SPFL Development League
Tue 30 August, 2016. Kick Off: - 18:00
Firhill Stadium
Following a 2-1 away victory against Dundee United in the first SPFL Development League match of the new season, the Thistle youngsters were looking to score their first home victory of this new campaign.
Hamilton were the visitors looking for their first points of the campaign having been beaten last Tuesday by Ross County. There was a familiar face on the opposing team as Dan Seabourne lined up at centre-back for the visitors.
Christie Elliott started for Thistle as he continues his recovery from injury. David Wilson started alongside Dominic Docherty and Andrew McCarthy in the midfield while David Syme and Michael McMullin were the Jags’ central defenders.
Hamilton got the game underway on a windy evening at Firhill. During the opening minutes neither team was able to take control of possession and pass the ball effectively with the aforementioned wind having a big effect on the play.
The first clear-cut chance of the game fell around 18 minutes in when Rakish Bingham found himself with the ball 10 yards from goal. His first shot ricocheted off a man in red and yellow but it fell back to the Hamilton man and his second shot was only blocked by a heroic slide by David Syme.
Three minutes later, the deadlock was broken. Thistle gave away a free kick 25 yards from goal and Eamonn Brophy, who scored against Thistle on the final day of last season’s Premiership, stepped up to take it. He hit it on the goalkeeper’s side with his right foot and although Conor Cullen got a touch on the ball, it wasn’t enough to keep the ball out of his net.
The lead wouldn’t last long however. With 25 minutes gone, David Wilson floated in a cross to the back post which was met by Dominic Docherty. The midfielder looped a header over the stranded Gary Woods in goals.
After a slow start to the game, it was goals galore as Hamilton retook the lead just three minutes after Docherty’s equaliser. It was Rakish Bingham who would score the goal. He was fed the ball by Steven Boyd and Bingham calmly stroked the ball under Conor Cullen as he attempted to make the save.
The quick-fire goals weren’t ready to stop quite yet, though. Another David Wilson cross from the right-flank garnered the same results as Dominic Docherty rose highest and headed into an empty net with the opposition goalie caught in no man’s land.
That would be it in terms of goals for the first half. Most of the play had taken place in the midfield with not much goalmouth action apart from the goals. David Wilson and Dominic Docherty were impressive in the first half, linking up twice to score the team’s goals.
Declan McDaid got the second 45 underway as both teams looked to build on the improvements made towards the end of the first half. It was Accies no. 10, Steven Boyd who came close four minutes after the restart. He made a winding run from the right-wing towards the box, cutting across the field in the process. He managed to reach the edge of the box but his shot was fairly tame and was held easily by Cullen.
The Jags entered a short spell of good chances around the 54-minute mark. Firstly, Michael McMullin had a header from a James Penrice corner tipped over the bar by Gary Woods. Then Andrew McCarthy had a shot from inside the box deflected onto the roof of the net.
Thistle’s next chance fell to Christie Elliott as the game approached the hour mark. Declan McDaid made a fantastic run in behind the visitors’ defensive lines and hit a left footed cross towards Elliott but the Englishman couldn’t get enough on it and he headed wide of the Hamilton goal.
Persistence would pay off for MacKenzie’s team. After Thistle regained possession in the midfield Neil McLaughlin picked up the ball and played an inch perfect pass between the Accies defenders to Declan McDaid who took the ball and ran towards goal. McDaid used some trickery to turn his marker inside out before curling home off the far post.
Thistle’s seemed to have found a rhythm as some excellent passing play led to Declan McDaid having a shot skid wide of the goal but the rhythm was lost when Hamilton found an equaliser.
Daniel Redmond decided against taking a shot and instead elected to pass to the man in space, Rakish Bingham who was stood 15 yards from goal. Bingham opened his body and placed the ball past Conor Cullen into the far corner, bagging his second of the match in the process.
In the final 15 minutes, James Stokes and Callum Wilson were both brought on in place of Neil McLaughlin and Andrew McCarthy respectively.
The final action of the match came with three minutes to go. Lewis Smith made a burst towards the by-line and squared the ball across the six-yard line and it seemed that the onrushing attacker was destined to score a tap-in for the winner but a crucial interception by David Syme, rescued the draw.
The game would end 3-3. A result that both teams would probably see as fair with neither team able to assert real dominance on the game. Dominic Docherty, David Wilson and Declan McDaid were the standout performers on a night where the attackers impressed most. The draw leaves Thistle’s development squad on four points after two games.
Scott MacKenzie and the young Jags now begin preparing for their Youth Cup clash with Heriot Watt University before preparing for a trip to Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock on the 6th of September
Tue 30 August, 2016
SPFL Development League 
Firhill Stadium
And that's it here at Firhill tonight. An end to end contest in the first half produced some great entertainment but as soon as it went to 3-3 neither team really threatened and a draw was always on the cards. Some excellent football from both sides though and it certainly bodes well for the rest of the season.
