MANAGER’S NOTES BRIAN GRAHAM
I’d like to begin by welcoming Eva Olid and everyone from Hearts Women FC to Petershill Park for this afternoon’s game. We’re looking forward to the game today, coming into it unbeaten in our last three league games including the 0-0 draw with Spartans in midweek. Overall, we were happy with the point in that game. Spartans are a good side and going away from home to play them was never going to be an easy fixture. They threw a lot at us during the game and we really had to dig in towards the end but saying that we still had a couple of really good opportunities of our own. We were delighted to welcome Lauren McGregor back to the squad after about a month out and she played a big part in us getting the clean sheet. The draw on Wednesday took us up to fifth place after eight games which was really nice to see. Of course, we know it’s still very tight and the positions could change a lot very quickly but to be up in fifth at this point in the season is testament to the mix of quality and determination that we have in the squad here. Now we look to finish the first round of fixtures on a high against Hearts. They’re a team who we played in the SWPL Cup group stages and it was a very tough game that day. We were down to the bare bones in the squad because of injuries and we had to battle very hard for a draw. Since that game we’ve added some players to the squad but injuries have continued to be a problem and we picked up another one at Spartans with Taylor McGlashan having to go off in the second half which is frustrating. These injuries just mean we’re asking for even more from the players who are fit to play and the girls have given me everything they’ve got so far this season. We came into the league as massive underdogs but I think the way we’ve started has proven a few people wrong and hopefully we can continue in that vein. 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
21.11.21
Home
Rangers
SWPL1
28.11.21
Away
Aberdeen
SWPL1
12.12.21
Home
Glasgow City
SWPL1
16.01.22
Away
Motherwell
SWPL1
23.01.22
Home
Celtic
SWPL1
30.01.22
Away
Hibernian
SWPL1
06.02.22
Away
Hamilton
SWPL1
20.02.22
Home
Spartans
SWPL1
27.02.22
Away
Hearts
SWPL1
06.03.22
Away
Rangers
SWPL1
13.03.22
Home
Aberdeen
SWPL1
20.03.22
Away
Glasgow City
SWPL1
27.03.22
Away
Motherwell
SWPL1
17.04.22
Home
Celtic
SWPL1
24.04.22
Home
Hibernian
SWPL1
08.05.22
Home
Hamilton
SWPL1
11.05.22
Home
Spartans
SWPL1
15.05.22
Away
Hearts
SWPL!
PLAYER Amy Bulloch
2021/22 STATS APPS
GOALS
7(2)
2
Summer Christie
13)
Emma Craig
3
Danica Dalziel
4(3)
Clare Docherty
7(1)
Demi Falconer
12
Colette Fleming
3(1)
Jade Gallon
3
Lauren Grant
2
Jade Greenshields
2(1)
1
Freya MacDonald
10(2)
1
Cara McBrearty
10(1)
3
Teigan McCann
9
3
Cheryl McCulloch
9
Taylor McGlashan
4(2)
Rebecca McGowan
8
Lauren McGregor
6(1)
Kim Murphy
5(1)
Eva Payne
(3)
Sophie Payne
1(2)
London Pollard
6
2
Cheryl Rigden
7(4)
1
Rosie Slater
8(2)
Eleanor Smith
3(6)
Ellie Vernal
2(1)
1
1
CLARE DOCHERTY PLAYER INFO
PLAYER INTERVIEW
Name: Clare Docherty Date of Birth: 01/07/1991 Position: Midfield/Forward Joined Thistle: January 6th 2020 Previous Club(s): Hamilton, Rangers, Mill United, Kilmarnock Thistle Debut: v Glasgow Women, SWPL2, February 23rd 2020 First Goal: v Glasgow Women, SWPL2, February 23rd 2020 Thistle Appearances and Goals:Apps 26(2) Goals 13
Going into today’s game we sit 5th in the league, just how happy are you with the start to the season we’ve made? Delighted with the start we’ve made considering the way in which we found ourselves in this league. We prepared for SWPL 2 and we were focused on winning the title and within a few weeks of the season starting we found ourselves in the top flight and having to change our mindset and recruit players at short notice. We’ve had a lot of injuries and have had to really pull together and play different roles when required. So taking everything into consideration, sitting 5th in this league is fantastic for ourselves. What do you think is behind the start we’ve made to the season? Hard work, determination and togetherness from our group.
