MANAGER’S NOTES BRIAN GRAHAM
I want to begin by welcoming Dean Gibson and everyone at Hibs to Petershill Park for today’s SWPL1 match. This will be our fourth match against Hibs this season and third in the space of the last month, so we’ve got to know each other very well over the last few weeks. Our latest game against them was our superb 4-2 victory in the quarter final of the Scottish cup which has given us a semi final to look forward to in two weeks time. However, we must put that out of our minds and concentrate on today’s important league match. Our two best results of the season have probably been the two victories over Hibernian here at Petershill, we have to take confidence from that today but we are also aware that Hibs are a very good side and will certainly be looking to make up for those defeats. I spoke before the Celtic game last week about doing ourselves justice in that match and I thought we did. We were disappointed in the end to lose the match and that says a lot about our performance, not just in the match itself but over the last number of weeks where I feel we’ve performed well and on some occasions not got the result we deserved. There is a great spirit amongst the group at the moment. They are enjoying coming to training and feel they can win each time we go onto the park and that is fantastic for me to see. Our next match is that Semi-final which everyone at the club are looking forward to. It will be a massive day for the club and for all the girls and hopefully a day they will all enjoy and remember. We would love to see a big Thistle support there on the day. It would really make a difference for the girls to walk out at Falkirk and see a sea of Red and Yellow in the stand. 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
28.11.21
Away
Aberdeen
SWPL1
P-P
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
01.05.22
Neautral
Glasgow City
Scot CUp
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
(6)
Amy Bulloch
15(7)
Summer Christie
2(4)
Emma Craig
3(2)
Danica Dalziel
7(4)
1
Clare Docherty
22(2)
5
Rachel Donaldson
10
1
Demi Falconer
29
1
Taylor Fisher
1(7)
Colette Fleming
10(5)
Jade Gallon
3
Lauren Grant
3(1)
Jade Greenshields
2(2)
1
Taylor Hamil
5(5)
1
Freya MacDonald
20(6)
2
Cara McBrearty
25(1)
8
Teigan McCann
10(9)
5
Cheryl McCulloch
25
2
Taylor McGlashan
6(3)
Rebecca McGowan
23
Lauren McGregor
22(1)
Louise Magilton
1(3)
Kim Murphy
17(1)
Eva Payne
(3)
Sophie Payne
1(2)
London Pollard
6
2
Cheryl Rigden
9(13)
1
Rosie Slater
21(4)
Eleanor Smith
5(7)
Linzi Taylor
13
Ellie Vernal
2(1)
2
3
4
CHERYL MCCULLOCH PLAYER INFO
PLAYER INTERVIEW
Name: Cheryl McCulloch Date of Birth: 01/01/1990 Position: Defender Joined Thistle: May 26th 2021 Previous Club(s): Queen’s Park, Hamilton, Dundee United, Glasgow City, Celtic Thistle Debut: v Boroughmuir Thistle, SWPL2, June 6th 2021 First Thistle Goal: v Boroughmuir Thistle, SWPL2, June 6th 20212022 Thistle Appearances and Goals: Apps 33, Goals 6 International Honours: 12 Scotland Under 19 Caps, 2 Goals, 1 Scotland Under 17 Cap We’ve got a big semi final to look forward to, how special are these type of games for a player and what effects does that have on a team? It’s always an exciting prospect to look forward to a semi final. It’s a game the players, coaching staff and club as a whole are looking forward to and everyone should be proud of the journey we are on from the start of the season until now. I think getting to the semi final has given everyone a lift and gave the team belief that we can challenge any team on our day and hopefully we can do ourselves and the club proud that day. You’ve only been here for a season and a half but even in that time how do you feel the club has grown and progressed? The club has definitely grown and progressed on and off the field. The club is definitely moving in the right direction in what has been a very challenging season to adapt to moving up a league with short notice. The club is continually looking at ways to improve on and off the park and that is testament to the people involved in the day to day running of the club, the coaching staff for always demanding high standards from the players and the group of players who have came together and worked really hard to get us where we are just now.
