MANAGER’S NOTES BRIAN GRAHAM
I’d like to begin by welcoming Dean Gibson and everyone from Hibernian WFC to Petershill Park for today’s game. This past week has been probably the toughest we’ve had since I became manager last year and today’s game will be another really difficult one against an excellent Hibs team. Today’s game will make it four games in 11 days against the top four teams in the country and it’s been a huge learning experience for the girls. Lots of them have played the majority of our last three games and I think you could see them getting tired towards the end of the Rangers game and that allowed them to score a few more goals late on. Although we’ve been disappointed with the last couple of results in particular, we know that games against these teams won’t define our season and we have to pick ourselves up for this afternoon’s game. One of the big positives of the last few matches has been London Pollard. She’s been a real asset for us up front and she’s got her rewards with the two goals she’s scored. The one against Rangers in particular was sensational and we’re excited about what she can continue to bring to the team during her loan spell. I also want to give a mention to Danica Dalziel who stepped in on Wednesday to play in goals. Unfortunately, both of our goalkeepers are out injured at the moment so we needed someone to step up and Danica was on the phone to me straight away to let me know she’d be willing to help out. It wasn’t an easy game to come in for but I thought she did well and made a few really good saves. Despite a really tough week, the girls have maintained the determination and desire that I’ve come to expect from them. We knew coming into this season that there were going to be ups and downs so it’s about how we react to that and, with a lot of football still to be played, we still believe in ourselves completely. Enjoy the game,
PTWFC NEWS
Historic First Win
winners that evening.
In our last home match the team achieved a significant win in the history of Partick Thistle Women’s FC.
Thereafter, we’re back on the road for an SWPL 1 match against Spartans before we then take on Glasgow City away from home in the SWPL Cup quarter-finals.
A 3-2 triumph over Motherwell represented the club’s first ever victory in the top flight of Scottish women’s football as the team got off the mark in terms of points for the 21/22 campaign. With our first win at the top level came our first goal and it was Jade Greenshields who had the honour of being Thistle’s first ever SWPL 1 goalscorer as she broke the deadlock in the 10th minute with a powerful effort from 20 yards. That was her first goal since signing for the club from St. Johnstone last month and there was another first Thistle goal later in the day when Freya Macdonald struck the winner with 88 minutes on the clock. Upcoming Fixtures Today’s game is the first of two consecutive home games for the Jags with Hamilton Accies visiting Petershill Park next weekend. We hosted Accies at Lochinch last season on Fireworks Night with Hamilton running out 3-1
Then, after the conclusion of a busy October, we’ll have just four games spread out over November and December to take us into the winter break. Today’s Other Fixtures There’s a full card of SWPL 1 fixtures on this afternoon. Spartans are hosting Motherwell at Ainslie Park as both teams seek to put some space between themselves and the bottom. Glasgow City know that a win over Hearts in Edinburgh will put them top of the league for a couple of hours at least before Rangers get their chance to respond as they face Aberdeen at home The final game of the day sees Hamilton hosting Celtic with a 5pm kick-off at the Fountain of Youth Stadium.
