SPFL Development League
Tue 14 March, 2017. Kick Off: - 18:00
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie
Following a 3-0 victory over Dundee last Tuesday, the Partick Thistle development side returned to action against third place Motherwell at the Excelsior Stadium as the Young Jags looked to make it back-to-back wins. The last time these teams met was in the SFA Youth Cup when Motherwell came out 4-3 victors thanks to an 86th minute winner from Dylan Mackin.
It was the same starting line-up that began the game against Dundee last Tuesday with Connor Cullen in goal behind a back five of Lee Duncanson, Ross Fleming, Edin Lynch, Ian Stokes and John Kelly. Andrew McCarthy, Dominic Docherty and Mark Lamont created a midfield three with Lamont being the most advanced of the trio. Neil McLaughlin and Kevin Nisbet started up front.
There was no time to breathe as the game began with the match getting off to a speedy start. Within six minutes, Motherwell were able to take the lead. A deep cross from the left hand side found Jacob Blyth and the big man directed a looping header towards goal. As Cullen tried to get something on the ball it seemed to move in the air and dropped into the net as the Thistle custodian collided with the upright.
Despite this early setback, the young Jags were not deterred as they equalised two minutes later. The instant response came through Neil McLaughlin. Mark Lamont curled a free-kick into the box from the left which the ‘Well defence failed to clear. The ball then dropped to Neil McLaughlin who took a touch before rifling home.
The early scoring continued as things stayed level for the same amount of time that Motherwell were ahead. The goal came through McLaughlin once again. The move can be sourced back to some strong hold-up play by Kevin Nisbet on the half-way line before he passed it to Dominic Docherty who was bursting forward. Docherty then fed the ball to Neil McLaughlin who used quick feet to create some space away from his marker. The forward then cleverly slotted the ball past the outrushing goalkeeper, into the far corner.
Now that Thistle had the lead, they would be looking to hold onto it for longer than their opponents did and they were able to, but not by much. Shea Gordon was the man who netted the ‘Well equaliser in the 14th minute and it was another headed goal. Thomas Fry whipped a cross in from the right-hand side and found Gordon who headed low into the bottom corner making it 2-2 within 15 minutes.
The game then settled down a bit and it was a whopping eight minutes until we saw another goal. Once again, Mark Lamont was at the centre of things. Lamont was given the ball and had a chance to run at the last man. As he approached the 18-yard box he had options to both his left and his right but the midfielder opted to shoot. His curled attempt rebounded off the post but fortunately for Lamont landed at the feet of Andrew McCarthy who simply tapped home into an open net.
In the 26th minute, Motherwell were claiming for a penalty that would have given the ‘Well a golden opportunity to equalise. A high ball was floated in the direction of Jacob Blyth who went down after feeling some contact from Edin Lynch behind him, however, the referee waved play on despite plenty of claims form the boys in claret and amber.
With seven minutes of the first half left, Motherwell would have been looking to make it to the break just a goal behind. Unfortunately for the Steelmen, they weren’t able to and it was Dominic Docherty with the goal. The scorer of Thistle’s third, Andrew McCarthy, turned provider for their fourth as his right-footed cross found Docherty. The midfielder then cleverly headed back across goal into the bottom corner out of the goalkeeper’s reach.
Just as everyone thought that the first half’s scoring was over, Thistle had one goal left in them. With three minutes left in the opening period, Lee Duncanson was able to beat his man on the right flank and delivered an excellent ball into the box where Neil McLaughlin was waiting. The striker then half-volleyed into the back off the net with a first-time strike scoring his fourth hat-trick of the season in the process.
After the fifth Thistle goal, the referee would finally blow the half-time whistle, bringing an action-packed first 45 minutes to an end. Single goals from Dominic Docherty and Andrew McCarthy along with Neil McLaughlin’s first-half hat-trick meant the score was 5-2 at the interval. Scott MacKenzie could be pleased with the spirit of his team as they came back from going behind early and being pegged back to 2-2.
When the teams returned to the pitch, Thistle almost scored within a minute. After Joe Chalmers misjudged the bounce of the ball, Kevin Nisbet latched onto it and ran at the Motherwell backline. He managed to get a shot away which was pretty much straight at the ‘keeper but Oliver Pain made a hash of it and had to turn it behind for a corner.
