Partick Thistle Reserves Season 1973-74
| 1973-74 (Reserves) |
| The 99th season of Partick Thistle F.C. |
| scorers in CAPS • used subs in brackets | |
| 1. Sat-28-Jul-1973 [n] L1-3 Heart of Midlothian (Friendly) |
| – ET 11/8/1973 and HMFC. At Dalbeattie. Line-up as yet unsourced. HA says 2-3 and both goals scored by McDOWALL, but that scoreline is unverified, and we stick with the aforementioned accounts. |
| – Thistle took an early lead but Hearts levelled before the interval. A penalty was converted for 2-1 and a third goal emphasised their superiority on the day. |
| 2. Sat-11-Aug-1973 [h] W3-1 Heart of Midlothian (Scottish Reserve League Cup section game) |
| – ET 11/8/1973. McDOWALL (2), LOCHRIE. Line-up as yet unsourced. Clipping from Hearts Programme erroneously says 4-1 but ET/AEE/MP/SFHA all re-affirm the 3-1. |
| – Thistle took a 2-goal lead into the second half through McDowall and Lochrie increased it to 3 before Hearts scored a consolation goal late on. |
| 3. Wed-15-Aug-1973 [a] W4-0 Dundee (Scottish Reserve League Cup section game) |
| – MP 25/8/1973. LOCHRIE (2), RALSTON, RAE (T). Line-up and scorer as yet unsourced. |
| 4. Sat-18-Aug-1973 [h] D1-1 St Johnstone (Scottish Reserve League Cup section game) |
| – MP 25/8/1973. Line-up as yet unsourced. STAMP. |
| – Numerous changes to the line-up of late had an effect but Thistle were still impressive and merited their lead through Stamp before half-time. Slackness crept into their play late on however and Saints equalised. |
| 5. Wed-22-Aug-1973 [h] L1-2 Dundee (Scottish Reserve League Cup section game) |
| – GH 23/8/1973. Line-up and scorer as yet unsourced. |
| 6. Sat-25-Aug-1973 [a] W2-1 St Johnstone (Scottish Reserve League Cup section game) |
| – ET 25/8/1973. Line-up and scorers as yet unsourced. |
| 7. Wed-29-Aug-1973 [a] W3-2 Heart of Midlothian (Scottish Reserve League Cup section game) |
| – GH 30/8/1973 & MP 8/9/1973. Line-up and scorers as yet unsourced. Final Position: 1st of 4, 9/12 pts. |
| 8. Sat-01-Sep-1973 [h] W4-2 Hibernian (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – MP 8/9/1973. MULLIN, LAWRIE (pen), DOCHERTY (J) (2). Line-up as yet unsourced. |
| – McQuade hit the post but Mullin was following up and scored with the rebound. Lawrie was brought down in the box and he scored from the spot for 2-0 at half-time. Two quick goals within 3 minutes of the restart rocked Thistle but Docherty scored twice from well-timed runs. |
| 9. Tue-04-Sep-1973 [a] L0-4 Rangers (Scottish 2nd XI Cup 1st Round) |
| – MP 8/9/1973. Line-up as yet unsourced. |
| – A goal down after a minute and 2-down just on half-time meant an uphill task. Self inflicted wounds from a short pass-back and a poor throw in let Rangers in for two more by the end. |
| 10. Sat-08-Sep-1973 [a] D1-1 Rangers (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – MP 22/9/1973. Gourlay, Reid, Cairns, Hay, Adams, Campbell, Stamp, MULLIN, Smith, McCarthy, Lawrie. Scorer as yet unsourced. |
| – Rangers were on the attack from the start and Gourlay was soon busy. Smith's header beat the keeper but was cleared off the line. A brilliant flick set up Rangers to score with a low shot (15). Lawrie and Stamp went close approaching half-time. A much better 2nd half saw Mullin equalise but no winner came. |
| 11. Sat-15-Sep-1973 [h] W8-0 Morton (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – MP 22/9/1973. McQUADE (2), McCARTHY, CASKIE, SMITH (2), MUNRO, REID. Line-up as yet unsourced. |
