Partick Thistle 1 – 1 Hamilton Accies
Saturday 6th August 2022, Kick-off 3 PM
at Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
cinch SPFL Championship
By Nickolas McInally
This was our first away match of the league campaign as we travelled to face ex-Accie Ian McCall’s Partick Thistle side.
We were missing Shaun Want with a one-game ban, and Head Coach John Rankin was also seated in the stand serving a similar ban. Jean Pierre Tiehi had been signed from Fulham earlier in the morning and his international clearance had been received at lunchtime, so he was on the bench.
Steve Lawson got proceedings underway as both sides battled for control of the ball in the opening stages of the match.
It was in the 3rd minute when captain Brian Easton and Thistle striker Brian Graham competed for an aerial ball. However, a clash of heads resulted in a Thistle free kick which Accies defended well.
Just four minutes later a flick-on from Andy Winter allowed Lewis Smith and Jonny Ngandu to advance but the final pass was just beyond the Accies number 20
Prior to the 10-minute mark, it was Partick Thistle who took their opportunity to attack. A tackle from Dan O’Reilly gave the Jags a shooting opportunity 25 yards from goal. However, the effort was wayward
With neither side able to gain a serious foothold in the match it was an Accies attack which went closest to opening the scoring on 14 minutes. Michael Doyle found his way to the goal line, but his cutback was cleared by the feet of Mitchell in the Thistle net.
The battle for superiority continued with neither side able to gain a meaningful advantage in the 10 minutes which followed.
A promising free kick from Lawson was fired into the Thistle box. However, no one in navy blue was able to direct it goalward.
On 38 minutes the home side was able to draw a strong save from Fulton in the Accies goal. Kyle Turner cut inside and fired a shot which Fulton saved well to his left.
The move gave the home side confidence as just two minutes later Aidan Fitzpatrick picked up a free ball in the Accies box. However, Fulton was again able to divert for a corner.
However, it was Accies who were able to get themselves ahead four minutes before halftime. A well-executed pressing move by Scott Martin resulted in a pass back then the Thistle goalkeeper cannoning the ball off his own player McMillan for an own goal.
As the second half got underway it was clear Thistle were determined to take the game to John Rankin’s side who defended strongly.
After weathering an early storm, a cross-field diagonal ball from Brian Easton found the advancing Matt Shiels who looked to cross the ball into the box.
His cross was deflected onto the bar and as Lewis Smith attempted to dispatch the rebound there were penalty claims waved away by the referee.
Just past the hour mark, the home side worked an opportunity to attack the Accies backline.
A routine well worked from a corner presented a crossing opportunity. However, Shiels did well to block. The resulting corner was dealt with by Steve Lawson and Ryan Fulton
As the game reached the 72nd minute it was a debut for new signing Jean-Pierre Tiehi who entered the fray in place of Jonny Ngandu.
With neither side wrestling control of the match, Thistle threw everything in their armoury at the Accies defence.
With eight minutes remaining a cross from Aidan Fitzpatrick was met by Brian Graham at the front post who did enough to poke the ball past Ryan Fulton in the Accies’ net.
Thistle: Mitchell, McMillan, Milne, Holt, Turner (Mullen 75’), Bannigan (Tiffoney 58’), Graham, Lawless (Brownlie 58’), McKinnon, Fitzpatrick, Docherty
Subs unused: Sneddon, Dowds, Weston, Stanway, Lyon, MacKenzie
Accies: Fulton, Doyle, Shiels, O’Reilly, Easton ©, Martin, L Smith, Mimnaugh, Winter, Ngandu (Tiehi 72’), Lawson
Subs unused: J.Smith, L Spence, Brown, Owens, McGinn, Newbury, One
Referee Craig Napier AR1 Colin Drummond AR2 Elliot Husband Powton
Att: 2970
