MANAGER’S NOTES BRIAN GRAHAM
I’d like to start my programme notes for this afternoon’s game by welcoming Gary Doctor and everyone at Hamilton Accies to Petershill Park. Today’s game is an important one for both teams and I expect it to be a close one like our last two games have been against Accies this season. They’re coming into this game in good form having beaten Motherwell recently and come minutes away from beating Hibs last weekend so that shows you the quality they have. For us, we’ve lost our last four games but it’s been a really difficult run of fixtures. Our last four have been against Celtic, Hibs, Glasgow City and then Aberdeen at Cormack Park in midweek. We feel there have been positives to take from each game and with three games left of the season we’re looking to end the campaign on a high. Last Sunday was a very emotional day for everyone at the club as we took part in the Biffa Scottish Women’s Cup semi-finals. The girls gave it absolutely everything and did themselves proud against a strong Glasgow City team. The family, friends and fans who made it along were all fantastic and to see the team interacting with them at the end of the game was a really special moment. We then had to prepare for a Tuesday game against Aberdeen away from home which I couldn’t make it to unfortunately due to playing commitments. Stewart took the team and after a slow start the girls showed a lot of fight to get it back to 3-2 before half-time. Not long after the second half started things were made a lot more difficult when Taylor Hamill was sent off and I’m told it was a very harsh decision. Credit to the team though because, even though they would have been incredibly tired after the huge effort of Sunday, they kept working right until the final whistle. As I say, we still want to get some more points on the board this season and that starts today. It’s been such an enjoyable season to be a part of and we don’t want to let it just fizzle out. Enjoy the game,
Date
2021/22 FIXTURES
Venue
Opposition
Compeition
Score
08.08.21
Home
Celtic
SWPL Cup
1-3
15.08.21
Away
St Johnstone
SWPL Cup
4-0
29.08.21
Away
Hearts
SWPL Cup
0-0
12.09.21
Home
Aberdeen
SWPL1
0-2
19.09.21
Home
Motherwell
SWPL1
3-2
30.09.21
Away
Glasgow City
SWPL1
1-3
03.10.21
Away
Celtic
SWPL1
0-6
06.10.21
Away
Rangers
SWPL1
1-7
10.10.21
Home
Hibernian
SWPL1
3-2
17.10.21
Home
Hamilton
SWPL1
2-2
31.10.21
Away
Glasgow City
SWPL Cup
0-5
03.11.21
Away
Spartans
SWPL1
0-0
07.11.21
Home
Hearts
SWPL1
2-3
21.11.21
Home
Rangers
SWPL1
0-1
12.12.21
Home
Glasgow City
SWPL1
0-2
09.01.22
Home
Motherwell
Scot Cuo
2-2 (PT win 4-2 on pens)
16.01.22
Away
Motherwell
SWPL1
2-2
23.01.22
Home
Celtic
SWPL1
0-7
06.02.22
Away
Hamilton
SWPL1
1-0
13.02.22
Home
Boroughmuir Thistle
Scot Cup
2-1 (AET)
20.02.22
Home
Spartans
SWPL1
2-2
27.02.22
Away
Hearts
SWPL1
4-2
06.03.22
Away
Rangers
SWPL1
1-6
13.03.22
Home
Aberdeen
SWPL1
1-2
20.03.22
Away
Glasgow City
SWPL1
0-2
23.03.22
Away
Hibernian
SWPL1
0-1
27.03.22
Away
Motherwell
SWPL1
3-3
01.04.22
Home
Hibernian
Scot Cup
4-2
17.04.22
Home
Celtic
SWPL1
0-2
24.04.22
Home
Hibernian
SWPL1
0-2
01.05.22
Neautral
Glasgow City
Scot CUp
1-3
03..05.22
Away
Aberdeen
SWPL1
2-4
08.05.22
Home
Hamilton
SWPL1
11.05.22
Home
Spartans
SWPL1
15.05.22
Away
Hearts
SWPL1
PLAYER
2021/22 STATS APPS
GOALS
Morgan Anderson
(3)
Dionne Brown
(8)
Amy Bulloch
18(7)
Summer Christie
2(4)
Emma Craig
3(2)
Danica Dalziel
7(4)
1
Clare Docherty
24(3)
5
Rachel Donaldson
13
2
Demi Falconer
31
1
Taylor Fisher
1(8)
Colette Fleming
10(5)
Jade Gallon
3
Lauren Grant
4(1)
Jade Greenshields
2(2)
1
Taylor Hamil
8(5)
1
Freya MacDonald
21(7)
2
Cara McBrearty
27(2)
8
Teigan McCann
11(10)
5
Cheryl McCulloch
28
3
Taylor McGlashan
8(3)
Rebecca McGowan
24
Lauren McGregor
24(1)
Louise Magilton
1(3)
Kim Murphy
18(2)
Eva Payne
(3)
Sophie Payne
1(2)
London Pollard
6
2
Cheryl Rigden
9(13)
1
Rosie Slater
24(4)
Eleanor Smith
5(7)
Linzi Taylor
13
Ellie Vernal
2(1)
2
3
5
AMY BULLOCH PLAYER INFO
PLAYER INTERVIEW