| – A sparkling performance that completely demolished Morton. Thistle scored 4 in both halves, the pick of the bunch the 8th by Reid who weaved his way through the defence to score. |
| 12. Sat-22-Sep-1973 [a] L2-5 Dunfermline Athletic (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – MP 6/10/1973. MUNRO, ADAMS. Line-up as yet unsourced. |
| – After a decent run of results, a disappointing outcome. Dundee took an early lead but Munro equalised. At 3-1 Thistle were awarded a penalty but Lawrie's kick was saved. Dundee scored again before Adams reduced the margin but a final goal by Dundee made it 5-2. |
| 13. Sat-29-Sep-1973 [h] W3-1 Dumbarton (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – MP 6/10/1973. COULSTON, McDOWELL, McCARTHY. Line-up as yet unsourced. Dumbarton goal timing not reported. |
| – Lawrie raced clear and Coulston finished his cross off with a spectacular header. The second half saw Gourlay have fine saves to hold on to the lead then McDowell headed in a Hansen (A) cross. McCarthy rounded 2 men and his shot was deflected past the keeper. |
| 14. Sat-06-Oct-1973 [a] D1-1 Dundee (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – ET 6/10/1973. Line-up and scorer as yet unsourced. |
| 15. Sat-13-Oct-1973 [h] W3-2 Motherwell (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – MP 20/10/1973. McQUADE (3). Line-up as yet unsourced. |
| – Two first half goals from McQuade set Thistle on their way. They had pinned Motherwell back for long spells. Motherwell reduced the lead soon after the restart but a well-worked move made it 3-1. Brown slipped and the ball fell kindly for the scorer near the end. |
| 16. Tue-16-Oct-1973 [a] L0-1 Dumbarton (Scottish Reserve League Cup Semi Final, 1st leg) |
| – MP 20/10/1973. Line-up as yet unsourced. |
| – Dumbarton opted to play a defensive strategy and it worked. A solitary goal saw them take a slender lead into the second leg. |
| 17. Fri-19-Oct-1973 [a] W2-1 Clyde (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – GH 20/10/1973. Line-up and scorers as yet unsourced. |
| 18. Sat-27-Oct-1973 [h] W5-0 East Fife (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – MP 3/11/1973. McCARTHY, McDOWALL (2), LOCHRIE, SMITH. Line-up as yet unsourced. |
| – Top of the table Thistle were in impressive form. McDowall set up McCarthy for the opener then McDowall headed home a corner for 2-0 at h-t. Munro tapped in a parried save. Lochrie finished off from close in and Smith tapped in a parried save from McDowall's header. |
| 19. Sat-03-Nov-1973 [a] L2-4 Ayr United (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – ET 3/11/1973. Line-up and scorers as yet unsourced. |
| 20. Sat-10-Nov-1973 [h] W5-0 St Johnstone (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – ET 10/11/1973. Line-up as yet unsourced. SMITH (5). |
| 21. Mon-12-Nov-1973 [h] W4-0 Dumbarton (Scottish Reserve League Cup Semi Final, 2nd leg) |
| – GH 13/11/1974. Agg 4-1. McDOWELL (2), McQUADE, LAWRIE. Line-up as yet unsourced. |
| 22. Sat-17-Nov-1973 [h] W1-0 Celtic (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – MP 24/11/1973. Gourlay, Reid, Kennedy, McCarthy, Adams, Strachan, Stamp, Mullin, MUNRO, Docherty, McQuade. |
| – 1st v 3rd. Defences were on top until half-way through the first half. A short pass-back set up Munro for the only goal (24). He then proceeded to miss two great chances. Gourlay had a fine save on h-t and stout defending saw the game out. Celtic had 3 first team regulars playing. |
| 23. Sat-24-Nov-1973 [a] W4-0 Falkirk (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – ET 24/11/1973. Line-up and scorers as yet unsourced. MULLIN (2), RALSTON, McCARTHY. |
