28th Oct 2000 Berwick Rangers 1 Partick Thistle 2 (SFL Second Division - game 12)

matches:2000-01: ← 17game 1819 →

Match Information

			Paul Smith		John Lambie			59y, 7m, 26d
					David McCallum
					Stephen Docherty
Garry Wood (0-1, 35 mins)					Scott McLean (1-1, 42 mins); Scott McLean (2-1, pen 79 mins)
Martin Neil; Marc Anthony					Martin Hardie
Paul Ronald (Craig Findlay, 72 mins)					Peter Lindau (Derek Lyle, 80 mins); Danny Lennon (Sandy Stewart, 88 mins)
			former Jag Gary O'Connor		Kenny Arthur			21y, 10m, 21d
			Alan Neill		David McCallum			23y, 1m, 21d
			Innes Ritchie		Alan Archibald			22y, 10m, 15d
			Gordon Forrest		Stephen Craigan			23y, 11m, 29d
			Dale Gray		Jamie Smith			22y, 3m, 17d
			former Jag Kevin Magee		Mark McNally			29y, 7m, 18d
			Martin Neil		Allan Moore			35y, 10m, 3d
			Paul Ronald		Danny Lennon			31y, 6m, 22d
			Garry Wood		Scott McLean			24y, 4m, 11d
			Marc Anthony		Martin Hardie			24y, 6m, 6d
			Grant McMartin		Peter Lindau			27y, 10m, 19d
								26y, 2m, 7d
			Mark McLean		Michael Brown			20y, 11m, 21d
			David Watt		Sandy Stewart			35y, 0m, 14d
			Jonny Whelan		Des McKeown			30y, 9m, 10d
			Craig Findlay		Derek Lyle			19y, 8m, 15d
			Steve Laidlaw		Ian Cameron [i]			34y, 2m, 4d

Match Report

TTA report

A torrid first half saw Thistle under pressure against the wind and Berwick took the lead with a header (35). Thistle equalised 7 minutes later through McLean after a fine sweeping move. He made it 8 from 7 with a pen after McCallum had been fouled (79). Thistle went top and remained there for the rest of the season.

Media report

30-Oct-2000, Daily Record

SMITHS'S DIG AT PENALTY BLUNDER REF. BERWICK boss Paul Smith reckons referee Brian McGarry blundered and handed Partick Thistle the points that sent them to the top of the table. McGarry sparked fury among the home fans when he awarded the Jags a penalty in the 79th minute. He ruled Martin Neil had impeded Scott McLean, who got up to score the winner from the spot kick. But Smith insists McGarry must have been the only person in Shielfield Park who saw it as a penalty. He said: “There is no doubt the game was taken away from us with that controversial decision. Their player appeared to stand on the ball and fall over. The ref must have been the only one who thought it was a foul. I don't recollect even seeing a Thistle player appeal for a penalty. Although it is extremely disappointing you have to accept the decision, even if it does mean costing points.” Smith admitted he could not have asked any more from his players considering the slippery conditions. He said: “I thought we controlled proceedings for virtually all of the first half and was disappointed to go in at the interval level. We had chances to score more and I also thought we defended well in the second half when they were on top but unfortunately the penalty cancelled out all that good work.”

Gary Wood put Rangers in front 10 minutes before the interval when he marginally beat keeper Kenny Arthur to head in when both raced to meet a teasing curling cross from Kevin Magee. Seven minutes later the Jags were back on level terms when McLean slid the ball home from close range after Danny Lennon slipped his marker on the edge of the box. Partick dominated most of the second half but it was not until the highly controversial penalty that they sealed it.

Thistle boss John Lambie was delighted with the result that saw his troops take No.1 spot. He said: “I am hoping this victory will set us up for a strong promotion push but I am very conscious of the fact that there is still a long, long way to go. Berwick put up a good first-half performance but with the weather in our favour after the interval I thought we looked the more likely winners. After we equalised I thought the game was there for the taking.” Jags' Martin Hardie had the ball in the net again but McGarry was in do doubt that he had guided it in with his arm and flashed the yellow card.

Scrapbook

magnifiable if deemed necessary by your browser

BBC, 28th October, 2000

Berwick Advertiser, 3rd November, 2000

PTFC Match Programme, 4th November, 2000

Video Highlights

(credit: Partick Thistle Television )

advertisement

the ultimate destination for the best and latest Thistle multimedia content, from live audio commentary to the latest video interviews and tactical analysis…

…only £7.99 per month

Stats Watch

ongoing sequences:

● 13 consecutive competitive appearances for Stephen Craigan, 8th Aug 2000 to date, a new personal best. (Longest run since: Des McKeown - 22 games, 12th Feb 2000 to 26th Aug 2000. 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

advertisement

Partick Thistle: A People’s History celebrates 150 years of the club through the eyes of the fans. It will be a superb addition to your Thistle collection, expertly curated and edited by Kenny Pieper, a real heart and soul effort from the author and the contributors (the fans).

• The book is set to be published in August 2026, priced at just £15.
• A real labour of love - all royalties to the club.
• Click on the book and reserve your copy directly from ptfc.co.uk