Thistle last team standing in Junior Shield

Stewart McDonald’s side reached the fifth round of the competition after a dramatic 2-1 extra time win over Ford on Saturday.

Thistle opened well with both wingers Alan Moore and George Courtney causing the Ford defence all sorts of problems. Alan Moore had the first real chance when he shot wide after being played in by Daniel Brown and then George Courtney had a shot cleared off the line as Thistle went in search of the opener. Ford gradually started to gain control of the midfield and were always dangerous.

The visitor’s pressure paid off eight minutes before half time when they scored when a cross come shot deceived Sean Ward in the Thistle goal and finished in the corner of the net. Thistle stormed back after this and just before the break a poor clearance by the Ford keeper fell to David Drummond but he shot wide with the goal gaping.

The second half saw Thistle taking the game to the visitors from the first whistle and with the introduction of Daniel Boyd and Paul Aiken they started to create openings. Paul Aiken then forced the Ford keeper into a great save as he raced clear after being put through by David Tennant.

Thistle’s pressure finally paid off five minutes before the end when a powerful shot by David Tennant was parried out by the Ford keeper and substitute Colin Corry fired home the rebound to send the game into extra time.

There only looked to be one winner in extra time with Thistle forcing the issue but they were finding the Ford keeper in magnificent form as he tipped a Daniel Brown header wide, but from the resulting corner Thistle struck. Colin Corry’s corner came off the crossbar causing a goal mouth scramble which resulted in David Tennant knocking the ball across goal and David Campbell somehow squeezed the ball home at the back post for what proved to be the winning goal, with Ahoghill holding on for the victory.

The other Junior Shield game to be played involving BSML side Waveney Swifts was called off as Swifts were unable to field a team due to the Christmas holidays and therefore had to withdraw from the competition.