Sat 14 May, 2016
SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership 
Firhill Stadium, Glasgow.Kris Doolan 2′
David Amoo 19′
Eamonn Brophy 11′ (pen)
Eamonn Brophy 20′
SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership
Sat 14 May, 2016. Kick Off: - 15:00
Firhill Stadium, Glasgow.
Supporter Information:
Thistle supporters will be situated in the Jackie Husband and North Stand as per usual arrangements.
Tickets for this game will be on sale for the rest of this week. Tickets for the Jackie Husband Stand can be purchased after this time at the Jackie Husband Ticket Office. The North Stand is pay at the gate, as per usual arrangements.
Prices:
Adults: £22
Concessions: £15
A concession qualifies as an Over 65, Student, and disabled person with carer.
Under 16s: FREE
Hamilton supporters will be located in the Colin Weir Stand
Tomorrow’s fixture with Hamilton Accies brings down the curtain on the 2015/16 season, a campaign that has been successful for Thistle both on and off the pitch. Ptfc.co.uk caught up with manager Alan Archibald after the team’s final training session to get his views on another whirlwind campaign.
“It’s been another quick year. At times it didn’t feel quick and there were spells in games that went on for what like forever but come around 2.15 on Saturday that’ll be the competitive football done for two months.
“I think the club has definitely progressed in the last 12 months, although that probably won’t be reflected in our finishing league position as we seem almost certain to finish in 9th. We’ve got a number of key players signed up for next season and that will give us a good base to build on for next season.”
David Amoo was the latest to sign on for another campaign in red and yellow and the manager was pleased the flying winger has chosen to stay.
“David is a good player to get tied down. It took him around six months to get used to playing with us, and understanding what it is we want from him in an attacking sense. We’re looking for him to come back in pre-season ready to go for another campaign.
“We know that we need more goals next season and the addition of David will add to that threat. We’ve already got Chris Erskine lined up to come in and help our creativity so we’re always on the lookout for more quality in the final third.”
With a squad still depleted by injury the gaffer finds his squad stretched for the final league game of the season.
“We’re still down to the barebones in terms of numbers. Abdul Osman, Callum Booth and Christie Elliott all underwent surgery in the last couple of days and they are starting their recovery from now. Thankfully, we didn’t get any injuries during Tuesday night’s game against Dundee United and we’ll be able to look at utilising the same squad of players.”
The final game of the season gives the side a chance to sign off with a win, and surpassing last year’s points tally, something Archie would love the side to do.
“It’s the one objective that is left which we can fulfil. We want to beat last year’s points total and we can do that with a win. Our last couple of home games have ended in defeat and we’d like to send the fans away for the summer with their last memory being a Thistle win.”
The final game of the 2015/16 season saw Thistle host Hamilton in a game that had little riding on it bar pride.
Manager Alan Archibald was still down to the barebones and he made only two changes from the side which drew 3-3 with Dundee United on Tuesday. Gary Miller replaced Liam Lindsay in defence, allowing Frederic Frans to shuffle to his customary positon of central defence. Sean Welsh missed out through injury allowing Aidan Nesbitt a start in the final game of his loan from Celtic.
Before the game got underway Firhill rose for a minute’s applause in memory of Ricky Roughan who tragically passed away in the early hours of Tuesday.
Thistle started the game brightly with Doolan and Nesbitt linking up in the opening sixty seconds before the on-loan youngster found himself crowded out by Accies defenders. Doolan was at it again seconds later when he played in David Amoo. The winger forced a tremendous save from Martin.
From the first corner of the game, Thistle took the lead. Penrice’s delivery wasn’t dealt with by the Hamilton defence, Thistle kept the ball alive and Doolan was able to head home at the back post.
An incredibly open game saw both sides creating chances in the opening stages and with ten minutes played Accies were level. A chipped ball into the box was deflected by Miller. Nobody tracked a Hamilton run into the box and Scully clipped the player with his feet leaving Muir with little choice but to award the spot kick. Brophy sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with an excellent low kick.
Thistle were passing the ball around well with the confidence of a team looking for the three points with Lawless forcing a great save from Martin in the Hamilton goal. The corner was cleared for a second and Thistle regained the lead. Penrice again whipped over a terrific delivery, Frans, again, flicked it on and David Amoo bundled home at the back post.