Accies go close again with Bingham only inches away from connecting with a cross that surely would have resulted in a goal.
Accies looking dangerous here and Thistle are lucky to get away without conceding there as Syme steps in to intercept a dangerous low cross.
Thistle are on the break and looking dangerous but the ref pulls it back for a foul inside the Jags half and books Lewis Ferguson at the same time.
Wilson picks up a booking for clipping a Hamilton player's heels as he broke for goal.
Declan McDaid hits a free kick from 20 yard sbut it isn't troubling the keeper and sails over the bar.
Penrice booked for a late challenge that stopped an early Accies break.
Long throw from McInally lands nicely for Wilson just inside the opposition box but his shot is charged down early.
And it's back to all square here at Firhill. Some nice build up play on the edge of the box sees the ball shifted to Bingham at the left corner of the 18. His shot is low towards the far post and leaves Cullen little chance. The Jags defence should perhaps have done better to close down during th initial build up though. 3-3.
Some lovely passing footbal in the middle of the park from Thistle ends in a low shot by WIlson from just outside the area - not troubling the keeper though.
The corner is a dangerous one but the resulting header goes over the bar.
Another Accies free kick in an almost identical position to where the goal was scored from but again Cullen watches as it sails over the bar.
And Thistle take the lead! A fantastic piece of play by McDaid as he turns the Accies defence inside out and fires into the far corner of the net. 3-2!
A fantastic run down the left wing by McDaid ends in an excellent cross to the back post but Elliott can't connect with any power. Great play from Thistle.
Another chance for Thistle as the ball falls to Andy McCarthy inside the Hamilton box. His shot is deflected just over the bar.
Another dangerous set piece from Penrice which is met powerfully in the air by McMullin. The ball looks set to loop in but the Accies keeper claws it over the bar.
Cullen comes out sharply to collect an Accies through ball and distributes well to allow Wilson to break early into the final third. Unfortunately for Thistle the end product is a weak shot which the keeper collects easily.
First chance of the half for the visitors as Steven Boyd goes on a powerful run through the Thistle back line but his shot is tame and easily collected by Cullen.
Early Thistle pressure almost pays off after Accies defender, Shaun Want, fails to clear an easy ball under pressure from McDaid. He recovers well though and gets the ball away at the second time of asking.
It has been goals galore in Maryhill as the teams leave at the end of the half. Thistle have probably edged it but it has been an even end to end contest so far. Hopefully more of the same to come in the second half.
Thistle concede a free kick in a dangerous area just outside the box. It's a very similar place to where the first goal was scored but this time the ball flies over the bar.
Thistle are looking dangerous now as McInally loops a very dangerous looking cross into the box only to see the Accies keeper claim confidently.
And the goals are raining down here at Firhill! Docherty again drawing things level with an almost carbon copy of the first goal - Wilson cross Docherty header. 2-2.
And just like that, Accies take the lead again. A good finish from Bingham low past Cullen. 2-1 Accies.
David Wilson hangs up a cross from the right wing which seems to hang in the air for an age before Docherty is able to head powerfully back over the keeper's head and into the far corner of the goal. 1-1. Game on!
Thistle concede the first goal of the game from a free kick on the edge of the area. Cullen got a hand to the powerful shot but could only deflect it into the back of his own net. 1-0 Accies.
Accies' corner comes to nothing as the ball goes out for a goal kick.
First real scare for Thistle as Bingham picks the ball up inside the home box and gets a decent shot away, only for Docherty to get a flying block in the way to deflect it away for a corner.
Fantastic pressure from McDaid as he robs the ball from former Jag, Dan Seaborne, playing a great ball into the box for Docherty only to see the Thistle number 10 dispossesed by a strong recovering chllenge by Seaborne.
Corner is too close to the keeper who collects easily.
A lot of midfield play here at Firhill but no real clear chances yet. David Wilson is playing some really nice passes from the Jags midfield.
Dangerous move from Thistle as McInally whips a ball into a very dangerous area of the Accies box but there is no Thistle player to get on the end of it.
Thistle corner is whipped in but the referee blows for a free kick after a push on the Hamilton defender.
Early free kick for Thistle 20 yards ino the Accies box after a tough challenge on McMullin. The set piece is lifted into the Accies area and the resulting shot forces a good save from the Accies keeper.
It's a sunny but blustery evening here at Firhill as we prepare for the first home Development League fixture of the season. Hamilton Accies are the visitors as Scott MacKenzie's men look to get their home campaign off to a winning start. Kick off is just minutes away...