The Thistle Archive

Euan Robertson, 03-Jul-2021, Daily Record

Gospel Ocholi scored a last-minute winner to hand Partick Thistle a win over East Kilbride. Kilby welcomed the Championship side for a tough pre-season test but they held their own. Brian Graham fired Thistle ahead on 30 minutes before Neil McLaughlin equalised with ten minutes to go. The game was heading for a draw before Thistle youngster Ocholi scored a brilliant late winner.

Stevie Aitken handed as start to trialist Blair Richardson at centre-back and the EK boss named four trialists on the bench - Shaun Rodgers, Sean Slaven, Alexander McCaw and Dillon Orr. Partick Thistle were without some key players through injury but Ian McCall named a strong side with former EK defender Steven Bell in defence. The opening stages felt very much like a pre-season game due to the slow tempo as both sides enjoyed spells in possession. Kilby created the first chance on eight minutes when defender Steven Old connected with a corner but Richard Foster cleared off the line for Thistle. McCall's side responded well and Brian Graham almost connected with Connor Murray's deep cross on 13 minutes but it sailed behind to safety. Minutes later, Ross MacIver burst through on goal for the Jags after a miscommunication in the East Kilbride defence but he blazed wildly over.

Kilby looked comfortable against their Championship opposition and they spurned a brilliant opportunity on 20 minutes. James Stevenson played a pinpoint diagonal pass over the defence for Neil McLaughlin but the former Thistle academy graduate couldn't bring the ball under control and Jamie Sneddon thwarted the danger. A corner fell invitingly in the six-yard box for the 35-year-old but he dallied on the ball as he looked to the linesman and the chance was gone. The Lowland League side were punished minutes later when Brian Graham fired past Connor Brennan to give Thistle the lead. Ex-Kilmarnock goalkeeper Brennan couldn't do much about Thistle's opener but he made an excellent save to deny Connor Murray just before the break.

East Kilbride continued to threaten after the break and Craig Malcolm forced Sneddon into a brilliant low save on 57 minutes. Defender Old looked Kilby's biggest goal threat and he powered a header towards goal on the hour but it hit Malcolm and flew over the ball. Both managers made a host of changes for the final twenty minutes with former Hamilton Accies striker Sean Slaven entering the fray for Kilby. McLaughlin was East Kilbride's best player throughout the game and he capped an excellent performance with an equaliser on 80 minutes. The 22-year-old weaved past Kevin Holt before arrowing a lovely finish across goal into the bottom corner off the post. Ocholi scored a brilliant winner after cutting in from the right to fire past Brennan from range.

Partick Thistle coach Alan Archibald, via ptfc.co.uk

It's good to get the victory, but more important to get the workout. Obviously we've got the game on Monday night and we took that into consideration with selection and the minutes guys got on the pitch. The majority of those older guys will get a lot longer on Monday; we had pre-planned the subs regardless of the result. We brought the young lads into training with us this week and the first thing we noticed about them was their demeanour. They looked good players and they wanted the ball. They weren't shy - in a good way - and they showed that today again. They really showed up really well and I'm delighted for them.

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A DAY OF MANY FIRSTS

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