Name: Amy Bulloch Date of Birth: 24/05/1993 Position: Midfielder Joined Thistle: November 15th 2020 Previous Club(s): Hamilton, Glasgow City, Motherwell, Celtic Thistle Debut: v Stirling University, SWPL2, November 15th 2021 First Thistle Goal: v Stirling University, SWPL2, November 15th 2021 Thistle Appearances and Goals: Apps 28(9), Goals 4 International Honours: 3 Scotland Under 19 Caps, 2 Scotland Under 17 Caps With the season drawing to a close, how have you found the season and the step up to SWPL1? It’s been a rollercoaster to say the least. After the madness of how we entered this league I think we can definitely say we’ve done ourselves & the club proud! It’s not been easy by any means but it’s truly amazing when you look back to the start of the season how far we have come. I personally was buzzing to be playing in SWPL1, naturally would have loved to have won promotion with a league title & medal in the bag, but I was excited for the challenge. I’ve always had aspirations to play at the highest level and I’m not getting any younger so this was the perfect opportunity… not that I had a choice anyways haha. With being in SWPL1 we have also attracted some great quality players and our squad has went from strength to strength this season and hopefully we can continue to add some quality. What has been your personal highlights of the season? There has been a couple highlights. Firstly the Hibs game at home when we beat them 3-2, scoring 2 goals & my first penalty I’ve ever taken in a game. I rarely score, so to score 2 goals in such a big game against a top side was a special moment. (And guess what… I’ve not scored since… lol). Also being part of a team that made a semi final for the first time in the clubs history, ironically enough was another victory at home over Hibs. The buzz around the club and the team at that time is something I’ll never forget, its moments like that you play the game for!
The Semi-Final didn’t finish the way we wanted it to however how great an experience was it to play in backed up a big Thistle support?
Yeah it was really disappointing not to get a result, but I think the fact that we were so gutted says a lot about how much we have improved as a team since the start of the season. The support was amazing, hearing the fans singing & cheering us on it was some buzz! It really does give you an extra boost. I’d like to take the chance to say a massive thank you again to our friends, families & to the thistle fans that made the journey to support us! It meant a lot to us all and you’ve been a massive part of our season. Partick Thistle is a great club and it’s amazing that the fans treat us equally and talk about the women’s team in a positive light! The togetherness of the squad has been there all season but how do feel the day and the build up has managed to bring everyone even more together? We already have a strong solidarity in the squad but to experience a Scottish cup semi final with your team mates is a special moment. A big shout out and thank you to Craig, he created a touching video of all of our loved ones wishing us good luck for the game & played it in the changing room when we arrived. It’s safe to say there was a few tears in the dressing room and gave us that extra bit of momentum to go out there and make not only our loved ones but ourselves proud. Leading up to the game we really did all believe that we could have taken something from the game, we weren’t there to make up numbers and wanted to prove that we deserved to be there! I feel again our togetherness and fight was shown as we left everything we had to give on the pitch. We have a great group of girls & coaches here that no matter win, lose, draw, if you’re in the starting 11, a substitute or sometimes unfortunately not even in the match day squad… we always support each other through it all. With three games left we’re in a good position in the league but how important is it to finish the season on a high? We’ve achieved a lot this season considering how we entered the league, there’s a lot of positives to take so far and our aim is to take maximum points from our last 3 games, that would be the perfect end to a first time season in SWPL1. We still have a lot of work to do it’s not going to be easy so we just need to take it one game at a time, stay focused & fight until the very end like we always do.
