4th Sep 2021 Stranraer 0 Partick Thistle 2 (Challenge Cup 2nd Round)

matches:2021-22: ← 11game 1213 →

	Jamie Hamill	Ian McCall	56y, 11m, 5d

		Connor Murray; Ross MacIver; Cammy Smith
		Kyle Turner; Brian Graham; Zak Rudden

		Tunji Akinola (1-0, 12 mins); Kevin Holt (2-0, 90‎+‎2 mins)
		Ross Docherty (1-0, 12 mins); none (2-0, 90‎+‎2 mins)


Ross Irving (Matty Yates, 57 mins); Broque Watson (Joe Moore, 84 mins); Josh Rennie (Josh Walker, 84 mins)		Ross MacIver (Brian Graham, 65 mins); Connor Murray (Kyle Turner, 65 mins); Stuart Bannigan (Ben Stanway, 90+2 mins); Scott Tiffoney (Ji Stevenson, 90+2 mins)

	former Jag Luke Scullion	Jamie Sneddon	23y, 11m, 29d
	Craig Ross	Shea Gordon	23y, 3m, 19d
	Sean Burns	Richard Foster	36y, 1m, 4d
	Ayrton Sonkur	Tunji Akinola	22y, 9m, 14d
	former Jag Scott Robertson	Kevin Holt	28y, 7m, 10d
	Grant Gallagher	Stuart Bannigan	28y, 11m, 18d
	Broque Watson	Ross Docherty	28y, 7m, 12d
	Ross Smith	Connor Murray	24y, 4m, 11d
	Ross Irving	Ross MacIver	22y, 6m, 7d
	Josh Rennie	Cammy Smith	26y, 0m, 11d
	Paul Woods	Scott Tiffoney	23y, 0m, 9d

			26y, 2m, 17d

		Mason McCready	18y, 5m, 30d
	Emile N'Goy	Kyle Turner	23y, 9m, 25d
	Josh Walker	Brian Graham	33y, 9m, 12d
	Joe Moore	Ben Stanway	16y, 11m, 15d
	Matty Yates	Ji Stevenson	16y, 1m, 6d
	Sean McIntosh	Oliver Black	17y, 1m, 30d
	John Gallacher	Matthew Collins	18y, 8m, 0d

notes

Both sides generally in playing order.
Stranraer filled only 5 of their 7 allocated bench slots, with no listed goalkeeper.

TTA report

598 saw Thistle dominate the first half. Akinola pivoted and found the top corner (12) but lack of a ruthless cutting edge was obvious. After half-time Stranraer saw their chance and had more of the game but they made little impression in the final third. A header by Holt (90+2) settled things but on chances it should have been far more.

Media report

Ben Banks, 04-Sep-2021, Not The Old Firm

Tunji Akinola’s first goal since swapping West Ham United for Partick Thistle secured the Firhill club’s SPFL Trust Trophy 2-0 win over Stranraer. The West Ham United academy graduate joined Ian McCall’s side last month and his maiden goal for the Jags sealed a victory over League Two opposition. McCall’s team had chances to double their lead and progression to the third round was secured in stoppage time as Kevin Holt put one into the net. Akinola’s goal came after Ross MacIver had a shot blocked from a corner. The versatile defender picked up the loose ball, firing hard into the net. Akinola arrived at Thistle on the advice of West Ham United manager David Moyes and he has shown his potential in the opening three matches in Scotland.

Jamie Sneddon in the Thistle goal was called into action twice in the first half as Stranraer attacked but it was a game in which the away side controlled. MacIver had another couple of chances, as did Connor Murray. Thistle had it in the net towards the end of the match but it was ruled out by officials for an infringement. Holt would end the match in the closing stages as another corner caused Stranraer problems. It was partially cleared and Holt followed up to make sure Partick Thistle would not be surprised by lower league opposition.

Reaction

Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall (speaking to Jagzone):

It’s good to get the win first and foremost and I was really happy with the first half performance. We were well on top and should have scored a couple more at least but at the end of the day we’re through and that’s what it’s all about in cup football. We used the wide areas well in the first half and created some really good chances but just weren’t ruthless enough when in front of goal and with the score at 1-0 it was still game on going into the second half. Credit to Stranraer though, they came out after half-time and pushed us right to the very end. Tunji and Kevin looked very good together again, winning headers and making blocks so I was happy with how we dealt with what Stranraer threw at us.

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