As I mentioned before, we’ve been thrown in at the deep end but it’s a challenge that everyone is now relishing. At the beginning it was daunting but we’ve accepted it and we want to be up there competing with the best. You missed the start of the season through Injury, how frustrating was that and how does it feel to be out on the pitch again. Very frustrating having to watch on from the sidelines and being unable to help but that’s part of football. I’m just delighted to be back helping the girls as much as I can. You got your first SWPL1 goal in the last home match against Hamilton, How happy were you to get off the mark for the season? Delighted to finally get the goal. I’ve always wanted to play in the top league and test myself so being able to say I’ve done it and to be able to say I’ve scored in it makes it even sweeter. Here’s hoping there’s many more to come. You had a bit of fun with Cara about going for the top scorer crown again this season, what are your personal goals for the season and how determined are you to finish top scorer? Very determined. At the minute I know I only have one but so far I’ve played a different role to what I’m used to but I believe in myself and I believe that when I get the opportunities I will stick a few of them away.
PLAYER SPONSORS 1. Lauren McGregor 2, Rosie Slater
Pauline and Elaine Dr Wilma Hogg
Dr Wilma Hogg
Dr Wilma Hogg
3. Kim Murphy 4. Cheryl McCulloch 5. Demi Falconer
Morag & Graham Elrick
Catriona Tucker
CL Flooring
6. Colette Fleming
Dunmuir Coachworks
7. Teigan McCann
True Potential Wealth
8. Clare Docherty
Ivy, Etta & Amos
Donald DIngwall PTFC Nomads
JM Mobile Valeting
9. Taylor McGlashan 10. Emma Craig 11. Cara McBrearty
Gordon McClure Cairnhill Structures
The Mayes Family
13. Ellie Vernal
W Munro (Rehab) Ltd
14. Sophie Gallacher 15. Jade Gallon 16. Rebecca McGowan
Allied Interiors
17. Sophie Payne 18. Danica Dalziel
Teng Tools UK
19. Cheryl Rigden 20. Freya MacDonald 21. Lauren Grant
41 Sports Media Cobie O’Neil
Cobie O’Neil
Dogs Without Border Scotland
Greenhill Tyres & Exhaust
22. Eleanor Smith 23. London Pollard 24. Amy Bulloch 25. Summer Christie 26. Eva Payne 27. Jade Greenshields
Drunchapel FC Maureen Thomas
Cobie O’Neil
OUR SPONSORS THANK YOU
UP FOR THE CHALLENGE TOM HOSIE
If we needed any reminder that winter is just around the corner then we were provided with it on Wednesday night when we traZelled through to Edinburgh to face Spartans. It was the kind of night that no matter how hard you tugged on the zip of your jacket in the attempt to try and keep some warmth in, you couldn’t fail to wish you had at least one additional layer of clothing on. As the temperature fell off the pitch on the pitch the temperature rose as an always competitive fixture got a little feisty towards the finish as the home side pressed for a late winner that they probably think that they would have merited. It should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone reading this that that is a view that this writer would disagree with. The point that came back along the M8 with Thistle on Wednesday night was a point well earned. A point gained at the end of a performance that again demonstrated the willingness of this group of players to face firmly and squarely the challenge that they have been handed this season. And it is a challenge. Rewind events back 7 days to our SWPL Cup meeting with Glasgow City and you would have found a Thistle squad denied the services for a variety of reasons of upwards of a dozen players. Facing Glasgow City can be a daunting task at the best of times, to do so with so many players missing doubly so. A shortage of numbers means players having to fill roles that may be unfamiliar to them, but the willingness of players to do just that is praiseworthy in the extreme. Consider firstly Danica Dalziel who didn’t just find herself thrust into the position of goalkeeper with both Lauren McGregor and Lauren Grant injured but actually volunteered to do so. Such were her impressive displays in goal we can’t in all justice view her simply as an outfield player that can play in goal in the case of an emergency. Once all are fit we will have three more than capable goalkeepers to call upon. Consider too Cheryl McCulloch. Such an important player for us at the back, either at full-back or centre half, she was asked to lead the Thistle attack at Ainslie Park on Wednesday night. For the best part on an hour, and until injury elsewhere meant a move back to defence, she performed that task with no little aplomb. The attitude of Danica and Cheryl is repeated throughout the team. We are seeing a real collective desire to succeed. It has been that desire that has taken us to 5th in the league and it will be a continuation of that desire that will hopefully see us obtain our objectives for the season.
