SPFL Development League
Tue 10 October, 2017. Kick Off: - 19:00
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
After two successive victories against Hamilton and Aberdeen in the development league, the Partick Thistle development side looked for their first run of three wins in a row since this time last year. The opponents were a struggling Kilmarnock side and the venue was Rugby Park.
Following a couple of matches using a three centre-half set-up, Scott MacKenzie reverted to a back four for the clash. Jamie Sneddon returned to the starting 11 in goals replacing the trialist who played in nets last week. Said trialist actually signed with the Jags and Jamie Stevenson was the substitute goalkeeper this evening.
The back four comprised of Lee Duncanson, a trialist, John Kelly and Ross Fleming. Callum Wilson and Mark Lamont sat at the base of the midfield while Aidan Fitzpatrick, Neil McLaughlin, Connor Higgins and Kevin Nisbet formed a front four that remained positionally fluid for the duration of the game.
The young Jags started sharply and had a great chance within a minute of kick-off. A speedy one-two between Connor Higgins and Kevin Nisbet meant the latter was through on goal. Nisbet took his time but did get his shot away, however, his low drive was saved by the legs of Curtis Lyle in the Killie goal.
Thistle were the more creative of the two sides in the opening stages and almost scored again in the 14th minute through Connor Higgins. Callum Wilson fed the ball to the number ten, between Kilmarnock’s centre-halves, and Higgins had a chance to stride into the box. He instead decided to shoot from range but could only sting the palms of Curtis Lyle who turned Higgins’ powerful effort away from goal.
The visitors continued to look dangerous; creating three half chances between the 20th minute and the half hour mark. Neil McLaughlin had one shot saved and saw one go the wrong side of the post as he looked to add to his impressive tally from the start of the new season. Kevin Nisbet also had an opportunity but his tame shot from 20 yards was collected easily by Curtis Lyle.
Jamie Sneddon was forced into his first serious save of the game in the 35th minute. An excellent Killie cut back found the late run of Josh Jeffries. The hosts’ number eight then shot high on goal but Sneddon was able to turn the attempt over the bar.
After the home side’s first big chance of the game, the away team should have taken the lead. With four minutes left of the first half, Neil McLaughlin lifted an excellent ball into Kevin Nisbet’s path, delicately picking out his strike partner who was now in on goal. It looked like it was going to be a bread and butter Kevin Nisbet goal but the ex-Ayr United loanee blazed his shot over the bar.
Nisbet did make amends though, when he opened the scoring in the 44th minute. A cross from the Thistle right found its way to Ross Fleming on the Jags’ left. He then slotted a low ball back into the danger zone, finding Neil McLaughlin. Neil’s first touch let him down but the loose ball fell to Kevin Nisbet who poked home from a matter of yards, making it 1-0 to the travelling Jags.
The game went into half-time at 1-0 and with the Jags in the lead, and Scott MacKenzie looking for more of the same after the break – few Killie chances afforded and plenty created.
Thistle began the second period well just as they had the first. In the 52nd minute Curtis Lyle had to turn Ross Fleming’s near post shot behind and he was forced into action again in the 57tb minute when he turned an Aidan Fitzpatrick attempt past his left-hand post.
The young Jags had a golden opportunity to double the deficit through Neil McLaughlin in the 67th minute. Mark Lamont launched a deep free-kick into the Killie box from just inside the attacking half and picked out Kevin Nisbet. Nisbet then headed the ball across goal to McLaughlin who just had to tap it home to make it two but he horribly misjudged it and saw his poor attempt bobble wide. Thistle made a double substitution after this chance with Connor Higgins and Aidan Fitzpatrick being replaced by James Stokes and another trialist.
After missing that glorious opportunity, just as Kevin Nisbet did in the first half, Neil McLaughlin redeemed himself with a goal. A free-kick was whipped into the box and a collision involving Neil McLaughlin and McLevy of Kilmarnock led the referee to point to the spot. McLaughlin then stepped up to take the kick and slotted coolly past Curtis Lyle to extend his side’s lead to two goals.
Kevin Nisbet had his fourth huge opportunity of the night in the 86th minute. The striker cunningly intercepted a Killie throw-in and stole the ball, breaking into the opposition half with no defenders to beat. He delayed and delayed the shot before shooting when the ‘keeper made a move but the attacker’s low finish went wide of the post and the score stayed at two.
