Partick Thistle Football Club

After successfully completing 65 minutes of a closed door game with St Mirren last Tuesday, Alan Archibald’s comeback picked up pace when he played 70 minutes of this evening’s 2-2 draw with Annan Athletic under the lights at Maryhill Juniors in the Reserve League. With Alan coming through the 70 minutes without any apparent problems a return to first team action can’t be too far away for the Club Captain.

Also returning from injury this evening, though not out for anywhere the same length of time as Archibald, was Willie Kinniburgh and he slotted in alongside Archibald and Colin Stevenson in centre defence as Thistle started with a 5-3-2 formation. Ross McGeough and Chris Erskine occupying the wing back roles. There was a youthful look to the centre of the Thistle midfield with Kyle Lochhead, Jamie Campbell and Stuart Bannigan all performing well. Up front Liam Buchanan was partnered by Martin Grehan.

Thankfully the heavy rain that had threatened to turn to the Lochburn pitch into a mud bath relented before kick-off but it was still at times heavy going.

The first chance of the game fell to Thistle. Liam Buchanan sent Jamie Campbell clear down the right with Martin Grehan seeing his header from Campbell’s cross well saved.

Campbell was involved in Thistle’s next opportunity as well but after collecting his chipped pass, Liam Buchanan shot over the bar,

It was Annan though that opened the scoring after 29 minutes. Thistle initially looked to have survived when a header struck Ryan Scully’s left hand post but it was an Annan player that was first to the rebound and he managed to squeeze the ball home.

Thistle though were level six minutes later. A great through ball from Kyle Lochhead picked out Liam Buchanan. Buchanan saw his shot saved but before he could reach the loose ball to knock it home he was fouled and Thistle had a penalty. Liam took the kick himself and he seemed to let loose plenty of pent up frustration as he fairly slammed the ball home.

Annan were close to being back in front in the 55^th minute. Ryan Scully doing well to save at his near post but when the ball fell to an Annan player he looked odds on to score only to lash the ball high over the bar.

Two minutes later Thistle were in front. The spadework for this goal was provided by Martin Grehan who squared the ball back to Liam Buchanan who from 12 yards out found the corner of the net with a shot that took a slight deflection on its’ way to goal.

It was nearly 3-1 just a few minutes later. Liam Buchanan laid the ball back into the path of Kyle Lochhead who was unfortunate to see his well struck shot from 20 yards out saved by the Annan keeper.

As Thistle continued to press a Liam Buchanan cross was just too high for Martin Grehan before Buchanan failed to convert an opportunity to complete a morale boosting hat-trick.

Instead it was Annan who in the 66^th minute that scored the final goal of the night. A ball in front the left was deftly headed past Scully and into the net.

Archibald and Kinniburgh were both replaced after 70 minutes with Thistle operating with a back four for the last twenty minutes, an impressive Kyle Lochhead dropping into the centre of defence alongside Colin Stevenson.

Kieran Burns came on for Liam Buchanan with 15 minutes left and it was Kieran that came closest to snatching  a win for Thistle sending a shot wide of goal with the game in the closing minutes.

Team: Scully, McGeough, Erskine, Stevenson, Kinniburgh (Burbridge), Archibald (Baxter), Lochhead, Campbell, Buchanan (Burns), Bannigan, Grehan subs unused Shepherd, Fraser.