20th Jul 2002 Portadown 0 Partick Thistle 1 (Friendly)

matches:2002-03: ← 02game 0304 →

Match Information

			Ronnie McFall		John Lambie			61y, 4m, 18d
					Kevin Budinauckas; Stephen Craigan; Scott Paterson; Jamie Mitchell; Scott McLean; Martin Hardie; Alex Burns
					Kenny Arthur; James McKinstry; Andy S. Gibson; Barry Elliot; Gerry Britton; Ian Morris; Ricky Waddell
					Martin Hardie (1-0, 34 mins)
					Kevin Budinauckas (Kenny Arthur, HT); Jamie Mitchell (Gerry Britton, 2nd half); David Lilley (James McKinstry, 2nd half); Martin Hardie (Ian Morris, 2nd half); Jamie Buchan (Ricky Waddell, 2nd half); Scott McLean (Paul Walker, 2nd half); ? (Barry Elliot, 2nd half); ? (Andy S. Gibson, 2nd half)
			Mick Keenan		Kevin Budinauckas			27y, 10m, 4d
			Philip Craig		David Lilley			24y, 8m, 19d
			Keith O'Hara		Alan Archibald			24y, 7m, 7d
			Neil Alderdice		Stephen Craigan			25y, 8m, 21d
			Kris Lindsay		Scott Paterson			30y, 2m, 7d
			Paul McAreavey		Derek Whyte			33y, 10m, 19d
			Dean Fitzgerald		Jamie Mitchell			25y, 8m, 14d
			Mike Collins		Jamie Buchan			25y, 3m, 17d
			Gary Hamilton		Scott McLean			26y, 1m, 3d
			Vinny Arkins		Martin Hardie			26y, 2m, 28d
			Kyle Neill		Alex Burns			28y, 11m, 16d
								27y, 2m, 14d
			?		Kenny Arthur			23y, 7m, 13d
			Martin Rea		Ricky Waddell			21y, 5m, 16d
			Andy Hamilton		James McKinstry			23y, 0m, 17d
			future Jag Tommy Stewart		Ian Morris			20y, 10m, 22d
			?		Barry Elliot			23y, 8m, 26d
					Andy S. Gibson			20y, 4m, 18d
					Paul Walker			24y, 11m, 0d
					Gerry Britton			31y, 9m, 0d

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Match Report

TTA report

Fresh from a Champions League qualifier, Portadown almost cashed in on an early Archibald error. Thistle came more into things and a header by Hardie from a long throw-in by Craigan (34) proved to be the winner. A fine save after half-time denied McLean the chance to double the lead.

Media report

21-Jul-2002, Sunday Mail

JAMIE MITCHELL admitted he was relieved to escape without a scratch from a bruising battle. The midfielder had an outstanding debut as a Martin Hardie header gave Partick Thistle a clean sweep of wins in their three-game tour of Ulster. Mitchell was plunged into a baptism of fire against rugged Northern Ireland champions Portadown after four months on the sidelines with a groin injury. And the former Clyde star feared he might be crocked again amid crunching tackles at Shamrock Park. Mitchell said: “My biggest worry was picking up a new knock with the way some of their guys were putting themselves about. But it was great to get a game under my belt and to feel no reaction from the injury.” He was unlucky not to cap his Jags debut with a goal when veteran keeper Nick Keenan smothered his near-post flick. Mitchell said: “It would have been nice to get a goal but hopefully I've done enough to earn another chance when we play Sheffield Wednesday this week. If I can win over the gaffer I'll try to win over the fans who used to give me stick when I played for Clyde.”

Thistle, who had notched 2-0 wins over Derry and Bangor, had to fight hard against Portadown, who are in Champions League action against Belisha Babrisk in Minsk in midweek. Mitchell almost made an immediate impact when his flighted free-kick had the Irish defenders back-pedalling but David Lilley was unable to convert the chance. At the other end there was a major scare for Thistle when Vinny Atkins, spotting Kevin Budinauckas off his line, attempted a 30-yard lob but the ball slipped wide. Then Atkins just failed to connect with a Gary Hamilton cross and was denied by a crucial headed interception by Scott Paterson. At the other end, Hardie relieved the pressure with a defence-splitting diagonal pass which sent Mitchell down the right but he overhit his cross to Scott McLean. On the other flank Alex Burns out-foxed two defenders before the final ball across the six-yard line again failed to pick out a Thistle jersey. But the SPL newcomers went closer to breaking the deadlock in 25 minutes. Mitchell took on three defenders who between them only managed to stab the ball towards the 18-yard line. Hardie met it with a firmly-struck shot which forced Mick Keenan's first save of the match. The 46-year-old keeper showed amazing reflexes moments later to save from Mitchell who had raced to the near post to meet McLean's cross.

Thistle's pressure finally paid off in 34 minutes after a mistake by Keenan. He came to collect Stephen Craigan's long throw but was outjumped by Hardie who headed his second goal of the tour. Portadown responded by hauling off midfield hothead Mike Collins who had been the aggressor in several needless skirmishes. Gerry Britton, who replaced Mitchell early in the second-half, almost made an instant impact when he headed a Lilley cross into the path of McLean whose shot drew a stunning stop from Keenan. Hardie became the second player to be subbed for his own protection when his clumsy challenge on Paul McAreavey incensed the home players.

Thistle boss John Lambie was not happy with sloppy second half defending which he felt could have allowed Ports to level. He said: “We won but I didn't think we were sharp enough. We'll get a better idea where we stand after playing Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City.”

Scrapbook

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William Dick report

Belfast Telegraph, 20th July, 2002

PTFC Website, 20th July, 2002

Stats Watch

● 25-year-old Jamie Mitchell makes his Thistle debut.

ongoing sequences:

● 26 consecutive competitive appearances for Danny Lennon, 1st Dec 2001 to date. (Longest run since: Derek Fleming - 34 games, 25th Aug 2001 to 16th Mar 2002. 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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