Sunday 30th April, 2023 at 10:00pm
After a blank weekend Thistle returned to action with the visit of league leaders Glasgow City to Petershill Park. There was a welcome boost for Thistle ahead of the tough challenge that awaited them with the return from suspension of Clare Docherty, Docherty slotting straight back into the right back that she has filled with such distinction all season.
There was no gentle introduction back for Docherty as City, reeling from three straight defeats, set out to establish an early advantage. Megan Cunningham, who would pick up the match sponsors Player of the Match award, demonstrated good positioning and handling to save a well struck effort from Prades Insa while Chinchilla found the Thistle keeper as equally difficult to get the ball past when she was presented with an opportunity inside the box.
In general though, and despite City seeing the lion’s share of possession, the Thistle defence were able to restrict the opportunities that came the way of the away side. Captain Demi Falconer was leading by example in the heart of the Thistle defence and one perfectly judged challenge inside the Thistle box halted a City attack with the referee quite correctly ignoring the frantic City appeals for a penalty.
As much as City were doing the bulk the attacking it was anything but one way traffic in the opening 45 minutes with Thistle coming forward whenever they could. A Cara Henderson shot came close and the same player nearly got clear in behind the City rear guard during Thistle’s best spell in the game.
With the first half deep into injury time it looked as if Thistle would go into the dressing room at the interval with a merited 0-0 score. It was cruel then that City, after an admittedly concerted period of pressure, netted the game’s opening goal almost right on the stroke of half-time when Prades Insa’s shot from the edge of the box beat Cunningham.
City were a whisker away from doubling their lead early in the second half when Davidson saw her shot come off the base of Cunningham’s right-hand post with Chinchilla lashing the rebound high over the crossbar.
Just before the hour mark though City were able to score a decisive second goal when Davidson fired home after Thistle had done well to clear Motlhalo’s effort off the line.
Chinchilla spurned a great opportunity in front of the Thistle goal as City looked to press home their advantage and Cunningham made an excellent stop in tipping a long range effort from Lauder over the bar.
This Thistle side rarely if ever stop fighting and although it was becoming increasingly likely that the points would be going the way of City, Thistle fought right to the very end and the pace of substitute of Imogen Longcake nearly got her clear of the City defence, but she was tackled before managing to get an effort on target.
Despite the defeat this was another brave display from a Thistle side who continue to be competitive in the top six.
