Partick Thistle 4 - 0 Hamilton: Four star Partick slay Hamilton

Published on 02/09/2012 01:59

First Division leaders Partick Thistle had won their opening six fixtures of the new campaign before losing to Hamilton at Douglas Park in the Scottish
Communities League Cup in midweek, but they avenged that defeat in some style as they entertained the same opponents yesterday.

The visitors enjoyed the better chances during a fairly even first half, with Scott Fox saving well from Louis Longridge (twice) and Stevie May, while Kevin Cuthbert was largely untroubled.

But he was the one who had to retrieve the ball from his net five minutes before the interval.

Steven Lawless is entitled to claim an assist: his shot was turned behind for a corner and when he curled the ball in, Cuthbert was forced to touch Jon McShane’s attempted clearance on to his crossbar.

Unfortunately for Accies, Sean Welsh was first to the rebound and he forced the ball home from point-blank range.

The visitors were deflated by that goal and fell further behind from another set play 11 minutes after the restart.

On this occasion, Cuthbert 
weakly punched another fine delivery by Lawless only as far as Hugh Murray.

The former St Mirren midfielder headed the clearance back towards goal where debutant Steven Craig, above, who had come on for the injured Kris Doolan, nodded home.

Cuthbert harangued referee Stevie McLean, complaining that he had been fouled. He exhausted the official’s patience, however, and was shown a yellow card for his troubles.

The Jags finally scored from open play to secure all three points.

Welsh was the architect, supplying the cross which Chris Erskine flicked on for Lawless to drive behind Cuthbert.

Craig (whose father, Joe, also played for Thistle), notched his second of the afternoon, courtesy of another howler by the goalkeeper, who drove Lee Kilday’s passback against the legs of the in-rushing striker.

“I was happy just to be in front at half-time because we played better than that in the first half at Hamilton,” said Thistle’s manager, Jackie McNamara.

“However, it was important to bounce back and keep everything positive.

“We had good backing from the crowd and, while we can play a lot better, the good thing is that we won the game and scored four goals.”