26th Dec 2005 Partick Thistle 0 Stirling Albion 3 (SFL Second Division - game 18)

matches:2005-06: ← 29game 3031 →

52y, 1m, 4d	Dick Campbell	Allan Moore former Jag

Will Snowdon
Jukka Santala

		Paddy Connolly (0-1, 17 mins); Colin Stewart (0-2, og 50 mins); Chris Aitken (0-3, 63 mins)
Graham Dorrans; Billy Gibson; Ricky Gillies		Chris Aitken; Paul Hay; Steven Bell

Sean Kilgannon (Adam Strachan, 56 mins)		Chris Hay (Robert Dunn, 63 mins); Mark McNally (David O'Brien, 77 mins); Paddy Connolly (Dougie Wilson, 82 mins)

25y, 11m, 16d	Colin Stewart	Myles Hogarth
30y, 3m, 27d	Grant Murray	Paul Nugent
30y, 0m, 27d	Scott McCulloch	Ross Forsyth
24y, 8m, 15d	Darren Brady	Andy Graham
22y, 11m, 29d	Marc Smyth	Mark McNally former Jag
22y, 11m, 19d	Will Snowdon	John Fraser
24y, 4m, 25d	Billy Gibson	Chris Aitken
29y, 4m, 2d	Ricky Gillies	Paul Hay
18y, 7m, 21d	Graham Dorrans	Steven Bell future Jag
24y, 6m, 10d	Stephen McConalogue	Chris Hay
24y, 9m, 18d	Sean Kilgannon	Paddy Connolly

25y, 4m, 3d

27y, 0m, 19d	Kenny Arthur	Scott Christie
36y, 6m, 15d	David Craig	David O'Brien
18y, 10m, 2d	Adam Strachan	Dougie Wilson
20y, 3m, 16d	Jukka Santala	Robert Dunn former Jag
24y, 5m, 18d	Stevie Nicholas	Steven Hutchison

notes

BBC/SB/ESPN all say it was Jukka Santala who came on, but the MP stats page, as well the club website at the time, are clear that it was Adam Strachan.
S. Craven replaced the advertised T. Johnston as the assistant referee.

TTA report

“Thistle's ineptitude reaches new depths” (GH). Stewart in goal had a “bumbling performance”. Albion scored from a breakaway (17) then Stewart let a feeble effort bobble over the line just after half-time. He was caught off his line for the 3rd (63) although he prevented it going to 4-0 (90). Absolute shambles.

Media report

27-Dec-2005, Daily Record

JAGS STUNG AS STIRLING MAKE IT 10 UNBEATEN. STIRLING stretched their unbeaten run to 10 games with a comprehensive beating of a totally dispirited Thistle - their first win over the Jags since 1999. An own-goal gaffe by home keeper Colin Stewart between goals from Paddy Connolly and Chris Aitken made it a thoroughly miserable festive time for the Firhill faithful. Thistle's performancewas absolutely shocking and Aitken's killer third goal had Maryhill punters telling manager Dick Campbell where to go in no uncertain terms. In his programme notes Campbell had stated all he wanted for Christmas was a new central defender in the January transfer window and on this showing it's a must.

The Jags boss said: “The goals we're losing just now are really stupid and it's been happening since September. It's frustrating that I can't do anything about it. My players let themselves down and they let a magnificent support down. I'm very, very angry at the way we let Stirling go three goals up. I've given people the opportunity to show they're good enough to play for this club and I got answers today which I will be addressing. Jukka Santala is going back to Rangers and that will give us funds for the January transfer window.”

Albion boss Allan Moore, on the other hand, was a happy man. He said: “I always knew I had good players and I've been proved right. I suspected we'd win today because we always play well against Partick. My players worked their socks off and their work ethic has been brilliant.”

The home side enjoyed the bulk of possession during the opening exchanges and in 15 minutes Ricky Gillies controlled Scott McCulloch's pass with his chest before unleashing a volley which was save by Albion keeper Myles Hogarth. But two minutes later Albion hit Thistle with a sucker punch to snatch the lead.Stephen Bell broke from inside his own half and stoked the ball forward to Connolly. The veteran striker dragged two defenders across the box before switching feet to fire a low shot under the reach of Stewart for his 12th goal of the season. Midway through the half Chris Hay's flick sent Bell haring in on goal but this time Stewart came off his line to smother the ball at his feet. Thistle looked devoid of any real imagination but Graham Dorrans, playing the final game of his loan spell before returning to Livingston, showed a flash of brilliance with a cheeky back-heel to free Sean Gilgannon but his effort was easily saved.

Campbell's men went off to a chorus of boos at half-time and after the break the Thistle horror show had turned into a comedy. In 50 minutes Hay released Bell again and although Stewart saved his strike the ball bobbled up and Connolly's header was cleared off the line by Will Snowdon. But Stewart fell and palmed the ball into his own net. Four minutes later Bell and Dorrans were involved in some fisticuffs which could have seen the pair sent off but referee Andy Hunter opted for yellows. By now Thistle's defending was nothing short of atrocious and even their own fans started to applaud the confidence-stricken Stewart whenever he managed to gather the ball safely. But they weren't laughing in 63 minutes when Aitken's cross-cum-shot caught Stewart off his line and looped over his head into the top corner. Thistle's dreadful day was summed up when Marc Smyth's header was cleared off the line by Ross Forsyth. Poor Stewart redeemed himself ever so slightly when he made a brilliant block to deny substitute Dougie Wilson a fourth goal when he was clean through.

Afterwards scorer Aitken said: “I meant it. It was no fluke but the boys are still saying it was a cross. I made a good run and spotted the keeper off his line. Their keeper was under a lot of pressure and he was getting pelters from the fans but you don't wish that on any player. The gaffer told me before the game to shoot whenever I had the chance. I stayed behind to do extra shooting practice after training and it's really starting to pay off. Everybody is playing for each other and there's definitely a play-off spot there for us.”

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