Thistle Keep Pressure on Saints After Glasgow Derby Heroics
Partick Thistle reign supreme in the Scottish Championship’s Glasgow Derby, destroying local rivals Queen’s Park 5-0 at Firhill Stadium. First half goals from Patrick Reading and Ben Stanway put Mark Wilson’s side ahead at the break, before three goals in the last fifteen minutes from Tsoanelo Letsosa, Logan Chalmers and Luke McBeth completed a derby day rout for the Jags. The result brings Thistle back to winning ways following a defeat last week to Raith, and keeps them only three points behind league leaders St. Johnstone. Patrick Reading got his first goal since the opening day of the season just after quarter of an hour played. A well worked free-kick routine seen Ben Stanway lay him off from the edge of the box, and the left-back unleashed a thunderbolt into the bottom right corner from all of 25 yards out to give Thistle the lead. Play was stopped for about ten minutes 24 minutes in due to a horror injury for Queen’s Park’s Charlie Fox. The centre half collided with Tony Watt on the touchline, and the Englishman was unable to get back to his feet. The referee rightly waved play on, but in a commendable act of good sportsmanship, Watt pleaded for play to be paused for Fox to receive treatment as quickly as possible. The game was halted, and Queen’s Park man was applauded by both sets of fans as he was stretchered off. The home side were able to get that two goal cushion deep into the added time provided from this lengthy stoppage. The ball broke to Ben Stanway, who, not one to be outdone by his teammate Reading, took aim from 20 yards and curled the ball into the top right corner in the final minute of the ten added on. The next goal in the second period was of upmost importance and the away side came agonisingly close to getting this and pulling themselves back into the game with 25 minutes to go. Tyrece McDonnell had an effort tipped over the bar, and from the resultant corner, he had a half volley cannon off the crossbar from the edge of the box. But the third goal of the contest would go Partick Thistle’s way. With just fifteen minutes to play, midfielder Tsoanelo Letsosa put a low ball in from the right hand side, and Logan Chalmers had the easy job of firing it beyond Callum Ferrie to make it 3-0. And just two minutes later, Chalmers turned architect for Letsosa. The winger created space on the left wing, and fizzed a ball across for the 21 year-old to get his name on the scoresheet for second time this campaign. There was time for a fifth to complete the rout. Jags’ Luke McBeth got his head on a cross with the last kick of the game to make it 5-0 as Hawaii Five-0 rang out on the Firhill speakers. Thistle remain second, just three points off leaders St. Johnstone. The Jags travel to bottom of the league Airdrie on Friday night in an aim to reduce the gap to zero, for less than a day at least. As for Queen’s Park, they are looking to end their winless run at home to Barry Robson’ s Raith Rovers on next Saturday but will be without Charlie Fox who has started every game for the Spiders so far this term. PARTICK THISTLE: Clarke 5, Reading 8, O’Reilly 7, McBeth 6, McPherson 5 (Logan 78’ 1), Smyth 6, Fitzpatrick 5 (Lawless 68’ 2), Letsosa 7 (McArdle 78’ 1), Stanway 6 (Turner 46’ 5), Chalmers 8, Watt 6 (Samuel 68’ 2) QUEEN’S PARK: Ferrie 6, Pignatiello 4, Murray 4, Fox 2 (Friel 4 32’), Shiels 4, Savoury 5 (Sowa 82’ 1) Longridge 4, Connolly 4, Drozd 3 (McDonnell 62’ 4), McLean 5 (Carrick 62’ 2) Fowler 5 (Waugh 82’ 1)
Falkirk 3 – 1 Kilmarnock: Furious First Half Performance Seals Home Win for The Bairns
Falkirk 3-1 Kilmarnock Williams (7′) MacIver (22′) Millar (38′) John-Jules (69′) Falkirk enjoyed a comfortable win over Kilmarnock to move back into the top six, thanks to a brilliant first-half attacking performance. The Bairns started quickly, eager to add their second home victory of the season. Calvin Millar dispossessed the Kilmarnock defence on the edge of the box, but Tobi Oluwayemi easily gathered his left-footed strike. Falkirk opened the scoring in the 7th minute, Millar’s delicate pass was gathered by Ethan Williams, who rounded Oluwayemi to slot home. The offside flag was quickly raised, but VAR overturned the decision to the delight of the home faithful. Falkirk had space to attack at will in the first half. Williams and Kyrell Wilson linked on the left edge of the box, with the latter going down in the box, which David Dickinson quickly waved off. The home side continued to contain their opposition, and Ross MacIver doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute. The striker was quickest to react to Wilson’s parried shot, and he sidefooted the rebound past the stranded Oluwayemi. Kilmarnock have lost three of their last four league encounters, and were booed by their visiting support following the second goal. Falkirk’s energetic nature continually unsettled Stuart Kettlewell’s men in a dominant first half. Goalscorer MacIver hobbled off on the half-hour mark, but Falkirk continued to carry a threat. Keelan Adams marauded down the right with a signature run, skinning Dom Thompson, but blazing over. Wilson dragged a left-footed shot wide in the 35th minute as Falkirk searched for a third. That goal arrived shortly after, thanks to Millar. The winger collected Williams’ pass and drilled a low strike through Oluwayemi’s legs. The goal signalled the end for some Killie fans, who opted for an early exit. Unsurprisingly, Kettlewell opted for a triple change at the start of the second half. Marcus Dackers, Tyreece John-Jules, and Tom Lowery were added in an attempt to reduce the home side’s advantage. The visitors thought they had scored after Robbie Deas headed home from a corner, but play was brought back as Deas collided with Scott Bain in the build-up. Bain pushed John-Jules’ low strike past the post in the 52nd minute as their positive response continued. Thompson marauded down Kilmarnock’s left in the 58th minute; his powerful shot was gathered by Bain again. Falkirk’s attacking players had stolen the first-half headlines, but their goalkeeper was proving his worth to maintain their clean sheet. Kilmarnock’s frustrating afternoon continued in the 66th minute, when Bruce Anderson was unable to evade the offside trap after slotting home. But they did open their account moments later. John-Jules, who had looked lively off the bench, swivelled in the box and blasted home to reduce Falkirk’s advantage. Falkirk saw out the game, which pushes them into the top 6; they welcome Livingston next weekend. Kettlewell’s side showed fight in the second period, but must improve for their trip to Celtic Park next Sunday. Falkirk: Bain 8 Adams 8 Henderson 8 Spencer 8 MacIver 7 Cartwright 7 Allan 8 Wilson 8 Lissah 8 Williams 9 Miller 8 Substitutes: Graham 7 Agyeman 7 Ross 6 Arfield 6 Tait 6 Kilmarnock: Oluwayemi 6 Brannan 5 Stanger 5 Deas 5 Thompson 6 McKenzie 6 Watson 6 Lyons 5 Tiffony 5 Anderson 5 Dackers 4 Substitutes: Brown 5 Lowery 5 John-Jules 6 Kiltie 5