| 24. Sat-08-Dec-1973 [a] L0-3 Aberdeen (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – AEE 8/12/1973. Gourlay, Ralston, Kennedy, Docherty, Adams, Strachan, Lawrie, McDowell, Munro, McCarthy, Lochrie. (Hansen, Smith.) |
| – The teams traded chances early on then Aberdeen hit the post. Thistle (sitting top) always looked dangerous but they fell behind (28). The Dons keeper had some fine saves then a 25-yarder made it 2-0. Aberdeen missed a penalty but they were on top and a defensive mix-up led to a third goal (82). |
| 25. Sat-15-Dec-1973 [h] W1-0 Falkirk (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – GH 17/12/1973. Line-up and scorer as yet unsourced. Abandoned at half-time. No trace of a subsequent match. Assume result stood. |
| 26. Sat-22-Dec-1973 [a] W2-1 Heart of Midlothian (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – ET 22/10/1973 and HMFC. Line-up and scorers as yet unsourced. |
| – Thistle took the lead (12) but Hearts levelled before half-time. Thistle snatched the winner following a corner on the right (70). |
| 27. Sat-29-Dec-1973 [a] L0-1 Hibernian (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – ET 29/12/1973. Line-up as yet unsourced. |
| 28. Mon-31-Dec-1973 [h] D3-3 Rangers (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – ET 31/12/1973. Gourlay, Reid, Kennedy, McCarthy, Adams, Strachan, Stamp, McDowall, Smith, Ralston, LOCHRIE. Subs: Gibson, Munro. 2 scorers unknown. Jags remain top of the league going into 1974. |
| – After a beautifully engineered move down the left involving Smith and McDowall, Archie Lochrie shot home from six yards (8). Rangers equalised through Fyfe (23). It was 1-1 at the break and roles were reversed in the second half as Thistle equalized twice, following goals from Hamilton and Fyfe of Rangers. |
| 29. Sat-05-Jan-1974 [a] L1-3 Morton (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – ET. Line-up and scorer as yet unsourced. |
| 30. Sat-12-Jan-1974 [h] W1-0 Dunfermline Athletic (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – MP 19/1/1974. ADAMS. Line-up as yet unsourced. |
| – A fine 1st half performance lacked goals as chances were scorned. A goalless draw looked likely until Adams rose to head home a corner late on. Thistle remained top. |
| 31. Sat-02-Feb-1974 [h] L0-3 Dundee (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – MP 9/2/1974. Line-up as yet unsourced, but included new signing Arrol in goal. |
| – Defeat saw Thistle knocked off the top of the league. A disappointing performance. Trailing at h-t a better spell after the restart but it came to nothing. Dundee scored on the break and a third goal was a true reflection on play. |
| 32. Sat-09-Feb-1974 [a] D0-0 Motherwell (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – ET 9/2/1974. Line-up as yet unsourced. |
| 33. Sat-16-Feb-1974 [h] L0-4 Dundee United (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – ET 16/2/1974. Line-up as yet unsourced. |
| 34. Sat-23-Feb-1974 [h] W5-0 Clyde (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – MP 2/3/1974. MUNRO, LAWRIE (2 PENS), LOCHRIE, CASKIE. Line-up as yet unsourced. |
| – A much improved performance than of late. Lawrie returned to sparking form with some dazzling runs and 2 goals from the pen spot. Munro made it 3-0 after h-t and Lochrie and Caskie (both 2nd half subs) also scored for a comprehensive win. |
| 35. Sat-02-Mar-1974 [a] L2-3 East Fife (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – GH 4/3/1974. Line-up and scorers as yet unsourced. |