PLAYER SPONSORS 1. Lauren McGregor
Pauline and Elaine
2, Rosie Slater
Dr Wilma Hogg
Dr Wilma Hogg
3. Kim Murphy
Alex Tulloch Joiners
41 Sports Media
Morag & Graham Elrick
David & Caroline Mackie
4. Cheryl McCulloch 5. Demi Falconer
Dr Wilma Hogg Catriona Tucker
CL Flooring
6. Colette Fleming
Dunmuir Coachworks
John Donegan
7. Teigan McCann
True Potential Wealth
Randle Wilson
Donald DIngwall
8. Clare Docherty
Ivy, Etta & Amos
PTFC Nomads
JM Mobile Valeting
9. Taylor McGlashan
Drumchapel United
10. Emma Craig 11. Cara McBrearty
Gordon McClure Cairnhill Structures
The Mayes Family
Watson Towers
Abodo Contractors
Dean Robertson Joinery
Allied Interiors
The Arrandale Hotel Ayr
Alan Caldwell
Teng Tools UK
The Welsh Family
14. Louise Magilton 15. Jade Gallon 16. Rebecca McGowan 17. Linzi Taylor 18. Danica Dalziel
LA Travel
19. Cheryl Rigden 20. Freya MacDonald
41 Sports Media Cobie O’Neil
Cobie O’Neil
Cobie O’Neil
21. Lauren Grant
Dogs Without Border Scotland
Greenhill Tyres & Exhaust
Euan Grant
24. Amy Bulloch
Maureen Thomas
Billy & Dawn
ABI Services
Drumchapel United
Drumchapel United
Michelle Jackson
The Music Room
L’Perfection
P.L.R. Groundworks
25. Rachel Donaldson
Alan Caldwell
26. Taylor Hamill 27. Morgan Anderson 30. Taylor Fisher 32. Dionne Brown
OUR SPONSORS THANK YOU
OH WHAT A DAY! TOM HOSIE
A thrilling season is drawing to a close. After this afternoon’s match with Hamilton, we have just two more games to play, a midweek date with Spartans here at Petershill Park before the curtain comes down on the season with a trip to Edinburgh to face Hearts. We can’t, obviously, know what these remaining games will bring. Hopefully three great games of football, goals aplenty and three Thistle wins. Whatever they bring, whatever thrills they produce they will be hard to top what we experienced at the Falkirk Stadium last Sunday. Now we freely acknowledge that we didn’t win and that we won’t be contesting the Final of the Biffa Scottish Women’s Cup in a few weeks’ time. We didn’t go to Falkirk to make up the numbers. We went there to win. That we didn’t was disappointing but behind that sense of disappointment there was pride. Immense pride. Pride at the achievement of reaching the semi-final in the first place. Pride in how the players performed on the pitch. As we knew they would, they gave everything that had and left nothing out on the pitch. There was pride too in how well their efforts were received and appreciated by the big Thistle support that made the journey through, many of whom were watching Partick Thistle Women’s FC for the very first time. Overall, there was a tremendous sense of pride in just how far we’ve come in such a relatively short time. The journey doesn’t stop there though. We want more of what we experienced on Sunday, but we want to take it one stage further. This season has been an exhilarating journey but also a massive challenge on and off the park. A challenge that everyone has relished and, we would like to think, a challenge that we have met. We have certainly exceeded if not our own expectations, then certainly the expectations of many others. We want to continue to grow though. As mentioned above we want more days like last Sunday but with tangible rewards at the end of them. Having met head on the challenges of the season we now face a whole new set of challenges as we try and continue to progress. The hard work and preparation ahead of next season has already started for what is already shaping up as an ultra-competitive and exciting SWPL1 campaign. First though we have those three remaining games to play. It was disappointing to lose at Aberdeen on Tuesday night in what was a demanding fixture so soon after the semi-final. Even in defeat there was great spirit with Thistle coming so close to overturning a three-goal deficit before a controversial red card essentially ended our prospects of returning to Glasgow with even a single point. Nine points from the remaining three games is not beyond the realms of possibility but our opponents too will view these fixtures as matches that they can take maximum points from. Not least our opponents this afternoon, Hamilton Accies, who came so close to recording an impressive win against Hibs last weekend.