You throw yourself infront of everything on the pitch and no matter the scoreline you always put your body on the line, what does that say about you as a player? I think it’s important to give everything until the final whistle regardless of the result. In all fairness I feel any player in the team would put their body on the line for this team. We are a team who work hard for each other until the final whistle and I think that has showed with some of the performances this season especially the cup games when we have played through extra times and penalties and gave everything we have for each other. You have a demanding job outside of football, how hard is it balancing that and playing football and with so many in the squad doing that how much does that show the commitment of the entire squad? It can be challenging at times but the club and Brian have been very accommodating when it comes to work. There’s times when I’ve come from a nightshift and straight to a game and those are the days that can be tough but once you are on the park you forget about that and the adrenaline kicks in and it’s just about enjoying the 90 minutes and giving everything for the team. There are three firefighters in the team so we all understand the demands of the shifts and playing and we have players who come straight from work most days for training so it shows huge commitment to everyone to continually show up and give the best they can. You’re one of the more experienced players in the squad, how do you enjoy passing the knowledge down to the younger members of the team and being a player they can look up to? I have had the privilege to play with some great players over the years who i have learned a great deal from and I feel it’s important now I’m one of the more experienced players at the club to pass on any knowledge or experiences I’ve had over the time I’ve played to the younger players in the squad. I always try and help players through games as much as I can as I know how valuable this was for me when I was a young player and learning the game.
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
NOT LOSING FOCUS TOM HOSIE
It’s inevitable that thoughts that thoughts are starting to turn towards next week’s Biffa Scottish Women’s Cup Semi-Final with Glasgow City. It is a landmark day in our growth and development as a club. The fact that that game is looming large on the horizon coupled with the fact that there will be no relegation from SWPL1 this season and it would be easy to allow to lose a little focus on the remaining league fixtures this season. It might be easy, but there is absolutely no evidence of that being the case here at Petershill Park. It was disappointing to suffer our third league defeat of the season to Celtic last weekend, but it was another heartening display. Certainly, it was the most competitive that we have been against Celtic in the league season which is a reflection of our continued progress and evidence that not an ounce of focus has been lost on the job on hand. There might be no relegation from SWPL1 this season, but we don’t want that to be the reason why we will be lining up for topflight football again this season. We want to be able to look at the final league standings and say that we earned our topflight status for next season through our own merits. At the start of the season to have been absolutely sure of maintaining top league status we would need to finish no lower than 8th in the league table which is incidentally the position that we currently occupy. Tenth position would have meant automatic relegation and we currently have a comfortable 8-point gap between ourselves and Hamilton who currently sit 10th with both sides having five games to play, including one against each other here at Petershill Park. Ninth position would have meant a play-off with the second placed side in SWPL2 and our gap between ourselves and the current occupants of that position, Hearts, could scarcely be tighter with goal difference alone keeping us above them. It’s not ideal that we have to make a midweek trip to Aberdeen just 48 hours after a semi-final date with Glasgow City but there is more than just thoughts of Scottish Cup glory to occupy our thoughts before this memorable season comes to a conclusion on Sunday May 15th. Or maybe the following week. C’mon The Jags
MATCH REPORT