PLAYER Amy Bulloch
2021/22 STATS APPS
GOALS
3(2)
Summer Christie
(2)
Emma Craig
3
Danica Dalziel
1(3)
Clare Docherty
3(1)
Demi Falconer
8
Colette Fleming
3(1)
Jade Gallon
3
Lauren Grant
2
Jade Greenshields
1(1)
1
Freya MacDonald
7(1)
1
Cara McBrearty
6(1)
2
Teigan McCann
7
3
Cheryl McCulloch
6
Taylor McGlashan
2(2)
Rebecca McGowan
5
Lauren McGregor
5(1)
Kim Murphy
5
Eva Payne
(2)
Sophie Payne
1(1)
London Pollard
4
2
Cheryl Rigden
6(1)
1
Rosie Slater
4(2)
Eleanor Smith
1(5)
Ellie Vernal
2(1)
DEMI FALCONER PLAYER INTERVIEW
PLAYER INFO
Name: Demi Falconer Date of Birth: 19/04/1997 Position: Defender Joined Thistle: February 2020 Previous Club(s): Muireston United, Hearts, Stirling University Thistle Debut: v Glasgow Women, February 23rd, 2020, SWPL2 1st Thistle Goal v Queen’s Park, October 18th, 2020, SWPL2 Thistle Appearances and Goals: Apps 29 Goals 1 How have you found SWPL1 so far? What are the main differences in the step up? Personally it’s been good to be back playing in SWPL1, it’s where I want to be playing because it’s going to help develop me more as a player. As a club this is where we want to be competing so when the opportunity came about we couldn’t turn it down. It’s been a tough start to the season with our run of fixtures. We’ve played 5 games and 3 of them have been against the top 3 from last season within the space of a week. So it’s been challenging for us as a squad, but we have a real togetherness and we’re taking the positives from our performances. We know that there’s not going to be an easy game this season so to get our first 3 points on the board was great and we were all buzzing afterwards. And then go out against Glasgow City aswell and make it difficult for them to play against only gives us confidence and shows the teams in the league that we’re here in this league to compete.
Yeah it’s unfortunate that Colette is missing out with an injury because she’s such an important player within our squad both on and off the pitch. Although she’s not on the pitch she’s still doing everything she can to help the squad so it makes it easier for us on the pitch and for me filling in as vice. The group of girls we have are great and there’s a few leaders in the squad, so they all make being vice captain really easy. Everyone plays their part each week and I’m happy to play mine as best I can. As one of the more experienced players and With so many young players in the team how do you pass on your experience and help the young players around you? I think there’s a good balance of youth and experience within the squad and I sit somewhere in the middle. With having played SWPL1 football before I know some of the challenges that we will face this season and hopefully passing this information on will help us all going forward. The younger players can learn a lot from not only myself but the rest of the team as there is a lot of experience within the squad and also with the coaching staff. I think with having such a good mix of experience it’s a bit of a bonus for us because we can all learn something from each other so we’re constantly learning and developing no matter what experience we have individually. You come to every training session and game with a smile on your face, just how much do you enjoy being part of this squad of players and playing your football?
Id say the biggest difference is the intensity. Your playing against the best teams and players in the country so everything is done a lot faster and you need to stay switched on at all times. Playing against these teams though is only going to help better us as a team and individuals.
I love playing for this club, there is a real togetherness not only within the squad but within the whole club. By bringing in the guys from the men’s team to strengthen our management and coaching staff really shows how much the club want us to succeed. We have a lot of support from the club and a huge amount of work gets done behind the scenes to make sure that we as players can just focus on our football and enjoy it as much as possible.
With Colette injured you’ve stepped in with the captains armband, how proud are you to be vice captain and wear that armband?
I joined the club after having a short break from football and coming to this club has brought the enjoyment of football back for me and I’m loving every minute of being here.
