13th Aug 2011 Falkirk 2 Partick Thistle 1 (SFL First Division - game 2)

matches:2011-12: ← 08game 0910 →

	Stephen Pressley	Jackie McNamara	37y, 9m, 20d

		Willie Kinniburgh; Alan Archibald; Kris Doolan
		Johnny Lindsay; Conrad Balatoni; Martin Grehan

Farid El Allagui (0-1, 8 mins); Kallum Higginbotham (1-2, 46 mins)		Kris Doolan (1-1, 36 mins)
		Scott Robertson

Blair Alston (Jay Fulton, 54 mins); David Weatherston (Stephen Brisbane, 65 mins)		Chris Erskine (Iain Flannigan, 77 mins)

	Michael McGovern	Scott Fox	24y, 1m, 16d
	Kieran Duffie	Paul Paton	24y, 3m, 26d
	future Jag Tam Scobbie	Aaron Taylor-Sinclair	20y, 4m, 5d
	Murray Wallace	Scott Robertson	23y, 8m, 18d
	Rhys Bennett	Willie Kinniburgh	26y, 11m, 5d
	Stewart Murdoch	Alan Archibald	33y, 8m, 0d
	future Jag Blair Alston	Paul Cairney	23y, 11m, 15d
	Dale Fulton	David Rowson	34y, 10m, 30d
	Farid El Alagui	Kris Doolan	24y, 8m, 2d
	future Jag Kallum Higginbotham	Tommy Stewart	24y, 9m, 1d
	David Weatherston	Chris Erskine	24y, 6m, 5d

			25y, 11m, 27d

	Graham Bowman	Ryan Scully	18y, 9m, 15d
	Jay Fulton	Iain Flannigan	23y, 6m, 29d
	Stephen Brisbane	Johnny Lindsay	18y, 9m, 28d
	Kyle Turnbull	Conrad Balatoni	20y, 6m, 17d
	Ally Graham	Kieran Burns	19y, 4m, 20d

TTA report

A poor start saw Falkirk score (8) and they looked certain to increase their lead but Thistle got into the game and Doolan scored with a 20-yard shot 9 minutes from half-time. Falkirk made it 2-1 (46) then Thistle were awarded a penalty which was missed by Doolan (sent wide, 63) then Taylor-Sinclair hit the bar from a corner.

Media report

13-Aug-2011, ptfc.co.uk

In a season where penalties have been a major talking point so it was again in this game. This time though it wasn’t a controversial one that went against Thistle rather a controversial one in Thistle’s favour that was missed. Jackie McNamara made three changes to his starting eleven for this game. Alan Archibald and Willie Kinniburgh had both missed the Challenge Cup defeat at Hamilton but they returned to form the central defensive partnership for this fixture. That move saw Scott Robertson push forward into midfield while Aaron Sinclair dropped back to his left back role after being utilised further forward against Hamilton. Up front there was a return for Kris Doolan with Martin Grehan dropping out of the 16 entirely. Falkirk included in their side new signing David Weatherston, a player who has posed Thistle no end of problems before and he nearly continued his knack of scoring against Thistle just three minutes into his debut for his new team, his header from a cross on the sliding wide of goal.

Falkirk continued to impress in the early stages and in the sixth minute Alan Archibald had to make an important challenge to snuff out the danger after El Allagui and Higginbotham had combined well together. Two minutes later Falkirk did have the lead and to be honest it came as little surprise. What was perhaps surprising that an error of judgement from Scott Fox gave Falkirk the initial chance. The home side though were taking an eternity to knock the ball into the vacant net and for a brief second it looked as if Thistle might get a reprieve only for Farid El Allagui to finally knock the ball home. Falkirk were very much on top and looked likely to add to their early goal every time they came forward. Thistle though weren’t far away from scoring an unexpected equaliser in the 12th minute. Aaron Sinclair crossed from the left with Kris Doolan’s effort adjudged to have taken a deflection on its’ way wide of goal. Doolan saw another shot deflected wide in the 17th minute but while Thistle were rather ponderous with their attacks, Falkirk pushed forward with altogether more pace and purpose and the Thistle defence never looked comfortable. Clear cut chances though Falkirk were few and far between. Scott Fox had to be well placed to save a Scobbie shot but as much as Falkirk continued to look the much better side they weren’t able to add to that eighth minute goal. They were made to pay for that in the 35th minute wwhen Thistle, out of the blue, equalised. Paul Cairney passed to Kris Doolan and from 20 yards out Kris Doolan fired home a shot that looked like a goal from the second it left his foot. Thistle could even have been ahead when Michael McGovern did well to save low down at his left hand post to keep out fiercely struck effort from Aaron Sinclair after a free kick had been touched into his path. At the other end Farid El Allagui saw a shot saved by Scott Fox with Falkirk having justification to feel aggrieved not to be ahead at half-time.

They were, however, back in front inside the opening minute of the second half. Kallum Higginbotham climbing above the Thistle defence to head home a corner kick. Thistle’s response to the loss of that goal was more positive than the loss of the early goal in the first half. Indeed by the 65th minute Thistle really should have been back on level terms. In the 57th minute Chris Erskine was unable to force the ball home after Michael McGovern had failed to gather a cross into the box. A minute later his shot was deflected for a corner and when it was only partially cleared, Paul Cairney saw a shot blocked. Scott Fox did have to intervene on the hour mark with an excellent fingertip save to keep out a Higginbotham chip but in Thistle’s next attack they were handed the perfectly opportunity to get back on level terms. For once it was Thistle that benefited from a controversial penalty award. After taking a long hard look at his assistant, referee Allan pointed to the spot after Michael McGovern pulled Tommy Stewart to the ground. It was not a decision that went down well with the home support but they were celebrating when Doolan sent the keeper the wrong way but the ball wide of goal. Two minutes later there was more agony for Thistle when Aaron Sinclair saw a header bounce off the bar after a corner from the left. The longer the game went on the more frantic the football became. Thistle did have Falkirk on the back foot for spells but worryingly the final ball was frequently not good enough.

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