PARTICK THISTLE 0 v 2 CELTIC After the excitement of the victory over Hibs that took Thistle into the last hour of the Biffa Scottish Women’s Cup, it was back to league action at Petershill Park and a visit from Celtic. Ultimately it would finish in a third league defeat at the hands Celtic this season, but this was Thistle comfortably at their most competitive against third placed side in the league and they stretched their more illustrious opponents for the duration of the full 90 minutes. As often is the case in these types of fixtures it was Celtic that enjoyed most of the game’s possession and they threatened early with a Toland free kick that cleared McGregor’s crossbar. They were close again a short time later, but McGregor was well placed to save Shen’s effort. The Thistle keeper was altogether more stretched when she produced a fantastic save low to her right to push away an Atkinson free kick. There was a chance too for Celtic from the corner that followed, but Shorts lifted her effort over the bar. For all those Celtic chances it hadn’t been all way one traffic. A deflected McBrearty effort had produced the game’s first corner and a long range shot from Donaldson forced a save from Johnstone in the Celtic goal. The better chances though were Celtic’s. McGregor made another impressive save, this time with her feet, to deny Jacynta as Celtic threatened on a swift counterattack. The game’s opening goal arrived after 33 minutes. Depending on whether you were watching the game through Celtic or Thistle eyes there was either a touch of good or bad fortune surrounding the goal. At any rate Wellings tucked the ball past McGregor when the ball broke to her inside the box. Thistle tried to find an equaliser before the half-time whistle and Donaldson dragged a shot wide of target. Thistle’s best spell in the game came in the period immediately upon the restart. A curling effort from McBrearty from 20 yards out dipped just a shade too late and the Celtic defence were hard pressed to scramble clear a Donaldson cross as Thistle well and truly had the scent of an equaliser in their nostrils. The game’s next, and decisive, goal though came at the other end when Wellings was left with a simple fashion after 65 minutes. It nearly became 3-0 almost immediately after with McCulloch making a great clearance from near the Thistle goal line but there was no capitulation from Thistle who never stopped looking for a route back into the match. They thought that they had found that potential route after 70 minutes, but a fantastic McBrearty free kick was just a whisker too high. There would be no further scoring in a match that once again provided evidence of the growth of this side that is developing into a highly capable one. Team: McGregor, Slater, Murphy (MacDonald), McCulloch, Falconer, Docherty, McBrearty, McGowan (Rigden), Taylor, Donaldson (Fisher), Hamill (McCann)
OUR VISITORS HIBERNIAN
While the current league table showing a gap of 19 points between Hibs in fourth place and Celtic in third position, won’t be to their liking Hibernian Women’s Football Club remain one of the biggest names in the women’s game in Scotland. A quick look at their honours list will confirm that fact. The club was founded in 1997 initially under the auspices of Preston Athletic before taking on the name Hibernian Ladies two years later and was rebranded as Hibernian Women in 2020. Three times; in season’s 2003-04, 2005-06 and 2006-07, they have been crowned Scottish Women’s Premier League Champions as well as finishing as runners-up on no fewer than 9 occasions. In addition to their league successes, they have lifted the Scottish Women’s Cup on 8 separate occasions and have been defeated finalists a further four times as well as winning the Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup seven times, most recently in 2019 when they defeated Glasgow City on penalties following a 0-0 draw. That 2019 triumph currently remains Hibs last major honour and while that statistic won’t change this season, they will be determined to add some silverware to the impressive array of trophies that they have already collected. They will be hoping too at some point make a return to European competition with Hibs, alongside Glasgow City and Celtic, being just one of three Scottish teams to have competed in UEFA competition. They UEFA Cups of 2004-05, 2006-07 and 2007-8 and the Champions Leagues of seasons 2016-17, 201718 and 2019-20.