| 36. Sat-09-Mar-1974 [h] W2-0 Ayr United (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – GH 11/3/1974. Line-up as yet unsourced. DOCHERTY, HANSEN (A). |
| 37. Sat-30-Mar-1974 [h] W2-1 Arbroath (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – GH 1/4/1974. Line-up and scorers as yet unsourced. |
| 38. Mon-01-Apr-1974 [h] W1-0 East Fife (Scottish Reserve League Cup Final, 1st leg) |
| – EFM 3/4/1974. Gourlay, J. Hansen, Kennedy, McCarthy, A. Hansen, Clark, Gibson, Coulston, McDOWELL, Doherty (Lochrie, 63), McQuade (Mullin, HT). |
| – Only goal came in 37 minutes when a Coulston piledriver was stopped by the EF keeper, but McDowell was on the follow-up and cracked the ball home. Play was fast and furious in the second half and the Thistle defence had to earn the clean-sheet. All to play for. |
| 39. Fri-05-Apr-1974 [a] W5-0 Dundee United (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – DC 6/4/1974. Arrol, Hansen (J), Kennedy, McCarthy, Clark, Strachan, Gibson, MUNRO (2), Hansen (A) (2), Docherty, LOCHRIE. |
| – The young Dundee United side were no match for an experienced Thistle selection. Munro netted easily from a Gibson cross (35). Lochrie doubled the lead (55), Munro headed in his second (70). Hansen (A) - at No 9! - headed in twice (75 and 85) to complete the rout. |
| 40. Mon-08-Apr-1974 [a] W3-2 St Johnstone (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – GH 9/4/1974. Line-up and scorers as yet unsourced. |
| 41. Sat-13-Apr-1974 [h] L2-3 Aberdeen (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – GH 15/4/1974. Line-up as yet unsourced. REID, MULLIN. |
| 42. Tue-16-Apr-1974 [a] D0-0 Arbroath (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – DC 17/4/1974. Gourlay, Newman, Johnston, Hansen (J), Hansen (A), Strachan, Docherty, McDowall, Munro, Rae, McQuade. |
| – Arbroath missed 2 penalties (40 and 43, the first wide, the second saved) when Gourlay pulled down opponents. It brighten up a drab first half but the 2nd half was no better and was best forgotten. |
| 43. Sat-27-Apr-1974 [h] W4-1 Heart of Midlothian (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – GH 29/4/1974 and HMFC. Line-up and scorers as yet unsourced. |
| – Thistle trailed at half-time but courtesy of bad defensive mistakes they rattled in four goals without reply in the second half. |
| 44. Fri-03-May-1974 [a] L1-3 Dumbarton (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – GH 4/5/1974. Line-up and scorer as yet unsourced. |
| 45. Sat-04-May-1974 [a] D1-1 Celtic (Scottish Reserve League) |
| – AEE 4/5/1974. Line-up and scorer as yet unsourced. |
| 46. Mon-06-May-1974 [a] D2-2 East Fife (Scottish Reserve League Cup Final, 2nd leg) |
| – EFM 8/8/1974. Agg 3-2. Gourlay, Reid, Kennedy, McCarthy, Anderson, Clark, STAMP, Munro, Mullen, McDowell, LOCHRIE. Subs: Hansen, Docherty. |
| – The cup looked secure when Stamp took his chance from a Kennedy pass (3) however the Fifers hit back quickly with a header (7). Munro back headed a corner to Lochrie who slotted home (64). Things got scrappy and Kennedy saw red for a late tackle (74). Ten-man Jags shrank into defence and finally conceded after a goalmouth scramble (86), but held on to take the cup. |
| 1973-74 Reserves summary notes | |
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P46 W24 D8 L14 (1.739 ppg)
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| see also: |
| 1973-74 (First Team) → |
| 1973-74 (Z-List) → |
- The Thistle kit image for this season is © Historical Football Kits and is reproduced here by kind permission.