The game ended with the young Jags running out 2-0 victors in Ayrshire, collecting a third win on the bounce. The win moved Thistle into fourth place.
Scott MacKenzie’s development squad now look towards a meeting with Edinburgh side, Hibernian, next Tuesday. Kick-off is 18:00 from the Excelsior Stadium.
Tue 10 October, 2017
SPFL Development League 
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
McLevy find Taylor Queen with a great cut-back but the defender lashes his attempt well over the bar.
Kevin Nisbet does excellently to intercept a Killie throw-in and he breaks in on goal. He bears down on goal with pace but hits a low shot wide of the post in what must be another disappointing miss for the forward.
Neil slots it calmly beyond the 'keeper to make it two.
Jeffries gets past Duncanson on the Killie left and drills a low cross across the face. Sneddon gets a hand to it but it falls to Innes Cameron. He only has to tap it home but he skies it dreadfully from all of six yards.
McDonald hits a low shot from range straight at Sneddon but the ex-Cowdenbeath goalkeeper can't hold. It then falls to Cameron but Sneddon is up quickly to make the second save.
McLevy hits a lofted ball into the Thistle box finding the run of Scally. Scally meets it but fails to make meaningful contact and it bobbles away for a goalkick..
Lamont's deep free-kick from the half-way line finds Nisbet. He nods it back across the box and it comes to McLaughlin. He has a simple tap-in but the prolific forward misjudges it, missing the target completely.
Lamont is played into the box and has the chance to shoot or pass. He tries to beat his man and does so but then does it again and when he finally tries the square ball, its collected by Lyle.
Daniel Scally shoots from 25 yards but its straight at Sneddon.
Right after that shot Aidan Fitzpatrick went close. The number seven shot powerfully at the near post but Lyle turned it behind.
Higgins slots the ball into Fleming who shoots at the near post.Its on target but the goalkeeper turns it behind.
Killie get the second 45 underway.
A cross from the right flank falls to Fleming on the left. He then gets it back into the danger zone. Neil McLaughlin can't control it but his loose touch falls to Nisbet who pokes it home from close range.
McLaughlin lifts a delicate ball over the last defender to play Nisbet into the box. He has a clear shot on goal but h shoots over the bar.
Will Graham unleashes a half-volley from 20 yards and he sees his attempt skip ten yards wide of the goal.
The ball is cut-back towards the edge of the Thistle box, finding the late run of Josh Jeffries. The Killie number eight shoots high at goal from 15 yards but Jamie Sneddon turns the ball over.
The corner is curled in from the far side and Innes Cameron meets it. He heads powerfully towards goal but it clears the bar.
Fitzpatrick slots the ball into the feet of Nisbet on the edge of the box. Nisbet shoots first time but can't catch it properly and the goalkeeper collects easily.
Some brilliant link-up play leads to Kevin Nisbet setting up Neil McLaughlin with a flick. McLaughlin then shoots low, towards the far post but it goes just the wrong side of the woodwork.
Nisbet feeds McLaughlin the ball with the number 11 on the left of the Killie box. He tries to bend one into the far corner but only finds the goalkeeper's gloves.
Killie's first corner is whipped in towards the near post where it looks to be finding an attacker's head but Lamont gets his head on it and it goes for another corner.
Callum Wilson plays Connor Higgins into the space between the two Kilmarnock centre-halves. He shoots from outside the box with power but the Killie goalkeeper beats the ball away from danger.
Thistle regaining control of the play after letting Killie back into the game for a few minutes.
The Jags latest chance comes through Mark Lamont who slices a 25 yard effort wide of the goal.
The ball bounces towards Oliver McDonald who hits it first time on the half-volley. He meets it well but his attempt lacks accuracy and it goes wide of Sneddon's left-hand post.
A quick one-two between Connor Higgins and Kevin Nisbet gets the latter in behind the Killie rear-guard. He takes his time but gets his shot away inside the box. He shoots low but the 'keeper uses his legs to turn it behind. The resulting corner is met by the unmarked John Kelly but he can only head wide of the back post with a glancing attempt.
Kevin Nisbet gets things started here at Rugby Park.