Partick Thistle WFC v Spartans WFC – 15th January 2023

Following victory over Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup, Thistle returned to league action with the visit to Petershill Park of Spartans. Each of the four previous encounters between these sides had finished in draws, three of them goalless, and a similarly tight encounter was anticipated this time around. As it turned out an impressive display from Thistle saw them run out 3-0 winners on a day of high quality performances across the whole pitch.

The first piece of action though came in front of the Thistle goal and it took a piece of smart defending from skipper Demi Falconer to prevent Spartans from having the opportunity to take an early lead.

Play though quickly moved to the other end with Thistle’s sharp passing and incisive tackling seeing them establish dominance in proceedings.

The first hint of that dominance producing tangible reward came in the 16th minute when Abbie Ferguson nearly found Cara Henderson clear in front of goal but the visitors were, eventually, able to scramble the ball clear.

The opening goal though would only be delayed a further five minutes.

The build-up started with Amy Bulloch in midfield who found Linzi Taylor with a pass. Taylor in turn was able to pick our Rachel Donaldson on the right hand side and her fantastic cross from that flank would have produced a headed goal for Ferguson but for an excellent save from Harrison in the Spartans goal. Henderson though was on the loose ball in a flash and knocked the ball home for a deserved Thistle lead.

Having established a lead Thistle were keen to extend their advantage. Henderson saw a shot go wide after she had done well to create room for a shot for herself before, with the clock showing 34 minutes, Thistle did double their lead.

This time it was defender Falconer that was the creator of the goal with the vision to spot Donaldson with a long ball forward. Donaldson’s determination saw her get to the ball ahead of both goalkeeper and full-back and once she had done that she was able to roll the ball into the back of the net.

Such was Thistle’s dominance of proceedings that were a shade unfortunate not to extend their lead before the half-time whistle. Both Rebecca McGowan and Rosie Slater were able to whip over crosses from the left hand side that the keeper was only too glad to collect with Thistle players lurking.

A Spartans fightback was expected after the break but Thistle began the second half in much the same fashion as they ended the first, firmly on the attack. Slater saw a cross from the right claimed by Harrison at her front post and Taylor saw her header from a Henderson cross clear the crossbar. Henderson herself was close to her own second goal of the afternoon when she was just inches away from connecting with a Donaldson cross deep into the penalty box.

McGowan too was unfortunate when her shot from outside the box was deflected away from the Spartans goal.

The visitors were seen more of an attacking force in the second 45 minutes but the Thistle goal, with Megan Cunningham’s handling impeccable, was only seriously tested on two occasions, firstly when Cunningham had to be alert to turn a deflected Jordan free kick round the post for a corner and then, in their next attack, the same player couldn’t quite force the ball home from a tight angle.

There was time though for another goal with Ferguson capping an impressive display to seal the three points for Thistle with 4 minutes of the 90 remaining. Sub Kaitlyn Canavan did well to nod the ball on for Henderson who saw her shot saved by Harrison. Ferguson though was on hand to knock the ball home.