MATCH REPORT
SPARTANS 0 V 0 PARTICK THISTLE A battling performance saw Thistle return from Edinburgh with a point at the end of a goalless draw with Spartans, Thistle’s first point on the road this season. After having upwards of a dozen players unavailable for the SWPL Cup clash with Glasgow City at the weekend, manager Brian Graham was in the welcome position of being able to welcome a number of players back including goalkeeper Lauren McGregor. There was no gentle introduction to the action either for McGregor as she was called into action as early as the 6th minute when she was required to save a long range Douglas shot. Four minutes later she was in action again, this time getting a strong hand to a Mason cross to push the ball away from the Thistle goal. It was the home side that did the bulk of the early pressing with Ryan drilling a low cross across the face of the Thistle goal and McQuilln trying to curl a shot past McGregor from the edge of the box. Gradually though Thistle began to assert themselves on proceedings and of the two sides they probably had the better of the chances in the opening 45 minutes. After 28 minutes Clare Docherty forced Harrison into a good save at her front post and 8 minutes later a deep Demi Falconer free-kick found Cheryl McCulloch who couldn’t quite direct her header away from Harrison. There was a chance too for Eleanor Smith but she didn’t quite catch her shot cleanly and Harrison was able to save. Thistle had the first chance of the second half too with Amy Bulloch sending a shot over the bar and Harrison made another good stop to deny substitute Cheryl Rigden. As the game went deep into its final quarter the home side increasingly looked the more likely to break deadlock although to be fair McGregor didn’t have too many direct saves to make although a series of late corners did have her goal under severe pressure at times and a Clelland cross rolled right across a vacant Thistle goal but no home player was on hand to tap home. McGregor though did have to save bravely at the feet of Mason and got enough of a touch to a dipping Smart shot to get it onto the crossbar. Team: McGregor, Slater, McCulloch, Falconer, Docherty, McGlashan (Rigden), McBrearty (MacDonald), McGowan, Smith, Bulloch (Christie), Greenshields (Trialist)
OUR VISITORS HEARTS
Hearts WFC were founded in 2009 when they took over Musselburgh Windsor Ladies Football Club and changed their name to Hearts Ladies FC. A subsequent name change followed in 2018 when they adopted the title of Hearts Women FC that they have today. Hearts made the step up into the SWPL setup at the end of the 2014 season and a 9th position finish in their first season meant that they would start the 2016 season in the newly created SWPL2. They remained at that level until the end of the 2019 season when they were crowned SWPL2 champions following a 3-0 win over Thistle in a match played at Tynecastle in front of a crowd of over 1,000. Covid ended the 2020 season just a few weeks into the season and with no relegation at the end of the 2020-2021 season, when the Women’s game in Scotland returned Hearts were able to consolidate their place in the top flight allowing them to put in place the building blocks of hoped for future success. Certainly the ambitions of Hearts WFC lie firmly away from the nether regions on SWPL1 which was clear with their close season appointment of Spaniard Eva Olid as Head Coach. Eva became head coach of Saint Quirze in her native Spain in 2011 and also had spells as head coach with Sant Cugat FC and Sabadell FC before her coaching career took her across the Atlantic. In 2019 Eva headed to the United States to take up the position of assistant coach to the Louisiana Krewe men’s team before returning to the women’s game to take up the role of head coach with Houston Dynamos. Prior to her move to Scotland’s capital, Eva held a head coach role at the Catalan Football Association. So far results haven’t been great with just one league win, an impressive 3-2 win away to Aberdeen, recorded so far this season but a closer look at their results so far reveals that they have been competitive in the bulk of those fixtures and there is nothing to suggest that they can’t start to climb the league table as the season progresses. Certainly an entertaining, highly competitive fixture is anticipated at Petershill Park this afternoon.
