30th Jul 1994 Derry City 0 Partick Thistle 2 (Friendly)

matches:1994-95: ← 52game 0102 →

Match Information

			Tony O'Doherty		John Lambie			53y, 4m, 28d
					Kevin Budinauckas; Graham Harbey; Alex Taylor; Grant Tierney; Derek McWilliams; Jeff Aunger
					Andy Murdoch; David Byrne; Gregg Watson; Callum Milne; Ian Cameron [i]; Tom Smith
					Alex Taylor (1-0, 25 mins); Derek McWilliams (2-0, 60 mins)
Dermot O'Neill (Gerard Crossan); Stuart Gauld (Paddy McGranaghan); Ray McGuinness (John McElroy); Joe Lawless (Liam Curran); Liam Coyle (Gary Heaney)					Jeff Aunger (Ian Cameron [i])
			Dermot O'Neill		Kevin Budinauckas			19y, 10m, 14d
			Pascal Vaudequin		Bobby Law			28y, 7m, 6d
			former Jag Paul McLaughlin		Graham Harbey			29y, 11m, 1d
			Ray McGuinness		Alex Taylor			32y, 1m, 17d
			Paul Curran		Willie Jamieson			31y, 3m, 3d
			Mark Donaghey		Grant Tierney			32y, 9m, 19d
			Kevin McKeever		Albert Craig			32y, 6m, 27d
			Joe Lawless		Derek McWilliams			28y, 6m, 14d
			Liam Coyle		Roddy Grant			27y, 10m, 14d
			Stuart Gauld		Jeff Aunger			26y, 5m, 26d
			Gerard Crossan		Chic Charnley			31y, 1m, 19d
								29y, 2m, 11d
			John Bottomley		Isaac English			22y, 8m, 18d
			Paddy McGranaghan		Tom Smith			20y, 9m, 18d
			John McElroy		Ian Cameron [i]			27y, 11m, 6d
			Liam Curran		David Byrne			33y, 4m, 25d
			Gary Heaney

notes

Graham Harbey and Jeff Aunger played as trialists for Thistle. The MP is wrong with 31st (a Sunday). BRD confirms Saturday 30th.

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Match Report

TTA report

A more comfortable win than the score suggests. Ex-JAG McLaughlin provided Budinauckas' only real save. Thistle were well in control and a brave header by Taylor (25) put them ahead then McWilliams (on his debut) made it 2-0 (60). Harbey (ex-Stoke City) and Aunger (a Canadian) were trialists

Media report

13-Aug-1994, PTFC Match Programme

With the benefit of hard weeks of pre-season training behind them, plus a couple of closed-door friendlies, Thistle now entered the semi-serious stuff with the first of three games in Northern Ireland. Derry City provided the opposition and a tough game was expected, however, as it turned out, Derry were clearly no match for Thistle, with the game being won far more comfortably than the final score of 2-0 would suggest. John Lambie's first public team selection was made easy due to the non-availability of so many players for a variety of reasons. Kevin Budd was given his chance in goal, while playing on front of him in a four man defence was former Stoke City left back Graham Harbey, on trial with Thistle for the duration of the trip. New signing Derek McWilliams took up a place on the left side of a four-man midfield, leaving Roddy Grant to partner Canadian trialist Jeff Aunger up front.

It was Aunger that the first chance of the game fell to. Collecting a pass from Chic Charnley, he attempted to chip the ball over the Derry keeper, his effort going the wrong side of the post by only a matter of inches. Shortly after, Kevin Budd had to look lively to turn a long range effort from Paul McLaughlin, who had to put up with some good natured abuse from the large Thistle support, over the bar for what seemed like the only save he was asked to make. Thistle were well in control, and the opening goal arrived after 25 minutes. Albert Craig did some good work down the left, and his cross into the six yard box was bravely headed home by ALEX TAYLOR. Neither Alex or Albert will be given as much room in the Premier Division, but it was a well constructed and executed goal nonetheless. That proved to be the only goal in what must be described as a very low key first half, the nearest Thistle came to scoring again coming in the 41st minute when Jeff aunger should have done better than shoot over the bar when Roddy Grant flicked on a Charnley near post cross.

The second forty five started in similar low key tempo, but proceedings were livened up when, after 52 minutes, new boy McWilliams was booked by a referee who was well short of the standard we are used to in Scotland. Urged on by that, McWilliams nearly doubled our lead when he saw a shot deflected into the Derry keeper's arms, however he wasn't to be denied. After 56 minutes, DEREK McWILLIAMS grabbed his first goal in Thistle colours. Again, Albert Craig was heavily involved, though this time his cross came from the right and was met powerfully by McWilliams and Thistle were 2-0 up. Albert Craig found his name in the book soon after, but despite some curious refereeing Thistle were very comfortable, the defence in particular just strolled through the game. Ian Cameron replaced Jeff Aunger and played up front as Thistle looked for goals that would reflect our superiority, but too often the final ball just wasn't good enough, a lack of match sharpness apparent.

On a day when Thistle were never tested it was hard to pass judgement on individual performances, although the two trialists did enough to warrant a closer look on the tour, while young Kevin Budd in goal did everything that was asked of him, little as that was. In general, the feeling was that more will be taken out of the next two games against Glentoran and Portadown.

Scrapbook

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PTFC Match Programme, 13th August, 1994

Stats Watch

● The opening game of the 120th season of Partick Thistle F.C.

● 26-year-old Jeff Aunger makes his Thistle debut.

● 29-year-old Graham Harbey makes his Thistle debut.

● 19-year-old Kevin Budinauckas makes his Thistle debut and joins our goalies' clean-sheet debutants club.

● 28-year-old Derek McWilliams makes his Thistle debut and joins our scoring debutants club.

● Jeff Aunger becomes the first Canadian to play for Thistle.

● Canada becomes the eleventh country/territory to birth a Jag.

ongoing sequences:

● 26 consecutive competitive appearances for Willie Jamieson, 30th Nov 1993 to date, a new personal best. (Longest run since: Craig Nelson - 35 games, 2nd Oct 1993 to 30th Apr 1994. Club-record: Johnny Jackson - 313 games, 28th Aug 1926 to 25th Mar 1933.)

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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