PLAYER SPONSORS 1. Lauren McGregor
Pauline and Elaine
2, Rosie Slater 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
Gordon McClure
11. Cara McBrearty
The Mayes Family
13. Ellie Vernal
W Munro (Rehab) Ltd
14. Sophie Gallacher 15. Jade Gallon 16. Rebecca McGowan 17. Sophie Payne 18. Danica Dalziel
Teng Tools UK
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
41 Sports Media Cobie O’Neil
Cobie O’Neil
Dogs Without Border Scotland
Greenhill Tyres & Exhaust
Cobie O’Neil
OUR SPONSORS THANK YOU
PAST MEETINGS VS HIBERNIAN
Thistle will encounter a number of firsts during the course this season, our recent encounter with Glasgow City; for example, being the first time, we had ever played the 14 times SWPL Champions. This afternoon’s meeting with Hibernian isn’t, however, the first time that the two sides have met once previously in competitive action. Although it wasn’t an occasion that we look back at with too much fondness it does serve to highlight the progress we have made as a club in a relatively short period of time. In 2018 Thistle were at the time playing their football in the Scottish Women’s Championship South a couple of rungs down from our current SWPL1 position. The Scottish Women’s Cup, which is making a very welcome return to the Scottish Women’s football calendar this season after being in abeyance the last couple of years, though provided an opportunity for sides at Thistle’s level to be paired against the elite of the game in Scotland. To get to that stage though, Thistle first had to progress past the first couple of rounds in the competition. In the Preliminary Round, Thistle were handed a home tie against St Mirren, and they made lightwork of the Paisley side winning 5-0. Valentina Mazzoni opened the scoring after 23 minutes with Mhairi Hawksworth netting the first of hat-trick 8 minutes later to give Thistle a 2-0 half-time lead. Hawksworth grabbed her second goal, and Thistle’s third goal, after 67 minutes before completing her hat-trick with 2 minutes remaining with Yasmin Boyce rounding off the scoring on the full-time whistle. That win set up a First Round meeting with Airdrie with Thistle again drawn at home. It was another comprehensive Thistle victory, The Jags running out 4-1 winners this time. Mhairi Hawksworth opened the scoring for Thistle after 14 minutes and although Airdrie did equalise Thistle were 3-1 ahead at the break following goals from Yasmin Boyce and Emma Lawton. Yasmin Boyce added a fourth for Thistle after the break. That set up a Second-Round meeting with Hibernian who had won the cup the two previous seasons. It was quite a jump in class for Thistle. Ultimately it was too big a jump in class. Amy Gallacher opened the scoring for Hibs after 15 minutes with Shannon McGregor adding a second 8 minutes later. That’s how the score stood at half-time, but Hibs really showed the gulf in class scoring 5 second half goals without reply. Abigail Harrison scored twice inside the first 4 minutes of the second half before Jamie Napier added a 5th. Cailin Michie made it 6-0 just before the hour mark with substitute Emma Brownlie rounding off the scoring on the 90-minute mark. Thistle: Andrews, Gillan, Richardson, Addie, Lawton, McGlashan, Boyce (Christie), Bisland, Mallon, MacTaggart (Mazzoni), Hawksworth (Campbell) Hibs: Reid, Napier, Hunter, Robertson (Brownlie), Michie, McGregor, McLauchlan (Arnot), Gallacher (Cornet), Notley, Harrison (Tweddie), Reilly (Williamson) From the Thistle team, only Taylor McGlashan remains at the Club today. Ellis Notley, Siobhan Hunter, Shannon McGregor and Amy Gallacher meantime are still part of the Hibs squad 3 years on. While the occasion wasn’t an especially memorable one for Thistle, it is likely to be recalled with much greater fondness by Hibs and not just because of the emphatic score line. It came at a time when Hibs had a real love affair with the Scottish Women’s Cup having won it in each of the two previous seasons. They would make it a hat-trick of wins this season as well hammering that season’s SWPL2 Champions, Motherwell, 8-0 in a Final played at Firhill.