OUR VISITORS HEARTS
RESULTS Date
Competition
Opposition
Score
08.08.21
SWPL Cup
H v St Johnstone
W 1-0*
15.08.21
SWPL Cup
A v Celtic
L 0-2
29.08.21
SWPL Cup
H v Partick Thistle
D 0-0
05.09.21
SWPL1
H v Hamilton Accies
L 1-2
12.09.21
SWPL1
A v Spartans
L 1-3
26.09.21
SWPL1
H v Rangers
L 0-1
29.09.21
SWPL1
A v Hibs
L 0-3
03.10.21
SWPL1
A v Aberdeen
W 3-2
10.10.21
SWPL1
H v Celtic
L 0-2
17.10.21
SWPL1
A v Motherwell
L 2-0
03.11.21
SWPL1
H v Celtic
L 0-3
*Match awarded to 3-0 to St Johnstone
TOP SCORERS Player
Goals
Amelie Brise
2
Aimee Anderson
1
Monica Forsyth
1
Mariel Kaney
1
Lia Tweedie
1
PAST MEETINGS VS HEARTS
Thistle will be looking to record a little bit of history this afternoon by recording their first ever win over Hearts, today’s match representing the fifth time that the two teams have come up in direct opposition to each other. Although Thistle had previously faced the Hearts Development squad it wasn’t until the SWPL2 campaign of 2019 that we met the full Hearts side. The first ever meeting between the two teams took place in Edinburgh on April 21st 2019 and the goals in that inaugural meeting came early in the game. It was Thistle that drew first blood in that fixture with Cheryl Rigden opening the scoring after just 9 minutes. Unfortunately that was an advantage that Thistle held for just four minutes with Lauren Evans levelling the scores at 1-1 to complete the scoring for the afternoon. Hearts: Parker-Smith, Delworth, Hunter, Walkingshaw, Kidd, Carse (Heron), J Smith, Hall (Hughes), Pagliarulo, Evans, Maughan. Thistle: Robson, Ross, Addie, Ranes, Lawton, Lyle (Paterson), McGlashan, MacTaggart (Hawksworth), Hughes (Christie), Rigden (Bisland), Mallon. Hearts won the SWPL2 against Thistle on November 17th 2019 in a match played at Tynecastle in front of a crowd 1,050. Hearts had to endure a few nervy moments before Rachel Walkingshaw opened the scoring after 19 minutes. The Hearts title party could really get going when Danielle McGinley doubled the Hearts lead after 58 minutes with the same player completing the scoring 6 minutes from full time. Hearts: Mutch, Delworth, Williamson (Carse), Cunningham, Walkingshaw (Mason), J Smith, McGinley (Kidd), Edwards (R Smith), Pagliarulo, Kaney, Maughan (Evans). Thistle: Andrews, Ross, Ranes, Bisland (Lyle), McGlashan, Donnelly (Hawksworth), Mallon (Murray), McLeod, Christie (Paterson), Rigden, Gallacher. The most recent encounter between Hearts and Thistle took place earlier this season in the SWPL Cup. Going into the final group fixture both Thistle and Hearts could have progressed to the quarter-final stage. Hearts needed a win while a draw would been enough for Thistle. We duly secured the point we need at the end of a highly commendable 0-0 draw an already depleted Thistle side losing the services of both Emma Craig and Jade Gallon during the first half. Hearts: Parker-Smith, Hunter, Browning, Forsyth (Anderson), Kaney, Tweedie (Birse), Smith, Williamson (Delworth), Davies, Cowan, McAneny. Thistle: McGregor, Murphy, McCulloch, Falconer, Fleming, McCann, Craig (Dalziel), Gallon (E Payne), S Payne, Rigden, MacDonald. Full Record v Hearts P 4
W 0
D 2
L 2
F 2
A 8
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. Sophie Gallaher 15. Jade Gallon 16. Rebecca McGowan 17. Sophie Payne 18. Danica Dalziel 19. Cheryl Rigden 20. Freya Macdonald 21. Lauren Grant 22. Eleanor Smith 23. London Pollard 24. Amy Bulloch 25. Summer Christie 26. Eva Payne 27. Jade Greenshields
HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN 1. Charlotte Parker-Smith 2. Claire Delworth 3. Beth McKay 5. Georgia Hunter 6. Tegan Browning 7. Monica Forsyth 8. Mariel Kaney 9. Lia Tweedie 10. Jennifer Smith 11. Claire Williamson 13. Ailey Tebbett 14. Holly Aitchison 16. Erin Sheehan 17. Addie Handley 18. Amelie Birse 19. Lisa Rodgers 22. Eilidh Davies 23. Tyler Thomson 25. Shona Cowan 51. Eilidh Begg 55. Aimee Anderson 73. Maria McAneny