9th Apr 2011 Falkirk 2 Partick Thistle 3 (SFL First Division - game 30)

matches:2010-11: ← 42game 4344 →

	Stephen Pressley	Ian McCall	46y, 6m, 10d

		Jamie Campbell; Paul Cairney
		John A. Robertson; Iain Flannigan

Tam McManus (3-1, 66 mins); Carl Finnigan (3-2, 84 mins)		Chris Erskine (1-0, 8 mins); Chris Erskine (2-0, 24 mins); Kris Doolan (3-0, 61 mins)
Ross Perry; Carl Finnigan; Mark Millar		Alan Archibald; Chris Erskine

Mehdi Khalis (Carl Finnigan, HT); Pedro Moutinho (Kallum Higginbotham, HT)		Chris Erskine (Shaun Fraser, 87 mins)

	Robert Olejnik	Scott Fox	23y, 9m, 12d
	Ross Perry	Jamie Campbell	19y, 0m, 16d
	Mehdi Khalis	Patrick Boyle	24y, 0m, 20d
	Kieran Duffie	Willie Kinniburgh	26y, 7m, 1d
	Burton O'Brien	Conrad Balatoni	20y, 2m, 13d
	Ryan Flynn	Alan Archibald	33y, 3m, 27d
	former Jag Marc Twaddle	Paul Cairney	23y, 7m, 11d
	Mark Millar	David Rowson	34y, 6m, 26d
	Pedro Moutinho	Kris Doolan	24y, 3m, 29d
	former Jag Mark Stewart	Martin Grehan	26y, 6m, 0d
	Tam McManus	Chris Erskine	24y, 2m, 1d

			25y, 5m, 18d

	former Jag Jamie Barclay	Ryan Scully	18y, 5m, 11d
	Carl Finnigan	Jackie McNamara	37y, 5m, 16d
	Stewart Murdoch	Shaun Fraser	17y, 9m, 10d
	future Jag Kallum Higginbotham	Ross McGeough	19y, 11m, 11d
	Chris Mitchell	Jordan McGrotty	17y, 1m, 30d

TTA report

The win was more comfortable than the late goals suggest. Erskine finished off a one-two with Grehan (8) then Grehan himself went close twice before an Erskine header from his cross made it 2-0 (24). Falkirk hit the post just on half-time. Dolan made it 3-0 (set up by Grehan, 61) before 2 goals (64 and 84).

Media report

09-Apr-2011, ptfc.co.uk

Manager Ian McCall made two changes to the side that started against Queen of the South for the first of three games in eleven days against Falkirk. After impressing in his appearances as a substitute, Jamie Campbell came in to make his first start as John Robertson missed out. Iain Flannigan, a doubt earlier in the week, also missed out with his place in the side going to a returned from injury Paul Cairney. Thistle, lining up 4-4-2 formation with Willie Kinniburgh in an unfamiliar for him role at right back, went in at the end of the first 45 minutes two goals ahead after producing a performance to rival the one that produced a 2-0 win at Raith Rovers a few weeks earlier.

The first goal arrived in the eighth minute and it was a strike of the highest quality with Chris Erskine, looking in one of his unstoppable moods right at the heart of it. He worked a one/two inside the box with Martin Grehan before finishing in some style. Falkirk were finding it virtually impossible to cope with Thistle's frequent forays towards their goal in the opening stages of this match. Just three minutes after the opening goal, Martin Grehan tried to curl a shot into the net from the corner of the Falkirk box but his shot was always just drifting wide of goal. Grehan was again heavily involved in the 14th minute when he gathered a Kris Doolan pass after Doolan had turned sharply. Grehan's shot, however, though powerfully struck was just too straight to trouble Olejnik. Thistle again threatened in the 17th minute. Alan Archibald won the ball on the halfway line before pushing through a pass to Chris Erskine who was tackled right on the edge of the Falkirk box just before he unleashed his shot. A second goal did arrive though in the 24th minute. A magnificent cross from the left from Martin Grehan was met by the head of Chris Erskine who nodded home from inside the six yard box. After having been totally outplayed for the opening 25 minutes, Falkirk did come more into things as the half wore on. Tam Mcmanus, their most dangerous looking player, shot over the bar from just outside the box and Marc Twaddle struck the post when he met an O'Brien cross. Thistle though remained a constant threat on the break. Paul Cairney in particular coming close with a fierce drive that was just about a foot over the bar after the ball had broken into his path after Kris Doolan had been tackled.

Falkirk's intent to go for broke in the second half was clear by the introduction of Higginbothan and Finnigan, both attack minded players. It was a defender though, Marc Twaddle again, that came close to hauling the home side back into the game in the 53rd minute but his glancing header from a Miller free kick wide on the right, was wide of the Thistle goal. Falkirk had another opportunity just prior to the hour mark. When Ryan Flynn chipped a cross into the Thistle box, Carl Finnigan found himself with both time and space. He was, however, able to get little power or direction on his header and Scott Fox was able to complete a comfortable save. That was a reminder to Thistle that the game wasn't yet won but in the 61st minute they took a big step towards all three points. Martin Grehan was again proving just what an important player he is, with a lovely through ball to Kris Doolan who finished with some confidence to score his 15th goal of a highly productive season for the striker. Thistle though were able to enjoy the comfort of a three goal lead for just four minutes. Scott Fox was able to save but not hold a fiercely driven shot with the keeper out of luck when the loose ball fell nicely for McManus who knocked the ball home from close range. Even with the news coming through that Raith Rovers were losing at Cowdenbeath, there was no sign that Falkirk were going to stage a comeback. However, with six minutes remaining it was very much game on again. A rare error inside the Thistle box left Carl Finnigan with the easiest of chances to score and all of a sudden there was a real tension in the Thistle ranks. Falkirk though were unable to fashion a single opening in the remaining minutes as Thistle held on for a richly deserved victory, one that was just a bit closer than it needed to be.

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