall and Paul Cairney's follow up hits a defender.

0 mins: Raith Rovers kick the game off and will be shooting towards the Thistle fans in the first half.

PRE-MATCH NEWS: Thistle managed to complete the loan signing of Conrad Balatoni from Hearts in time for this fixture and he took up a position on the bench. In the starting eleven there was just one change from the side that defeated Annan with Paul Cairney coming in for his first start of the season replacing Ryan MacBeth who dropped to the bench.