Although on that occasion Nisbet was denied, he would get his goal. Neil McLaughlin fired a low pass into Nisbet’s feet. The striker controlled well before rushing past his man. Nisbet was then bearing down on goal and finished smartly across to make it 6-2. The sixth strike makes it the young Jags’ highest goal haul from a single league match this season.
With 64 minutes gone, Jacob Blyth almost pulled one back for the ‘Well when he nearly got on the end of a Livingstone cross from the left. The curled ball into the centre landed in front of the target man but, on the slide, he was unable to find the target.
Motherwell would pull one back through substitute Dylan Mackin. Jake Hastie found Mackin at the back post who was then able to nod home past Cullen to make the score 6-3.
In the 74th minute, the Jags almost scored through a substitute of their own, Callum Wilson. After some truly brilliant build-up play James Stokes reversed a ball into Wilson’s path. The midfielder got a toe to the ball but couldn’t lift it over the outrushing ‘keeper as the deficit remained at three goals.
In the final 15 minutes, Thistle saw the game out in a professional manner, allowing no real chances for the Motherwell side to get back in the game whatsoever and they were able to keep the score at 6-3 until full time.
After an action-packed first-half, the second period couldn’t quite live up to the high standards set before it. Two goals in the second half, one for each side left the score at 6-3. Overall, a great day for the young Jags, especially the attack. The star man was undoubtedly Neil McLaughlin who scored three first-half goals to claim his fourth hat-trick of the season.
Scott MacKenzie’s development side now turn their attentions to next Tuesday’s league clash with St. Mirren at the Excelsior Stadium once again, kick-off is at 18:00.
Tue 14 March, 2017
SPFL Development League 
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie
After an action-packed first-half, the second period couldn't quite live up to the high standards set before it.
Two goals in the second half, one for each side. Kevin Nisbet scored in the 59th minute before 'Well substitute Dylan Mackin made it 6-3.
Overall, a great day for the young Jags, especially the attack. The star man was undoubtedly Neil McLaughlin who scored three first-half goals to claim his fourth hat-trick of the season.
A Dylan Mackin shot from 20 yards is straight at Cullen and it's caught easily.
The Jags 'keeper is booked for time-wasting.
Tonight's JagZone Man of the Match is hat-trick hero, Neil McLaughlin.
Docherty is fouled 25 yards from goal. The resulting set-piece is played short and comes to nothing. Goal kick to Motherwell.
Hastie hits a deep cross towards Turnbull at the back post. The ball reaches the 'Well man but his volleyed attempt is somewhat scuffed and goes wide of the near post.
After some truly brilliant build-up play James Stokes reversed a ball into Callum Wilson's path. The midfielder got a toe to the ball but couldn't lift it over the outrushing 'keeper.
Jake Hastie finds the substitute Dylan Mackin at the back post and he heads beyond Cullen to pull one back for the Steelmen.
Lynch is booked after a number of fouls throughout the match.
A loose ball drops to Gordon who volleys from just outside the box but it goes ten yards over Cullen's bar.
Livingstone finds Blyth in the centre with a curled cross but Blyth's sliding effort is wide.
Turnbull finds the space to shoots from 20 yards but Cullen s able to parry and when the shot comes in on the second phase of play Cullen can catch safely.
Neil McLaughlin fires a powerful pass into Kevin Nisbet who controls very well before bursting past his man and through on goal. He then finishes well across goal with his right-foot.
After Turnbull fouled Fleming, Lamont whipped the resultant set-piece into the box but it comes to nothing in the end.
After Chalmers misjudges the ball Nisbet runs at the Motherwell backline before shooting. It goes straight at the 'keeper but he has to turn it behind.
What an incredible 45 minutes!
Things started very poorly for the Jags as they fell behind after just seven minutes but two quick fire goals in the ninth and eleventh minutes left Thistle ahead.
The ' Well got themselves back in the game in the 15th minute when Hastie headed home to draw level.
Thistle then regained the lead in the 23rd minute when Andrew McCarthy benefitted from Lamont's shot rebounding off the post, leaving him with an open net to score into.