OUR VISITORS HIBERNIAN
LAST 10 MATCHES Date
Competition
Opposition
Score
17.04.22
SWPL1
Rangers (A)
0-5
01.04.22
SWF Cup
Partick Thistle (A)
2-4
26.03.22
SWPL1
Celtic (A)
0-4
23.03.22
SWPL1
Partick Thistle (H)
1-0
20.03.22
SWPL1
Hearts (H)
4-1
13.03.22
SWPL1
Motherwell (H)
7-1
06.03.22
SWPL1
Spartans (A)
0-2
27.02.22
SWPL1
Glasgow City (A)
1-2
13.02.22
SWF Cup
Gartcairn (H)
12-0
06.02.22
SWPL1
Aberdeen (A)
0-1
TOP SCORERS Player
Goals
Eilidh Adams
6
Colette Cavanagh
5
Alexa Coyle
5
Amy Gallacher
3
Rachael Boyle
3
Michaela McAlonie
3
IT'S NEARLY TIME OUR ROUTE TO THE SEMI-FINAL
This afternoon it is league points that we are on the hunt for but next Sunday all eyes will be on the Biffa Scottish Women’s Cup Semi-Final with Glasgow City. Ahead of that game we thought it might be worth spending a few minutes looking back on our route to the last four. Third Round Partick Thistle 2, Motherwell 2 Our Biffa Scottish Women’s Cup campaign was nearly over before it began. The game was deep in injury time and Thistle were trailing 2-1. Motherwell had opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Boyce headed home from close range. Thistle did level after 56 minutes with a well-constructed goal. The move started with a deft pass down the left from Murphy for McCulloch. McCulloch free from her normal defensive role pushed forward down the left flank and when Duff wasn’t able to cling on to her low cross Freya MacDonald was able to bundle the ball home. When Crichton scored direct from a free kick with 14 minutes left though it looked as if that would be enough to take Motherwell through to the next round. Thistle had other ideas though. A McBrearty free kick was met by the head of Clare Docherty and this tie was heading into extra-time. The additional 30 minutes didn’t produce any further scoring and so the teams would be separated by the dreaded penalties. The early advantage went to Thistle when Laura McGregor went to her right to save Crichton’s spot kick and that advantage was pressed home when McGowan netted her penalty. Watson for Motherwell and McBrearty both netted their penalties before Anderson sent her effort over the bar with Fleming making it 3-1 taking Thistle to the brink of the next round. Boyce kept the shoot-out alive, but Demi Falconer had the chance to win the tie and the player more associated with preventing goals rather than scoring them herself made no mistake to send Thistle through to the next round
IT'S NEARLY TIME OUR ROUTE TO THE SEMI-FINAL Fourth Round Partick Thistle 2, Boroughmuir Thistle 1 It looked as if penalties would be required to decide the issue in the fourth round when SWPL2 Boroughmuir gave Thistle a real fright at Petershill Park. Thistle took the lead after 63 minutes when Cara McBrearty converted a penalty following a foul on Linzi Taylor, but Boroughmuir were level when former Thistle player Shannon Todd tucked the ball home following a free kick. That took the tie into extra-time and penalties were just 7 minutes away when Rebecca McGowan was able to tuck the ball home after the Boroughmuir keeper failed to gather a Teigan McCann cross. Quarter-Final Partick Thistle 4, Hibs 2 The memory of our quarter-final win over Hibs is still fresh. Perhaps too fresh for our visitors this afternoon. Thistle took the lead after 30 minutes when Clare Docherty collected a pass from Cara McBrearty before shooting home. The Thistle lead was doubled five minutes before half-time when Taylor Hamill scored following a Demi Falconer free kick. Thistle looked well on course for a semi-final slot when Cara McBrearty made it 3-0 almost upon the resumption following the half-time interval but that third Thistle goal sparked a great Hibs fightback with Leishman and then McAlonie eating into the Thistle lead. Nerves were eased, however, and a place in the last four secured with 18 minutes when Cheryl McCulloch’s header from a McBrearty corner went in off the underside of the crossbar.
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
HIBERNIAN 1. Gabby English 2. Shannon Leishman 3. Amy Muir 4. Siobhan Hunter 6. Leah Eddie 9. Eilidh Adams 10. Shannon McGregor 11. Colette Cavanagh 12. Michaela McAlonie 13. Emily Mutch 14. Jenna Penman 15. Amy Gallacher 16. Ellis Notley 17. Joelle Murray 18. Alexa Coyle 20. Ria McCafferty 23. Rachael Boyle 27. Rosie Livingstone 29. Kirsty Morrison