Monday 2nd March, 2020 at 2:35pm
Scottish League First Division
Partick Thistle 2 Queen of the South 0
22nd September 2007
Queen of the South is a team against whom Thistle have often won by a significant margin, but that was not the case on this occasion. However, the victory was comfortable and so the points remained at Firhill, and never looked like going anywhere, as Thistle eased to victory with a goal in either half.
The Jags won the toss of the coin, so Queens kicked off, attacking the goal to the right from the Main Stand. Conditions were quite good, although there was a blustery wind to contend with. Thistle fielded the following team:- Craig Hinchcliffe, John Robertson, Simon Storey, Jimmy Gibson, Gary Harkins, Alan Archibald, Scott Chaplain, David Rowson, Liam Buchanan, Mark Roberts, Stevie Murray. The substitutes were as follows:- Johnny Tuffey, Simon Donnelly, Marc Twaddle, Paul Keegan and Kevin McKinlay.
In the visiting team was a fellow by the name of Stephen Dobbie. Fortunately this match came well before he was striking terror into the opposing supporters thanks to his lethal finishing – deadly in and around the penalty area, as we know to our cost. His unique ability to find the net had not yet blossomed.
We had in our ranks an accomplished goalscorer of our own in the shape of Liam Buchanan, who after 11 minutes duly did what he does best, by firing Thistle into the lead. The second, and clinching goal took a bit longer than the home fans would have liked, and didn’t arrive until the 81st minute, courtesy of Kevin McKinlay. It was finally clear that the points were destined to stay at home.
Ian McCall was our manager at the time of the featured match and I quote from his programme notes:-
“Partick Thistle is a great club, a club that people should want to play for and it is that type of player that I want to bring to Firhill”
I think we would all agree heartily with that sentiment.
Now, here is a little teaser for you, not a very easy one, I imagine. Can you identify the player who is featured on the front cover of the programme?
It’s a small world, isn’t it? Playing number 11 for Queens was Neil Scally, who is, of course, one of Ian McCall’s managerial team at Firhill. At number four was Jim Lauchlan, former Thistle player, now manager of Petershill Juniors.
Here ends today’s football history lesson. I hope you found something of interest.
Robert R.
