Friendly
Sat 26 June, 2021. Kick Off: - 14:00
New Central Park, Kelty
Ticket Information:
Kelty Hearts have announced that a limited number of supporters will be allowed into the stadium to watch this Saturday’s pre-season friendly.
There will be 200 tickets available for sale for Partick Thistle supporters, priced at £10 for adults and £6 for concessions.
To purchase a ticket for Saturday’s friendly please visit the Kelty Hearts website by clicking here
Tickets will be sold through Kelty’s ticketing supplier – fanbase.
ALL TICKETS FOR THIS MATCH WILL BE SOLD THROUGH KELTY HEARTS. PARTICK THISTLE WILL RECIEVE NO TICKETS TO SELL AT FIRHILL OR THROUGH OUR CHANNELS.
Just short of two months on from the end of their title-winning League One campaign, Partick Thistle got their 2021/22 pre-season friendly schedule underway against Kelty Hearts this afternoon at New Central Park.
Taking on Kevin Thomson’s SPFL new-boys, Thistle set out with both of their brand new signings in the first XI as Kevin Holt lined up in defence and Kyle Turner started in the midfield. Steven Bell and Ross MacIver both also featured from the start having made their loan moves permanent over the summer.
Thistle carved out the first opportunity of the game as Connor Murray received the ball on the Jags’ left flank and cut in onto his right foot. He took aim from around 20 yards out and forced Darren Jamieson into a save via a deflection with the Kelty ‘stopper getting down to his left to turn the ball behind.
The two teams took turns controlling possession throughout the opening stages but it was the hosts who eventually made the breakthrough with 27 minutes gone. After the second phase of a Thistle corner was cleared, Kallum Higginbotham picked the ball up around the half way line before spreading the play out to the left hand side where Michael Tidser was advancing. The ex-Morton man took a few quick touches before picking out the bottom corner with a well-placed finish to put his side ahead.
The red and yellow response was sharp as Ian McCall’s side restored parity within four minutes of the opener. Ross Docherty lofted a ball towards Brian Graham in the Kelty box and the number nine flicked it on to Kyle Turner at the edge of the box. Thistle’s number six took a touch on his chest before rifling a half-volley into the bottom corner of the net to make it 1-1.
The home side hit the front once again in the 50th minute when Nathan Austin struck. The goal came from some good work by ex-Thistle loanee Jamie Barjonas who moved swiftly towards the Jags box before feeding the ball through to Austin. The former East Fife forward wasted no time in firing a left-footed shot past Jamie Sneddon at the near post, putting Kelty in control again.
It took the visitors a bit longer to bounce back this time around but, nevertheless, a leveller was forthcoming with an hour gone. It came through some very patient build-up play that concluded with Kyle Turner feeding Ross Docherty who in turn knocked the ball around the corner to Shea Gordon who emphatically struck the ball past Darren Jamieson.
Gordon could have had another five minutes later when Brian Graham teed him up with a square pass across the six-yard box, however, as the midfielder sought to knock the ball into the net, he got his legs tangled and wasn’t able to make proper contact.
The third did eventually come though for Thistle and it was from the penalty spot. Substitute Ciaran McKenna found Ross MacIver with a low cross and after a couple of touches, the striker was taken down by Michael Tidser with the referee in no doubt as he pointed to the spot. Brian Graham stepped up to take the spot kick and confidently scored from 12 yards, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
That proved to be the winner as Thistle got their pre-season fixtures underway with a win. Next up for the Maryhill men is an away friendly against East Kilbride next Saturday.
Sat 26 June, 2021
Friendly 
New Central Park, Kelty
Thistle begin their pre-season build-up with a hard fought win over league new boys Kelty twice coming from behind to claim a 3-2 win.
Kyle Turner, Shea Gordon and Brian Graham, via the penalty sspot, being the Thistle scorers.
Just for a second McGinty looks as if he might be in behind the Thistle defence but Holt is across quickly with the flag going up for offside in any case.
Niang's strength allows him to win the ball inside the Kelty box. He lays the ball back to Lyon who leans back a little as he tries to find the top corner with the result that his shot is a little too high.
A Russell shot goes well over the Thistle crossbar.
Tidser's free kick hits the Thistle wall and spins away from goal.
Kelty have a free kick about 30 yards out but in a central position.
McKenna does well to get a cross over from the right but can't get enough height on the cross to find MacIver lurking at the back post.
It's Brian Graham that takes the penalty and he slams the ball home.
MacIver has the legs taken from him for an obvious penalty.
Thistle open up the Kelty defence with some slick passing. Graham squares the ball to Gordon who really should score but he looses his balance and slices the ball away from goal.
Reilly tries an effort from fully 40 yards out but can't catch Sneddon out who claims the ball underneath his crossbar.
It's a second Thistle equaliser. Docherty lays a pass into the path of Gordon at the right side of the box and his powerful shot goes high into the back of the Kelty net.
Foster puts the ball through a defender's legs before drilling in a low cross from the right that is cleared.
The ball is played into the feet of Austin inside the box and showing some real sharpness the Kelty striker buries a shot past Sneddon.
Higginbotham gets the free kick beyond the Thistle wall but Sneddon is well placed to save.
The Trialist is short with a headed pass back and his nudge on Austin wins Kelty a free kick and earns him a booking.
An excellent cross from the right from Turner is just a shade too high for Graham at the back post.
It's all square at the break in what has been a keenly contested friendly.
Tidser gave the home side the lead after 27 minutes with a shot that evaded the reach of Sneddon before Kyle Turner levelled things just three minutes later with his own effort from the edge of the penalty box.
The referee spots an infringement as Cardle's corner comes over and Thistle have a free kick.
Brownlie does well to head clear Cardle's cross from the left.
Murray has the chance for a shot inside the Kelty box but delays too long and the ball is cleared.
Thistle aren't behind for long. MacIver does well to hold the ball up for Turner whose low shot from the edge of he box beats Jamieson.
Holt takes the free kick and it clips the top of the wall earning Thistle a corner.
Graham does well to win the ball back and then earns Thistle have a free kick near the edge of the box when he has his feet taken from under him.
When Thistle are unable to make anything of the corner, Kelty come forward and when the ball is worked to the feet of Tidser a yard or so outside the Thistle his shot evades the reach of Sneddon and finds the bottom corner.
It's an excellent ball in from Cardle that Thistle are hard pressed to clear.
Turner takes the free kick and although MacIver is able to flick the ball on it is an easy catch for Jamieson.
Graham is caught late and Thistle will have a free kick wide on the left.
The free kick is perhaps a shade too wide for a direct effort on goal and Tidser delivers it towards the back post where Austin is unable to prevent the ball going out for a goal kick.
Kelty win a free kick about 30 yards or so from the Thistle goal.
Turner collects a poor clearance but his shot from just outside the Kelty Box goes wide of Jamieson's left hand post.
Murray's shot from the left hand corner of the Kelty box is touched round the post for the game's first corner kick.
Foster's cross from the right is headed clear as Thistle string a series of passes together.
Thistle get the game underway.
There may just be a couple of hundred Thistle fans inside New Central Park, Kelty for this afternoon's pre-season friendly but it is a wonderful sight all the same.
On the pitch there are plenty of familiar faces, on both teams.
Thistle start with 9 of the team that formed part of last season's title winning squad with starts also for new signings Kyle Turner and Kevin Holt starting although Ross MacIver is also, technically, a new signing.
The Kelty side includes three former Partick Thistle players, Joe Cardle, Kallum Higginbotham and Jamie Borjanas.