MATCH REPORT
PARTICK THISTLE 1 v 3 GLASGOW CITY Thistle’s Biffa Scottish Women’s Cup run may have ended at the semi-final stage but their run to the last four, as indeed was their performance in the semi-final, was something to take real pride in. Thistle received a blow prior to this game with Rebecca McGowan ruled out through injury but they took the game to their more fancied opponents right from the kick-off. A Rachel Donaldson cross was scrambled clear, and Clare Docherty unsuccessfully looked for a free kick at the edge of the City box as a challenge came. In an open game a Chinchilla shot sailed over Lauren McGregor’s crossbar before City took a 9th minute lead in somewhat fortuitous circumstances. A corner from the right-hand side seemed to come off the back of Preya and into the net. Within just two minutes, however, Thistle were level. The second of two Cara McBrearty corners found Cheryl McCulloch and she powered a header past Alexander. Equality though lasted just 8 minutes. It was again a corner that led to Thistle’s undoing although McGregor had sound claims to having been fouled as the corner came over. No free kick though was forthcoming and although McGregor was able to make an initial stop as the ball broke loose it fell neatly into the path of Davidson who slammed the ball home. If City thought that in having regained their early lead that they were home and dry in this cup tie they were in for a surprise as Thistle refused to lie down and continued to force City onto the back foot when the opportunity arose to do so. A long range McBrearty effort drew a comfortable save from Alexander and when a free kick fell to her at the right-hand corner of the box, a Donaldson snapshot went narrowly wide of Alexander’s left-hand post. At the other end, McGregor saved a Shine shot and with half-time nearly made an excellent save at her front post as Chinchilla weaved her way deep into the Thistle box. City were first to threaten after the break when a Preya header from a corner just cleared the crossbar. Approaching the hour mark there were appeals for a Thistle penalty as Docherty tried to get on the end a Linzi Taylor pass, but the challenged looked as well timed as it was required. Thistle remained firmly in this cup-tie until with Thistle chasing an equaliser and chance to take the game to extra-time, City grabbed a third goal with 12 minutes remaining to all but secure their place in the Final. Fulutudiu was able to get beyond Kim Murphy and her cross was tucked home by Chinchilla. Thistle though continued to fight right to the finish and Donaldson tried to pull Thistle back into the tie with a shot from distance that didn’t quite have enough curl on it to unduly trouble the Glasgow City keeper. Team: McGregor, Slater, McCulloch, Falconer, Docherty, McGlashan (Murphy), McBrearty, Taylor, Bulloch (McCann), Donaldson, Hamill (Fisher) subs unused Grant, Rigden, MacDonald, Brown.
OUR VISITORS HAMILTON
It’s a warm welcome to Gary Doctor and all associated with Hamilton Accies WFC to Petershill Park as the 2021-2022 season begins to draw to close. Although there will be no relegation, or relegation/promotion play-off, at the season’s conclusion Hamilton will still be keen to avoid finishing the season in 10th position. There does currently exist a 7 point gap between Hamilton and both ourselves and Hearts but Accies will look at their final three fixtures, starting with today’s, as potentially providing them with a maximum 9 point haul and a chance, no matter how unlikely, to drag themselves off the foot of the table. Current form certainly suggests that they will provide extremely challenging opposition at Petershill Park this afternoon. Last Sunday, while we were busy on Biffa Scottish Women’s Cup Semi-Final duty, Accies came desperately close to collecting all three points from their away fixture with Hibs. Hibs had taken an early lead but a Lauren Evans strike levelled the scores prior to the break. The scores remained level until Josephine Giard nabbed her fourth league goal of the season to give Hamilton the lead with 17 minutes remaining. Two minutes of injury time had been played when the home side scored to deny Hamilton what would have been their third league win of the season. It was one of those previous league wins that likely provided Hamilton with their highlight of the season. Fir Park was the scene for their Lanarkshire derby meeting with Motherwell last month with Chloe Muir’s 54th minute goal was enough to see Hamilton emerge as victors.
