Sunday 24th March, 2024 at 8:00am
This Sunday 24th March, PTWFC take on Rangers in the Sky Sports League Cup final at Tynecastle Park in a 13:30 kickoff.
Thistle head into, a historic cup final which gives squad the chance to lift the league cup trophy for the first time in the club’s history.
📍Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh
🕐Sunday 24th March 2024 1:30pm
🎟️ Adults: £8 / Cons: £1
https://www.eticketing.co.uk/heartofmidlothian/EDP/Event/Index/1906
📺 Sky Sports Main Event
💻Updates on Twitter
💻️Highlights and reaction post match
Rangers have had a fantastic season, sitting top of the SWPL1 and having only been beaten once this season – a 2-1 defeat to Celtic last weekend.
Rangers are arguably the best team in the country at the moment. Many people have been very vocal about how they believe Rangers are firm favourites for this fixture and how Thistle are the underdogs. Rangers are a full time club with many international stars, they have lost one game across the course of the season and are former league winners. Jo Potter’s side have had a great run to the cup final as well starting off with a 4-1 win away to Hearts in the round of 16. A 7-0 demolition of Boroughmuir Thistle in the quarter finals only provided more momentum before a dramatic 3-2 semi final win over Celtic in the semi final secured their place in the final of the Sky Sports League cup.
Rangers have a host of talented individuals in their squad as previously mentioned. The likes of Jenna Fife, Chelsea Cornet, Nicola Docherty and Brogan Hay, sister of our own Kodie, are often in the Scotland squad while Jane Ross made her return to the national team recently having faced a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Rangers also possess a level of youth like no other in the country with Kirsty MacLean, Jodi McLeary and Mia McAuley among those who are consistently praised by the media and fans alike.
The last meeting between Rangers and Partick Thistle showed that we deserve a level of respect that is often overlooked as we held the league leaders to a 0-0 draw at Petershill Park. It was our first point against one of the “big three” and we were very unfortunate not to get the win after Emma Lawton’s strike was ruled out in questionable circumstances. Regardless, the girls are looking to use that day as momentum as they approach this cup final.
We made the journey to the capital to face Hibernian in the first match in the split knowing the circumstances around the fixture. This season, up to this point, Hibs hadn’t beaten us and had only drawn 1-1 a few weeks prior at Petershill Park in a very scrappy affair.
Brian Graham played a much rotated lineup in this match with a head towards the cup final yet the bodies who started didn’t look out of place. Jenna Ferguson made a start in the heart of defence, Aimee Anderson made her first start for the club off the left flank and Claire Adams managed a 45 minute stint in midfield having suffered some injuries throughout the season.
It wasn’t to be on the day however as goals from Doran-Barr and Lawson sealed the victory for the green side of Edinburgh, gaining Grant Scott’s side the win and furthering the gap between 5th and 6th to four points.
Strong Followings from the Red and Yellow army have helped our girls more than can be expressed.
A strong support is expected for Sunday’s match, with three supporters buses already sold out and many more fans expected to make the journey to the capital to cheer on the girls. Tickets remain on sale and we would love for as many of you to be there as possible. Be Part of This and support Partick Thistle in this cup final.
2-0 vs The Spartans
Our road to this cup final started in the round of 16 as we welcomed Spartans to Petershill Park.
Having suffered a 1-0 defeat to the Edinburgh outfit not long before, there was a lot riding on this match and thanks to goals from Cara Henderson and Linzi Taylor, we had secured a 2-0 victory and a spot in the quarter final.
2-1 vs Montrose
A quarter final against Montrose proved to be a challenge at our home ground. We had played Craig Feroz’s side a couple of times in the season and had high scoring games however this Montrose team was determined to change their fortunes. Taking the lead shortly after halftime, it was an uphill battle for the Jags who, despite creating many chances, couldn’t find the back of the net. Two quick fire goals in the late stages of the match from Rachel Donaldson and Imogen Longcake were enough to turn the tides and give PTW a 2-1 win progressing into the semi finals where a tie with Hibs lied in wait.
2-0 vs Hibs
The stage was set for Petershill Park as we welcomed Hibernian from the capital. We had already won a match at Meadowbank against the Hibees thanks to a brace from super sub Lucy Sinclair, who started this game in a much deeper role than what she played in that tie away in Edinburgh.
A fiesty affair from the get go as Grant Scott applied a 5 at the back formation where his side tried to control the tempo. An early penalty claim from the Jags was quickly dismissed despite replays showing Leah Eddie made sufficient contact with Linzi Taylor but it would be our number 15 who would exact revenge minutes later. Eddie made a foul on Cara Henderson through on goal and picked up a booking allowing Taylor to step up and convert the freekick past Nina Wilson putting
Thistle 1-0 up. Leah Eddie would soon receive her marching orders as she picked up a second yellow for a rash challenge on Taylor once more leaving Hibs down to 10. The Jags would take full control from this moment onwards not allowed Hibs to get back into the match despite efforts from Jordan Baucom and Abbie Ferguson. The second half saw us wrap up the match as the ball came out to Rosie Slater, and like she done against Aberdeen just a week prior, hit an amazing long shot straight into the net giving limbs to the record breaking Peasy crowd.
This 2-0 win allowed us to progress to the final of the Sky Sports League Cup and set up a historic tie against Rangers at Tynecastle.
In terms of Team News for this fixture, unfortunately not everyone will be able to make the matchday squad for many reasons.
Megan Cunningham and Jenna Ferguson unfortunately are the first casualties as their loan agreements from Rangers mean they cannot play against their parent club.
Aimee Anderson and Carla Boyce are also unable to play in this fixture due to being cup tied having featured for Hearts and Motherwell respectively before making the switch to the Jags.
With that being said, it will be up to the gaffer and the rest of the management team to field the best possible side heading into this fixture with the chance to bring the league cup back to Maryhill and make history.