MATCH REPORT
PARTICK THISTLE 3 V 2 MOTHERWELL Sunday September 19th, 2021 will forever be a historic date for Partick Thistle WFC as in turning a 2-1 half-time deficit into a 3-2 victory they recorded their first every victory in the top flight of the women’s game. The game started at a fast pace and there was a goal to show for it when Jade Greenshields opened the scoring after 10 minutes. London Pollard harried the Motherwell defence into an error and, although she wasn’t able to take advantage of that herself, the ball fell nicely into Greenshields path just outside the box and her powerful drive beat Ramsay all ends up. That though was as good as the first half would get for Thistle and by the time the break came they found themselves trailing. Thistle were guilty of being careless with possession of the ball inside their own penalty box with the result being that Watson was able to loft a cross to the back post for Gardner to steer home with her head and that was followed by a Motherwell second after 24 minutes with McDonald-Nguah thumping home a shot from deep inside the Thistle box. That goal separated the two teams at the interval, but parity was restored just five minutes into the second half. It was Cara McBrearty that applied the finish, neatly slipping the ball beyond the reach of Ramsay when left one-on-one with the Motherwell keeper. Then, after a second half that saw Thistle go close to another go-ahead goal on a number of occasions, with two minutes of the 90 remaining Thistle scored the fifth, and final, goal of a thrilling afternoon of football. Rosie Slater, a second half substitute, lifted a high ball into the Motherwell box where it found Freya MacDonald who after steadying herself fired a great shot past Ramsay and into the corner of the net. There were nearly 7 minutes of injury time to endure before the final whistle was finally sounded on a famous, and well merited, victory. A victory that provides every indication that Thistle well and truly belong in SWPL1. Partick Thistle: McGregor, Murphy, McCulloch, Falconer, McCann, McBrearty, McGowan, Rigden, MacDonakd, Pollard, Greenshields Motherwell: Ramsay, Watson, Hay, Adams, Gardner, Martin, Inglis, McDonald-Nguah, Chricton, Whyte, McAllister
OUR VISITORS HIBERNIAN
This afternoon we welcome to Petershill Park a free scoring Hibernian side that are currently sitting in 4th position in SWPL1 and with a SWPL Cup Quarter-Final tie away to Aberdeen to look forward to at the end of the current month. To reach that stage of the competition, Hibs brushed off the challenges of SWPL2 opposition in the shape of Kilmarnock, Stirling University and Dundee United scoring no fewer than 24 goals in the process underlining the threat they pose in front of goal. They took that early season form into the SWPL1 league campaign and after starting the league season with comfortable wins over Spartans and Motherwell, Hibs were the early league pace setters. Since then, however, things have stalled a little with narrow one goal defeats against Celtic and Rangers. The former being particularly frustrating as the Celtic winner, after Colette Cavanagh had netted a spectacular equaliser, came after the game had reached the 90-minute mark. Highlight of the Hibs season so far though was likely the 3-0 Edinburgh Derby win over Hearts under the lights at Easter Road played in front of a crowd of 5,512 a domestic record for the women’s game in Scotland topping the previous record of 3,123 that watched the 2019 Scottish Women’s Cup Final between Hibs and Glasgow City. There is little doubt that Thistle will face a formidable challenge this afternoon with goal threat aplenty throughout the Hibs side. The 35 goals they have scored this season have been shared between 13 different players with one own goal.
ONE TO WATCH
Top scorer with seven goals so far this season is American Alexa Coyle who moved to Edinburgh from the States before the start of the current season from the University of Montana. She is hardly the only goal threat that Hibs carry. Both Amy Gallacher and Colette Cavanagh have bagged five goals in the first couple of months of the season. Amy, 22, has been a Hibs player since 2017 having previously been with Forfar Farmington. Colette, meantime, was previously with Celtic and Spartans before joining Hibs in 2019.
The experienced and former Aberdeen and Forfar Farmington player has contributed 4 goals while Academy Graduate Eilidh Adams and former Spartans player Michaela McAlonie have both chipped in with 3 goals. It’s clear that Head Coach Dean Gibson is not lacking for firepower within his squad.
OUR VISITORS HIBERNIAN
As well as aiming to blunt Hibs’ attacking options this afternoon, Thistle will be hoping to pose a threat of their own at the other end but will have to overcome a Hibs defence that have been in parsimonious mood all season, conceding just five goals in all fixtures. The last line of the Hibs defence this afternoon is likely to be American Gabriella English who like Alexa Coyle joined Hibs in the summer, although the former Mississippi State University player took a circuitous route to Edinburgh having initially joined Boavista in Portugal after leaving the United States.
