4th Dec 1897 St Bernard's 9 Partick Thistle 1 (SFL First Division - game 12)

matches:1897-98: ← 14game 1516 →

Match Information

					James Hirst; Alex Legge; William Johnston
					Bob Duncan; Robert Gray; James Cleland
James Tennant (0-1, 1st half); Robert Houston (0-2, 1st half); Robert Houston (0-3, 1st half); Angus McInnes (0-4, 1st half); Alexander Kinghorn (1-5, 2nd half); Angus McInnes (1-6, 2nd half); Robert Houston (1-7, 2nd half); Angus McInnes (1-8, 2nd half); James Tennant (1-9, 2nd half)					John Ferguson (1-4, 44 mins)
			Yair		John C. Spence			23y, 11m, 6d
			Duncan McLean		Jamie Auchincloss			24y, 8m, 1d
			Duncan McNicol		Andy Wilson			22y, 4m, 9d
			Peter Buchanan		James Hirst
			William Baird		Robert Currie
			Andrew Cairns		Willie Paul			31y, 9m, 27d
			Alexander Kinghorn		Alex Legge
			Angus McInnes		William Massie			19y, 9m, 2d
			Robert Houston		John Ferguson
			Daniel Paton		Fred McDiarmid			20y, 6m, 23d
			James Tennant		William Johnston			32y, 7m, 5d
								25y, 1m, 5d

notes

Unfortunately, the SR reports that James Hirst (right half i.e. #4) and that William Johnston (outside left i.e. #11) played, but neither of these players are included in the OH line-up. The OH line-up is provably wrong because they have James Clelland at #11 and he is categorically out with an injury, a story which is carried in various press reports before and after the match. The OH line-up is not contradicted, aside from the aforementioned Clelland. We are therefore faced with the dilemma of having to remove one player from the OH eleven and our best-educated guess is that it should be one of the midfield three, since Hirst was slotted in there. Since Willie Paul was quoted as being played out of position (the OH has him at #4) we feel that he is on solid ground as one of the three. This leaves one space for either of two players; Robert Currie (OH #5) or Bob Duncan (OH #6). Given that centre half is always unequivocally fixed at #5 and that the #4 and #6 positions are the ones which are usually mixed up between right or left half, we therefore think it's “the best of a bad choice” decision to remove Bob Duncan #6 and to place Willie Paul there. St Bernard's goalie was listed as 'Newman'. The EEN speculated that Goode (Falkirk) might appear, but the SR reported that it was Yair (Ashfield) on the day. Yair, Baird and the front 5 are all confirmed in the reports, and there are no contradictions. Although simply named 'Logie Green' in contemporary reports, this ground has come to be known as 'New Logie Green' to keep its identity distinct from a ground that St Bernard's used in the 1880s called 'Powderhall' (occasionally/colloquially referred to as 'Logie Green' at the time) which was later renamed 'Heriot Cricket and Football Ground' in the 1890s. This distinct 'New Logie Green' existed from 1889 to 1899 and hosted the Scottish Cup final of 1896.

Match Report

TTA report

The scoreline tells it all. St Bernard's chose this match to play some of their best football in months. Ferguson scored Thistle's goal just before half-time to make it 4-1. Just as well Saints were trying out some fringe players and a “newman” goalkeeper. Spence, who had a busy afternoon, was largely blameless.

Stats Watch

● Alex Legge makes his first-known appearance for Thistle.

● 32-year-old William Johnston makes his first-known appearance for Thistle.

● Thistle's record margin of defeat against St Bernard's.

● Thistle concede 9 goals in a League game, matching the club-record which was set on 30-Mar-1895.

● Thistle concede 9 goals in an away League game, matching the club-record which was set on 30-Mar-1895.

ongoing sequences:

● 28 consecutive competitive appearances for John C. Spence, 14th Nov 1896 to date, a new personal best. (Longest run since: Robert Currie - 34 games, 24th Aug 1895 to 7th Nov 1896. Club-record: Willie Freebairn - 44 games, 27th May 1893 to 13th Apr 1895.)

Stats Watch adheres to our stated definitions of League, League Max, Major Competitive, Competitive or All Games. Where there is no written qualification, you should presume that the Stat in question is compiled from the All Games criteria.

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