The scoring wasn't finished there. With six minutes until the interval, Dominic Docherty got on the end of an Andrew McCarthy cross to head his side further into the lead. Docherty's goal signalled the first point of the match where a two goal deficit was enjoyed by either team.
Even here, there was another goal to come. In the 43rd minute, Lee Duncanson beat his man on the right flank excellently before picking Neil McLaughlin out with a cross. McLaughlin hit home on the half-volley with a first-time shot sealing his fourth hat-trick of the season.
Finally, the referee whistled for half-time and everyone was able to breath. Seven goals shared between the sides and to the Jags' delight, they are three goals up.
Neil McLaughlin completes his hat-trick! Lee Duncanson is able to beat his man on the right wing before whipping a cross in. The ball finds McLaughlin who half-volleys home with a frist time shot.
Motherwell have a central free-kick around 25 yards out. Turnbull takes but it's a couple of yards too high.
Andrew McCarthy has the ball on the right and cuts onto his right-foot to cross. He is able to pick out Dominic Docherty who simply heads back across goal into the bottom corner, out of the goalkeeper's reach.
McCarthy picks the ball up 30 yards from goal and opts to shoot. The shot ends up going quite a way over the bar and high into the stands behind the goal.
After Fleming held the ball up well, he gave it to Neil McLaughlin. He proceeded to shoot from range but it way off target.
The resulting free kick finds Blyth in the box but he is unable to direct his attempt towards goal and it's a Thistle goal kick.
McCarthy is booked for a trip on Campbell.
Penalty claim for the 'Well. A floated ball comes into the Jags' box towards Blyth. The target man tries to chest it but feels contact from behind in the form of Edin Lynch. Blyth then goes down claiming for a penalty bu the referee waves play on.
Edin Lynch is given the ball just inside the Motherwell half. The defender then takes a couple of strides before shooting from 40 yards. Unfortunately, it's straight at the 'keeper and he is able to catch.
Mark Lamont is fed the ball and has a clear run at the last man. He has options to his left and right but elects to shoot. His curled attempt comes off the post but falls to Andrew McCarthy who simply taps home into the open net.
Thomas Fry takes the corner for Motherwell and he finds Barry Maguire. The defender can only glance the header though and it goes for a goalkick.
Thomas Fry whips a cross in from the right and Shea Gordon gets on the end of it. Fry then heads past Cullen to level things up once again.
A high ball gets in behind the Thistle back line and Livingstone is running onto it however the number three can't get enough on it and it goes wide.
Kevin Nisbet is given the ball by Mark Lamont. The forward then turns inside as he tried to open up for a right-footed shot. He is able to get a shot away but it goes slightly wide of the near post.
Thistle pick up the ball and have a chance to counter, Kevin Nisbet holds it up around the half-way line and plays it to Docherty who is bursting forward. He then feeds McLaughlin who creates some space away from his man before finishing low across goal with his left foot.
An instant response from Thistle!
Mark Lamont whips a free kick in from the left flank and the ball isn't cleared. Neil McLaughlin is first to it and set himself before firing home. It looked as if it may have taken a slight touch off McCarthy on the way through but it doesn't matter as Thistle are level.
A cross comes in from the left wing and it finds Jacob Blyth. The striker heads back across goal with a looping header. Cullen begins to move towards the ball but collides with the post as the ball dipped under the bar and into the net.
Good work from Ross Fleming ends with a blocked cross.
Blyth gets the game underway. The Jags are in their white away kit shooting from right to left from our view.
Following a 3-0 victory over Dundee last Tuesday, the Partick Thistle development side return to action against 3rd place Motherwell at the Excelsior Stadium tonight.
It's the same starting line-up that began the game against Dundee last Tuesday with Connor Cullen in goal behind a back five of Lee Duncanson, Ross Fleming, Edin Lynch, Ian Stokes and John Kelly. Andrew McCarthy, Dominic Docherty and Mark Lamont create a midfield three with Lamont being the most advanced of the trio. Neil McLaughlin and Kevin Nisbet start up front.
The last time these teams met was in the SFA Youth Cup when Motherwell came out 4-3 winners thanks to an 86th minute winner from Dylan Mackin.