RESULTS Date Venue Opposition Competition Score 08.08.2021 Home Kilmarnock SWPL Cup W 4-0 22.08.2021 Home Stirling University SWPL Cup W 10-0 25.08.2021 Away Dundee United SWPL Cup W 10-2 05.09.2021 Home Spartans SWPL1 W 3-0 12.09.2021 Away Motherwell SWPL1 W 4-0 26.09.2021 Away Celtic SWPL1 L 1-2 29.09.2021 Home Hearts SWPL1 W 3-0 03.10.2021 Home Rangers SWPL1 L 0-1
TOP SCORERS Player Goals Alexa Coyle 7 Colette Cavanagh 5 Amy Gallacher 5 Rachael Boyle 4 Eilidh Adams 3 Michaela McAlonie 3 Kirsty Morrison 2 Carla Boyce 1 Siobhan Hunter 1 Toni Malone 1 Amy Muir 1 Ellis Notley 1 Own Goal 1
MATCH ROUNDUP GLASGOW CITY 3-1 PARTICK THISTLE Last Thursday, Partick Thistle took on defending SWPL 1 champions Glasgow City for the first time this season as they looked to build on their 3-2 win over Motherwell. The game started very well for the Jags as London Pollard netted her first Thistle goal after nine minutes. The Celtic loanee reacted fastest as a deep free-kick fell in the box, lifting the ball over Lee Alexander and into the City net. Unfortunately for Jags, the top flight experience of the home side told later in the game with goals from Cailin Michie either side of the half-time break putting Grant Scott’s side in the driving seat before a Priscila Chincilla penalty put the seal on things late on. CELTIC 6-0 PARTICK THISTLE Thistle travelled to the Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie this past Sunday to take on Fran Alonso’s Celtic for the second time this season having previously lost 3-1 to the Hoops during the SWPL Cup group stages. However, this time round, the Jags struggled to stop an on-form Celtic side who got themselves in front after just 12 minutes through Charlie Wellings. Kathleen McGovern doubled the lead in the 32nd minute before Wellings grabbed her second goal of the day three minutes before half-time. Wellings completed her hat-trick shortly after the hour mark making it five goals in two game against Thistle for the English striker. Late strikes from Maria Olafsdottir Gros and Shen Mengyu completed the scoring for the afternoon as the hosts continued their unbeaten start to the league campaign. RANGERS 7-1 PARTICK THISTLE A remarkably difficult week of fixtures ended for Thistle with a trip to face Rangers at the Rangers Training Centre in Milngavie with a goalkeeping injury crisis meaning defender Danica Dalziel had to start in goals. The home side hit the front early with Kirsten Reilly curling a left-footed effort home from 20 yards out before a Lizzie Arnot penalty made it two before the break. Thistle started the second half well and were rewarded for their efforts with a goal. Clare Docherty won the ball back in the midfield and drove forward, slotting a pass through to London Pollard. The number 23 cut onto her right foot and fired a magnificent effort into the top corner from 25 yards out. That strike seemed to wake Rangers up and the hosts went up through the gears following a slow start to the second period. They quickly re-established their two goal lead through Lizzie Arnot before substitutes Brogan Hay and Kayla McCoy added to the lead. Arnot completed her hat-trick with a header in the 79th minute and Kirsten Reilly got her second of the night to complete the scoring with one minute left of the 90.
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
HIBERNIAN 1. Gabby English 2. Shannon Leishman 3. Amy Muir 4. Siobhan Hunter 5. Toni Malone 6. Leah Eddie 7. Carla Boyce 8. Katie Rice 9. Eilidh Adams 10. Shannon McGregor 11. Colette Cavanagh 12. Michaela McAlonie 13. Emily Mutch 14. Erin Rennie 15. Amy Gallacher 16. Ellis Notley 17. Joelle Murray 18. Alexa Coyle 20. Ria McCafferty 23. Rachael Boyle