Friday 8th November, 2019 at 8:00am
Scottish First Division
10th April 2013
Partick Thistle 1 Greenock Morton 0
This match was postponed from 9th April because Thistle had been involved in the Ramsden’s Cup Final two days previously. We wondered in fact whether the disappointment of losing that match on penalty-kicks would have an effect on the morale of the players. We need not have worried on that score because they produced a spirited performance, which was very important because Morton were threatening to derail our much-desired return to the Premier League. We had to fend off their challenge and this was achieved successfully courtesy of a goal by James Craigen after 40 minutes. James made a valuable contribution to the team’s effort, but he was not a regular goalscorer. However, he came up trumps when it most mattered, before a very large attendance by today’s standards. As a matter of fact, the kick-off was delayed from 7:45 to 8:00 to enable the crowd to gain access. It never ceases to amaze me how many people suddenly appear when it’s a crucial game and then vanish immediately. Where do they go? What do they do on a Saturday afternoon thereafter? Good question!
Anyway, this was the team which did the business, when it mattered most:- Scott Fox, Stephen O’Donnell, Aaron Sinclair, Stuart Bannigan, Andy Dowie, Conrad Balatoni, Sean Welsh, James Craigen, Kris Doolan, Ross Forbes, Chris Erskine.
Christie Elliott replaced Chris Erskine for the final 9 tension-filled minutes, which seemed more like 29, while Steven Lawless came on for Ross Forbes with 20 minutes still on the clock.
Morton produced a very stuffy performance, with the familiar figure of Martin Hardie at number 10 while at left back for the Greenock men was Tam O’Ware
Having won the First Division, Thistle went on to enjoy a run of five seasons in the top flight. I say “enjoy” in the broadest sense, because it’s really hard-going up there among the elite. Can we get back there? Time will tell.
Robert R