Having just taken the lead, Thistle conceded it quickly when Brophy pounced on a hopeful through ball, rounded Scully and tapped into the back of the unguarded net.
At this stage, the game threatened to trouble the record books with both teams attacking at will. Penrice whipped over a tremendous cross from the left hand side, Doolan had to adjust his body but couldn’t steer his header on target.
The game lost a bit of its tempo in the remaining first half and there were no further chances in the first half allowing both teams to go in at the break level at two goals apiece.
Accies made a strong start to the second half and after breaking from a Thistle corner, Brophy thumped an effort of Ryan Scully’s post.
Hamilton passed up a gilt edged chance 10 minutes into the second half when Crawford beat the offside trap to tee up Boyd. The youngster blazed the effort wide of goal when he should really have tested Scully in the Jags goal.
Nesbitt was a growing influence in the game and after he fired into the side netting of the goal, he teed up Edwards who fires straight at the goalkeeper.
In an unusual occurrence for a Thistle game, a water break was required just after 15 minutes in to the second half and once the game got back underway Penrice was next to have an effort on target.
As a 65th minute’s applause for Ricky travelled around the ground, Gary Miller was treading a fine line with a couple of challenges before finally ending up in the referees notebook with 67 minutes on the clock.
Nisbet wasn’t short on confidence and he was freely having efforts on goal when the ball dropped to him but wasn’t troubling Martin in the Hamilton goal. His flick on, from a Scully goalkick presented Nesbitt with a clear route through to goal. He dinked the ball over Martin only to be denied by the crossbar.
Play raged up the other end and Brophy struck the wood work again when a curled effort from 16 yards hit the crossbar.
The game was continuing to be an exciting end to end affair and after slick play from Nisbet, he was able to play in Lawless at a tight angle. He rounded the goalkeeper but with too acute an angle to shoot, he could only cut the ball back. Pogba couldn’t bundle the ball home but Accies struggled to clear. Nesbitt collected the loose clearance but curl the ball wide by a couple of feet.
As the game entered the final stages there were no serious efforts on goal. Greg Docherty did well to beat James Penrice but D’Acol could only fire over the bar from his cross.
The game fizzled out and when the full time whistle blew Thistle had to settle for a point in a game they twice led. Thistle finish the 2015/16 campaign with the same points tally as last campaign, but finish a place lower in the Ladbrokes Premiership table. The countdown of two months and two days until the next competitive game begins now.
The curtain came down on the 2015/16 season with an entertaining 2-2 draw with Hamilton Accies. It was a content Alan Archibald who chatted with ptfc.co.uk shortly after the fulltime whistle.
“It was a good game for an end of season one. I think both teams had first team regulars missing and they just decided to go for it. After the initial 20 minutes of goals it settled down a little bit in terms of tempo, both sides struck the woodwork and we were unlucky not to see more goals.”
Thistle started brightly and scored two set piece goals.
“Set pieces haven’t been our strongest threat this season and we’ve had that with the last couple of games. The players did well to keep the ball alive and Dools and David have managed to nod them over the line.
“I thought we did well for a team that is missing so many regular players. We created a number of opportunities and were unlucky when Aidan Nesbitt hit the bar late on.”
Thistle finish on the same points tally as last season but the gaffer thinks we’ve progressed from last year.
“We’re in a much stronger position than we were this time last season. We’ve got players tied down on long term contracts and we’re just looking to add to the group rather than rebuild. We’ve got contract offers out to some of the guys and we’re hopeful that a few will sign them in the next few days.”
With the season concluded, the countdown resets for next season with 63 days until more competitive action.
“It’s always a quick turn around but even more so with the League Cup starting earlier. We’re going to go away and let the players enjoy their rest. For me the work doesn’t really stop as I look to bring in the best players I can for next season. We’re back in mid-June for Pre-season and that is where the hard work begins once again.”
Finally the gaffer had a word of thanks for the magnificent Thistle support. “I’m glad the fans got to finish the season on a high because they didn’t deserve for their season to finish on a loss. We’ve had a couple of sticky spells this season and they have stuck with us throughout the whole campaign. Without their support we couldn’t do anything on the pitch. I hope to see them all back in the stands again next season.”
