1st May 1999 Partick Thistle 1 Forfar Athletic 0 (SFL Second Division - game 35)

matches:1998-99: ← 44game 4546 →

Match Information

58y, 1m, 29d			John Lambie		Ian McPhee
Tommy Callaghan
Graham Connell
Paul McDonald (1-0, pen 79 mins)
Tommy Callaghan					George Johnston; John Allison
Robert Dunn (Craig Flannigan, 55 mins); Tommy Callaghan (Graham Connell, 68 mins); Kemo Avdiu (Sammy Johnston, 90 mins)					Doug Craig (Steve Raynes, 66 mins); Paul McIlravey (Ralph Brand, 74 mins)
20y, 4m, 24d			Kenny Arthur		Jim Moffat
24y, 11m, 2d			Gregg Hood		Doug Craig
29y, 3m, 13d			Des McKeown		Alan Rattray
29y, 8m, 3d			Tommy Callaghan		George Johnston
36y, 0m, 4d			Willie Jamieson		John Allison
21y, 1m, 25d			Kevin Gaughan		Jimmy Nairn
18y, 7m, 0d			Martin Lauchlan		Andy Cargill
20y, 4m, 29d			Gordon Burns		Graeme McCheyne
19y, 10m, 3d			Robert Dunn		Martin McLauchlan
22y, 4m, 9d			Kemo Avdiu		Paul McIlravey
31y, 0m, 11d			Paul McDonald		Barry McLean
24y, 10m, 15d
32y, 0m, 18d			Sammy Johnston		Ross Kiddie
24y, 6m, 0d			Graham Connell		Steve Raynes
26y, 2m, 20d			Craig Flannigan		Ralph Brand

Match Report

TTA report

“The biggest load of crap I've ever watched in my life“ (Lambie). 3 points (and defeat for East Fife) ensured Second Division safety. The ball hit off the referee in the build-up to the move that led to McDonald scoring the winner from a soft penalty (79) when Lauchlan appeared to have been pulled down. “A narrow escape“ (GH).

Media report

03-May-1999, The Herald

A NARROW ESCAPE FROM TRAP DOOR FOR PARTICK THISTLE. WHEN he became manager of Partick Thistle for the third time, a little over a month ago, John Lambie said he was delighted to be back in the game and back at Firhill, his spiritual home. It was a perverse delight. His beloved Thistle were in a bad way, teetering perilously close to the trap door which leads to football oblivion, otherwise known as the Scottish League third division, within a year of being dumped from the first. The manager's office which had previously been occupied by Tommy Bryce was promptly given a slapdash redecoration. “Good luck” cards from well-wishing followers of the Harry Wraggs - although they were probably also intended as “get well soon” cards for their ailing team - were peppered around the desk, while on the wall Lambie hung a worry stone in a superstitious bid to control the inevitable avalanche of stress. After watching his side earn salvation by way of a dubious penalty kick against Forfar in front of 2500 restless natives, Lambie, hunched on his chair, the top four buttons of his sweat-stained white shirt undone, gasped: “I am absolutely drained.” He followed that up by the match as “the biggest load of crap I have ever watched in my life” - not that he cared. The Jags, who might not even have been around if their supporters had not handed over their hard-earned cash in the club's hour of financial need last year, were saved again, three points ahead of East Fife with a far superior goal difference. Lambie's job was done. Or was it? “My job is only just starting,'' he said, grimacing at such a prospect. When asked what lay in store for the squad, which was assembled in double-quick time during the summer, Lambie - with a refreshing, if disarming, honesty - said: “I cannot say now because we still have one game left of the season. “They are not my type of players but after giving them the biggest bollocking I've ever given a team in my life at half-time they came out and got a result - so I have to give them credit for the way they responded.” It seems, then, that Thistle will undergo another season of transition. Veteran defender Willie Jamieson, who is also a member of the coaching staff, revealed he is certain to leave, while Lambie insisted he will adopt a similar policy to Clyde's Ronnie MacDonald by bringing in players from the junior leagues.

Paul McDonald was lauded as a hero by the Jags faithful with 14 minutes remaining after he converted the spot-kick awarded by John Rowbotham, who deemed that Alloa defender George Johnston had pulled Martin Lauchlan to the ground inside the penalty area. Lauchlan appeared to make the most of it, but his strike partner and the club's deserved player of the year, Robert Dunn, was in no mood to debate the legitimacy of the penalty. “My nerves are absolutely shattered,” he panted after a post-match warm-down, “especially after being relegated last season. The manager has his own way of doing things and had a right few harsh words for the players. We had a couple of chances but it got to the stage I was thinking: 'Are we ever going to score?' - but fortunately we got the penalty.” Loons manager Ian McPhee, to whom fortune is something that shines on other people, was left to bemoan yet another fruitless afternoon and was particularly critical of Rowbotham, who, after having been barracked by the home support for much of the match, left the most popular man in Maryhill - with the possible exception of Lambie. “The referee influenced the goal in two ways,” groaned McPhee. “The ball hit off him to start Thistle's attack and then he awarded the penalty. Some of the goals we have conceded this season should be on Candid Camera.” For Lambie, everything turned out all right on the night - just do not take the worry stone down just yet…

Stats Watch

● 21-year-old Kevin Gaughan plays his last game for Thistle.

● 24-year-old Gregg Hood plays his last game for Thistle.

● 32-year-old Sammy Johnston plays his last game for Thistle.

● 31-year-old Paul McDonald plays his last game for Thistle and marks the occasion by scoring his final goal for the club.

ongoing sequences:

● 36 consecutive competitive appearances for Robert Dunn, 22nd Aug 1998 to date, a new personal best. (Longest run since: Jimmy Boyle - 39 games, 2nd Aug 1997 to 9th May 1998. 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.

.

match hubs