OUR VISITORS HAMILTON
LAST 10 MATCHES Date
Competition
Opposition
Score
01.05.2022
SWPL1
Hibs (A)
2-2
24.04.2022
SWPL1
Celtic (H)
0-6
16.04.2022
SWPL1
Motherwell (A)
1-0
27.03.2022
SWPL1
Glasgow City (A)
0-6
20.03.2022
SWPL1
Aberdeen (A)
1-2
13.03.2022
SWPL1
Rangers (H)
0-4
06.03.2022
SWPL1
Hearts (A)
1-1
27.02.2022
SWPL1
Spartans (A)
0-1
13.02.2022
SWF Cup
Glasgow City (A)
0-6
09.02.2022
SWPL1
Rangers (A)
0-4
TOP SCORERS Player
Goals
Josephine Giard
4
Lauren Evans
2
Chloe Muir
2
Megan Quigley
2
Hannah Scott
2
Tara McGonigle
1
Kirstie McIntosh
1
THISTLE V HAMILTON THE STORY SO FAR
This afternoon’s meeting with Hamilton represents the third and final meeting between the two sides this season with Thistle, just, holding the upper hand from the two previous encounters. The first of those two previous meeting’s took place here at Petershill Park back in October. Hamilton had the better of the early exchanges with stand-in keeper Danica Dalziel by far the busier of the two goalkeepers but Thistle were able to take a 26th minute lead. London Pollard was able to find Teigan McCann to her right who in turned squared for Clare Docherty to tuck the ball home and open her scoring account for the season. Thistle were in front though for just over 10 minutes with Josephine Giard getting just enough of a touch to a cross from the right hand side to get the ball over the line and into the net. The half-time score stood tied at 1-1 but 9 minutes into the second half Thistle were handed the perfect opportunity to regain their lead. A foul on Docherty earning the home side a penalty but Amy Bulloch, successful from the spot the previous week against Hibs, this time saw her effort saved. Thistle were in front though after 62 minutes. Pollard was able to find Cara McBrearty to her left and McBrearty’s shot left the Accies keeper with no chance. This time Hamilton were level within 2 minutes when Tara McGonigle was able to exploit the space she was given inside the box to beat Dalziel. That completed the scoring for the afternoon despite a frantic finish from Thistle where they just couldn’t find a winning goal. Teams Thistle: Dalziel, Slater, McCulloch, Falconer, McCann (Rigden), Docherty, McBrearty, McGowan, MacDonald, Pollard, Bulloch. Hamilton: Currie, Quinn, Coakley, McTear, McIntosh, Muir (Quigley), Evans (Scott), Molley (Ross), Sinclair, Blues (McGonigle), Giard.
TEAM LISTS PARTICK THISTLE 1. Lauren McGregor 2. Rosie Slater 3. Kim Murphy 4. Cheryl McCulloch 5. Demi Falconer 6. Colette Fleming 7. Teigan McCann 8. Clare Docherty 9. Taylor McGlashan 10. Emma Craig 11. Cara McBrearty 13. Ellie Vernal 14.Louise Magilton 16. Rebecca McGowan 17. Linzi Taylor 18. Danica Dalziel 19. Cheryl Rigden 20. Freya Macdonald 21. Lauren Grant 24. Amy Bulloch 25. Rachel Donaldson 26. Taylor Hamill 27. Morgan Anderson 30. Taylor Fisher 32. Dionne Brown
HAMILTON 1. Sarah Rhind 2. Rachel Ross 3. Megan Quinn 4. Hannah Coakley 5. Georgie McTear 6. Kirstie McIntosh 7. Chloe Muir 8. Megan Quigley 9. Tiree Burchill 10. Nic Sturrock 12. Hannah Scott 13. Lauren Evans 14. Darcy Molley 15. Lucy Sinclair 16. Fiona Cullie 17. Dani Pagliarulo 20. Lindsey Blues 22. Tara McGonigle 23. Josephine Giard