Saturday 16th November, 2024 at 5:48pm
Partick Thistle enjoyed a fine afternoon against Hamilton Academical at The Wyre Stadium at Firhill with doubles from Scott Robinson and Brian Graham added to by a Logan Chalmers goal in a 5-1 success.
The Jags made one change to their starting line-up from last weekend’s draw with Raith Rovers as Kanayo Megwa missed out through injury and Kyle Turner moved from a midfield role to a defensive one to cover with Aidan Fitzpatrick brought back into the starting line-up.
Kris Doolan’s side almost made a sensational start, twice, after Harry Milne and Fitzpatrick combined down the left and sent over a cross that was met by Chalmers’ left boot eight yards from goal.
A diving block by a visiting defender saw the ball deflect into the path of Robinson who drilled it low towards the goal only for a second desperate block to end the celebrations that were away to start in the John Lambie Stand.
Those celebrations were only delayed until the fifth minute when Fitzpatrick was involved again as he flicked a pass forward to ROBINSON on the left and he sent a shot into the far corner from 16 yards.
Thistle continued to press forward with Robinson, Chalmers and Dan O’Reilly having attempts that went just off target before ten minutes had been played.
On 14 minutes Robinson popped up on the right and it looked like a precise pass from Turner was going to find him however the ball raced out of play.
Shortly afterwards Thistle came close again as a Turner free-kick was whipped in and Harry Milne reached it with a header and Charlie Albinson was forced into a fine fingertip save at the expense of a corner.
The dead ball brought a second goal for Thistle as O’Reilly nodded goalward and ROBINSON added a finishing touch from close range.
Hamilton were quick to show that that they were still in the game and Jamie Barjonas hit the woodwork with a powerful drive midway through the opening half with Kevin O’Hara’s follow-up blocked.
Milne looked to find a third for Thistle with a powerful drive from 25 yards on the half hour mark with his effort just rising and clearing the bar.
O’Reilly showed his qualities in his own box nine minutes from the break when he slid in to deny Oliver Shaw’s route to goal after he got on the end of a Euan Henderson cut-back.
Hamilton pulled a goal back in fortunate circumstances when a Myles Roberts clearance came back off O’Hara at the edge of the box and that allowed the striker to roll the ball into an empty net.
Half Time – Partick Thistle 2 Hamilton Academical 1
Stuart Bannigan kicked the second half off with Roberts involved early as he accepted a pass-back that was kneed to him by O’Reilly.
It was 3-1 to the hosts with 49 minutes played thanks to the bravery of BRIAN GRAHAM who ran onto a Robinson flick and headed home from six yards despite knowing that he was going to get clattered by visiting goalkeeper Albinson who had raced from his line.
Lee Ashcroft rose and headed away in style five minutes later as a Dylan McGowan free-kick looked to cause problems as Thistle looked to settle on their two goal lead.
With an hour played Fitzpatrick went on a lung bursting run from in line with his own 18-yard box to in line with the Hamilton 18-yard box before being crowded out and forced to double back.
A fourth goal arrived for the Maryhill Men on 63 minutes with CHALMERS netting from a tight angle after he had charged down an Albinson clearance.
Four became five in the hosts’ next raid just two minutes later as Fitzpatrick dazzled on the left before driving in a ferocious low cross that GRAHAM side-footed home from four yards out.
Roberts was perfectly placed on 74 minutes to gather a free-kick from Connor Smith that had cleared the defensive wall on 18 yards.
A minute later another huge cheer rebounded across The Wyre Stadium at Firhill Stadium as three substitutions were made with one the replacements Steven Lawless welcomed back after seven months out injured.
With seven minutes left Graham looked to return the favour to Fitzpatrick with a defence splitting pass however it was just slightly overhit and the wide-man did well to retain possession and set up another attack that saw Milne run free before carrying the ball over the bye line.
Milne came closer on 81 minutes as he cut in from the left and powered in a right footer from 20 yards that Albinson did well to push past.
Hamilton raced forward shortly afterwards in a two versus one situation and substitute Aaron Muirhead did well as he stood tall and intercepted an O’Hara attempt on Roberts’ goal.
Luke McBeth and Terry Ablade looked to find a sixth before a ‘magic moment’ almost happened in injury time as the ball fell to Lawless at the edge of the box however Albinson was equal to his curling drive.
Teams
Partick Thistle – Myles Roberts, Kyle Turner (Liam Smith 80), Daniel O’Reilly, Lee Ashcroft, Harry Milne, Stuart Bannigan (Aaron Muirhead 75), Robbie Crawford (Luke McBeth 75), Logan Chalmers (Steven Lawless 75), Scott Robinson, Aidan Fitzpatrick (Terry Ablade 80), Brian Graham.
Unused substitutes – Mason McCready (G/k), Charlie Sayers, James Lyon, Ricco Diack.
Hamilton Academical – Charlie Albinson, Sean McGinty, Dylan McGowan, Euan Henderson (Steven Bradley 90), Scott Martin (Ben Williamson 82), Kevin O’Hara (Nikolay Todorov 90), Jamie Barjonas, Connor Smith, Oliver Shaw (Stuart McKinstry 65), Reghan Tumilty, Stephen Hendrie (Jackson Longridge 82).
Unused substitutes – Dean Lyness (G/k), Oludare Olufunwa, Daire O’Connor, Liam Morgan.
Referee – Ross Hardie
