11th Aug 2012 Partick Thistle 3 Falkirk 1 (SFL First Division - game 1)

matches:2012-13: ← 06game 0708 →

Match Information

38y, 9m, 18d			Jackie McNamara		Stephen Pressley
Paul Paton
Aaron Taylor-Sinclair
Steven Lawless (1-0, 4 mins); Kris Doolan (2-0, 7 mins); Kris Doolan (3-1, 57 mins)					Lyle Taylor (2-1, 53 mins)
Sean Welsh (1-0, 4 mins); Paul Paton (2-0, 7 mins); none (3-1, 57 mins)					Stewart Murdoch (2-1, 53 mins)
Stuart Bannigan					Jonathan Flynn; Kieran Duffie
Steven Lawless (Christie Elliott, 66 mins); Chris Erskine (Aaron Taylor-Sinclair, 67 mins); Stuart Bannigan (James Craigen, 83 mins)					Dale Fulton (Craig Sibbald, HT)
25y, 1m, 14d			Scott Fox		Michael McGovern
20y, 3m, 0d			Stephen O'Donnell		Kieran Duffie
19y, 10m, 25d			Stuart Bannigan		Stephen Kingsley
25y, 3m, 24d			Paul Paton		Johnny Flynn
21y, 11m, 12d			Aaron Muirhead		Chris Smith
34y, 7m, 29d			Alan Archibald		Jay Fulton
21y, 3m, 30d			Steven Lawless		Dale Fulton
22y, 4m, 27d			Sean Welsh		Stewart Murdoch
25y, 8m, 0d			Kris Doolan		Lyle Taylor future Jag
33y, 7m, 3d			Hugh Murray		Andy Haworth
25y, 6m, 3d			Chris Erskine		Blair Alston future Jag
25y, 0m, 22d
19y, 9m, 13d			Ryan Scully		Graham Bowman
21y, 4m, 14d			James Craigen		Craig Sibbald
21y, 2m, 16d			Christie Elliott		Luke Leahy
21y, 4m, 3d			Aaron Taylor-Sinclair		Conor McGrandles
23y, 9m, 4d			Mark McGuigan		Liam Dick

Match Report

TTA report

2 up in 10 minutes with goals from Lawless when he steered in a Welsh cross and Doolan with a shot in the corner of the net, an error by Fox let Falkirk back into the game with a surprise shot (53). A 3rd goal by Doolan when he picked up a rebound from a save by the keeper (57) made for an excellent win.

Media report

11-Aug-2012, ptfc.co.uk

The Thistle side to start the league season against Falkirk showed just one change from the side that started against Forfar in the Scottish Communities League Cup. Paul Paton had missed that game through suspension but he returned to the starting eleven for the visit of Falkirk. His inclusion saw Aaron Sinclair drop to the bench, a move that saw Stuart Bannigan move from midfield to a role on the left side of defence. The start of any season is a time for optimism but the start that Thistle made to this game would have been well beyond the expectations of even the most wildly optimistic Thistle fan.

With just 7 minutes on the clock Thistle found themselves two goals ahead. The first goal arrived in Thistle’s first thrust at the Falkirk goal in the 4th minute. Chris Erskine created a chance for Sean Welsh to cross from the left and his cross was steered into the corner of the net by Steven Lawless making his home debut for the Club. That opening goal was met with the obvious approval of the Thistle fans and they were in dreamland three minutes later when Kris Doolan doubled his side’s advantage. Doolan largely created the opportunity for himself and he was steered the ball beyond the reach of McGovern and, via the inside of the post, into the corner of the net. Five minutes later Falkirk were a whisker away from getting themselves right back into the game, and they would have done so as well had Scott Fox not produced an excellent save to keep out Dale Fulton’s shot that looked destined for the corner of the net. Even then the ball broke loose and Fox again had to save, this time to deny Lyle Taylor. After such a frantic first 15 minutes it was perhaps no great surprise that the game started to settle into a rhythm once even had had the opportunity to draw breath. Thistle were able to move the ball well across the width of the pitch but weren’t able to truly test McGovern after the Falkirk keeper had been forced to pick the ball out his net twice inside the first ten minutes of the game. At the other end, the Thistle defence was well marshalled by Aaron Muirhead and Alan Archibald with Falkirk, Dale Fulton’s shot in the 15th minute aside, restricted to one rather tame header from Lyle Taylor after Stephen Kingsley had crossed from the left hand side.

The opening exchanges of the second half were always likely to be important and in the 53rd minute Falkirk were able to haul themselves right back into the game. Lyle Taylor’s first time shot seemed to catch Scott Fox a little by surprise with the result that the ball flew into the back of the net. Thistle though were able to re-establish their two goal lead in next to no time. Sean Welsh was able to climb above the Falkirk defence to reach a corner from the left. McGovern saved but Kris Doolan was on hand inside the six yard box to poke the ball home. The action was coming thick and fast at this stage and Thistle only just maintained their two goal advantage on the hour mark when the ball crashed back off Scott Fox’s crossbar. In Falkirk’s next attack Blair Alston was able to test Fox with a low drive, but the Thistle keeper was well placed to save. Even with the comfort of a two goal lead Thistle weren’t in any position to relax and in the 77th minute Scott Fox made an important save to keep out Blair Alston’s effort from point blank range. That was the last real moment of anxiety as Thistle went on to complete a deserved 3-1 victory.

Gallery

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Video Highlights

Option 1: with commentary

(credit: Falkirk TV )

Option 2: no commentary

(credits: Camallain / Partick Thistle Television )

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Stats Watch

● In a fan's initiative supported by the club, the North Stand is dubbed "The New Shed" and is now reserved for Partick Thistle fans, looking to increase the volume and improve the atmosphere at Firhill. Fans can stand, drape flags and banter with the away fans who are housed in the North blocks of the Jackie Husband stand. A few hundred turn up on day 1 and are loud and proud, roaring the team on to a superb 3-1 victory.

ongoing sequences:

● 5 consecutive competitive wins, 21st Jul 2012 to date. (Longest run since: 5 wins, 26th Jul 2008 to 12th Aug 2008. Club-record: 10 wins, 22nd Oct 1932 to 26th Dec 1932.)

● 9 competitive games without defeat, 14th Apr 2012 to date. (Longest run since: 9 games, 13th Nov 2010 to 29th Jan 2011. Joint club-record: 16 games, 15th Nov 1975 to 21st Feb 1976 & 30th Sep 2000 to 13th Jan 2001.)

● 41 consecutive competitive appearances for Chris Erskine, 27th Aug 2011 to date, a new personal best. (Longest run since: Kris Doolan - 49 games, 12th Feb 2011 to 3rd Mar 2012. 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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