Partick Thistle WFC v Aberdeen WFC – 14th January 2024

Seven days on from cup victory against Motherwell, SWPL1 action returned to Petershill for the first time in 2024 as Partick Thistle looked to make a considerable step in their top six ambitions against Aberdeen.

The afternoon’s visitors have had a positive season, sat behind the Jags in 7 th , collecting 19 points whilst also confirming their place in the next round of the cup with a win over Boroughmuir Thistle.

Last time out, the Jags returned 3-1 victors in a rearranged midweek fixture that saw them travel to the Balmoral Stadium without a number of players, but with an almost entire squad now at his disposal, Brian Graham’s side were in the search of growing the points gap in their bid for a second successive top six finish.

Despite a strong attack from Thistle from kick off, it was Aberdeen who hosted the first opportunity at goal. The through-ball saw Hutchinson go one-on-one with Cunningham who comfortably deflected before collecting the shot from the corner. Thistle quickly returned the attack as they made their way up the pitch before the cross landed awkwardly for Henderson to header towards goal. It wasn’t much longer before the striker managed to work the ball beyond two of the Aberdeen backline and force the deflection before the corner saw a swarm of jerseys try to capitalise on the ball spilling back into the 6-yard box.

The attacking pressure was soon rewarded in the 8 th minute of play through a cohesive team effort that saw Thistle gain possession from their defensive third before a string of passes worked them into the box. The final assisting pass from Henderson cut a number of jerseys and left Taylor placed in a position to slot the ball beyond the reach of Currie. The lead was well deserved for the Jags who had been making the better of their attacking opportunities, producing a well worked, free flowing
opening goal to reflect their efforts.

Thistle’s defensive work was the catalyst for them to advance up the pitch, seen again five minutes before the conclusion of the first half where the corner was sent into a crowded box before it ricocheted directly in the path of Slater who fired the low shot from distance that bypassed everyone and settled into the bottom corner of the net for Thistle’s second of the afternoon.

They looked not to slow there however as just moments later Henderson was back into the box, relieving duties to Donaldson whose angled shot forced the save. This consistent attack had been the main feature of the Jags throughout the first half, aided by the strong defending that allowed them to get into threatening positions and inarguably rewarded Thistle the lead at the conclusion of the half.

The second half opened in the same fashion as the first had ended, as Thistle worked to intercept play that saw Hay’s cross ball into the box be collected by Currie before it could reach Henderson. Throughout the game this had become a particular strongpoint for the Jags who in many instances were able to shut down the press and read the play for their gain, often getting into positive positions after they regained the possession in the opposition half.

A triple substitution on the hour mark saw the departure of Docherty, Sinclair and Donaldson who were replaced by Cowan and longcake alongside the newest signing of the winter transfer window in Boyce. The striker’s first Thistle involvement didn’t take long, almost immediately winning possession before she worked around her marked player to get to a pink and grey jersey and win the corner.

Whilst their attacks had won most of the talking points, Thistle’s defensive work was just as imperative in Cunningham hosting a relatively quiet second half in front of goal. The backline comfortably covered the space and shut down the advances from Hutchinson in the 70 th minute and worked collectively to block out the shot from range moments later. It was this work that eventually led to Thistle powering into the box where the rebounded shot from Henderson went over the crossbar.

The final five minutes saw the introduction of another January signing in McAllister, replacing Henderson. Like Boyce, her introduction to the match was quick as she made her way around two of the Dons’ backline before the intercepted pass. Most of the play was in Partick Thistle’s final third as they made use of pockets of space to keep control of the match, this as well as being strong in defence creating a style of play difficult to be broken down.

The sounding of the final whistle marked a sizeable three points for the Jags, whose performance rewarded them with an eleven-point advantage over Aberdeen and just two points from 4th placed Hibs.

The Edinbrugh based outfit are the next visitors to Petershill as Partick Thistle look to book their place in the Sky Sports Cup final for the first time in their history next Sunday, kick off 4:10pm.

Partick Thistle: Cunningham, Slater, Lawton, Falconer, Hay, Docherty (Cowan), Henderson (McAllister), Donaldson (Longcake), Bulloch, Taylor, Sinclair (Boyce)