Tuesday 5th July, 2016 at 10:00pm
Thistle travelled to Fife to face Raith Rovers for the first time since the Jags promotion campaign in 2012/13. With a number of trialists in both sides there was a chance to impress on a sunny evening in Kirkcaldy.
Raith started the brighter side and early on Kevin McHattie fizzed a low effort across goal following a deep free kick. Thistle’s passing wasn’t as crisp as manager Alan Archibald would like and this gave Raith a number of opportunities, but they were unable to seriously test Thistle’s trialist goalkeeper throughout the ninety minutes.
Penrice was having an impressive game in both areas of the pitch. From his pinpoint corner delivery, Devine was denied a goal by a home defender block while at the other end a goal saving tackle denied Raith’ trialist 18 when clean through on goal.
The second half was disrupted with a number of substitutes used seeing Amoo, Erskine, Pogba, Azeez, McInally and McCarthy introduced to the action.
Kevin McHattie smashed a loose clearance into the side netting before Sean Welsh had Thistle’s first effort on 55 minutes. His wild drive from distance flew into the empty stand.
Raith Rovers introduced a new trialist and he nodded wide from a cross before being able to advance a significant length of the pitch to shoot straight at the goalkeeper. The young trialist also had to look lively to tip over Kevin McHattie’s effort which appeared to be sneaking in.
The game became stretched in the closing stages as both sides looked to nick it but Thistle didn’t record a shot on target until the 89th minute when Cuthbert parried a volley from McCarthy.
It was a worthwhile night’s work from Alan Archibald’s side but the game won’t live long in the memory.
