Sunday 8th May, 2022 at 9:43pm
Needing just a point from this game to ensure finishing the season no lower than 9th, there was disappointment for Thistle as the loss of a goal deep in injury time consigned Thistle to defeat against Hamilton for the first time this season.
It was an unsettling afternoon for Thistle from even before ball was kicked in anger with Taylor McGlashan pulling out with injury. There was further upset for Thistle in the heart of defence with Demi Falconer coming off injured after just 18 minutes.
By that point Thistle were in front. The first chance of the game had come the way of the visitors with Quigley sending a Burchill cross wide of target but in the Petershill sunshine Thistle were on the front foot early on. A Cara McBrearty corner had to be tipped over the bar and from the resultant corner it took an excellent save from Rhind in the Accies goal to keep up a Falconer header. That save delayed the game’s opening goal by a matter of mere seconds. Following Rhind’s save the ball was cleared only as far as Amy Bulloch lurking just outside the box. Bulloch, who doesn’t score tap-ins, took one touch before sending a half volley into the back of the net.
Had a second Thistle goal arrived then all three points may well have remained at Petershill Park and there were opportunities to score that goal. A Rachel Donaldson cross came off the face of the Hamilton crossbar and a McBrearty effort from a Freya MacDonald cross flashed just wide of goal.
For all that though the Hamilton equaliser that arrived just four minutes before half-time wasn’t entirely unexpected. Lucy Sinclair’s long range effort came off the underside of Lauren McGregor’s crossbar with Tiree Burchill on hand to knock the ball home to remove any debate as to whether Sinclair’s shot had crossed the line or not.
Neither side were content to settle for a point during the second half although there was a dearth of chances at either end in the second 45 minutes. The better chances if truth be told came the way of Hamilton. A Quigley free kick was just begging for a decisive touch and substitute Muir stretching at the back post couldn’t find the touch required to force the ball home.
The game looked certain to be heading for a draw when Accies snatched an injury time winner. Lauren McGregor looked to misjudge a high ball from Megan Quinn and Lindsey Blues was on hand to knock the ball home from about a foot out.
Team: McGregor, Slater, Murphy, McCulloch, Falconer (MacDonald), Docherty (McCann), Fisher (Brown), McBrearty, Taylor, Bulloch (Rigden), Donaldson subs unused Grant and Anderson.
