Partick Thistle 1 Accies 1

Bell's Scottish Football League Division 1

Firhill Stadium, Glasgow, 18 December 2004

Report by Gilbert Mowat

Accies ended their successful season with a drab 1-1 draw against relegated Partick Thistle. With departing manager Allan Maitland keen to leave on a high it was a reasonably satisfying result although the quality of the football wasn't that great. Maitland gave rookie 'keeper Raymond Jellema his first starting appearance, which meant that Dave McEwan missed his first game in two seasons. The departing Todd Lumsden, Paquito, Marcel Mahouvé and Brian McPhee all started the game.

There was a cracking turnout of Accies fans in the visitors stand - I'm told it was over 500, which was good news for the Partick Treasurer as the club try to sort out their budget for their return to Division 2. The Accies fans were in fine voice and were not about to let the pre-season favourites off the hook. They sang long and loud about the fact that Thistle were being relegated but were also not slow to let Accies - and especially Allan Maitland - know just how much their efforts were appreciated. There was a barrage of beach balls, balloons plus the odd lilo and inflatable dolphin being flung around as the game started.

There's not an awful lot to say about the football itself. Thistle took the lead after 21 minutes when referee Willie Young allowed a Thistle attacker to prevent Raymond Jellema from going out to collect a corner. Accies failed to clear the ball and it was sent wide to Stephen McConologue in a good position. He fired the ball in hard and low and Jelly would have easily collected it had Mark McLaughlin not stretched to divert it into his own goal. Accies had a couple of chances to score in the first half, notably when both Brian McPhee and pat Keogh were denied by fine saves by former Accies ballboy Kenny Arthur in the Partick goal.

Accies had to make a change before the interval when Paquito got a thump on the ankle when clearing the ball inside the 6 yard area. He was stretchered off to warm applause from the Accies fans behind the goal. It was a sad way for his brief Accies career to end as his arrival from Raith Rovers had made a huge difference to the defence. He was replaced by returning skipper Steven Thomson and he quickly prevented Accies from going two goals behind when he back heeled a back post header from McConologue off the line.

Accies had to make another change at the break with Todd Lumsden being replaced by Colin Cramb due to injury. Another sad end to the Accies career for a decent player; Todd had proved himself to be a vital part of the squad for the last two seasons but is another player paying the price for the switch to full time football at Accies. By this time, Sandy Hodge was playing with a bandage around his head and he had to leave the field several times to get the bloody bandages replaced. It turns out to have been a superficial injury that just needed three stitches. But ti was typical of the big guy's attitude that he just got on with things and had another excellent game.

With Accies attacking the visitors end in the second half, things were a bit more enjoyable in the second half. Accies grabbed an equaliser after an hour through a bundled effort by Lee Hardy. It came after a fine Brian McPhee cross had been headed into the air by a Jags defender. It fell nicely to Pat Keogh, who tried a rather ambitious overhead kick. The ball was heading wide until Hardy arrived to thrust his body at it. It wasn't a great finish but he did enough to force the ball over the line.

Accies never really looked like scoring again, although Brian McPhee was disappointed to be judged to be offside on the couple of occasions when he had a chance to do something. After 78 minutes, Allan Maitland decided that the end had come for The Bee and he left the field to his last standing ovation. A fitting end for a great Accies player who will be remembered with great affection. The Bee was replaced by young Paul McLeod, who looked very keen and will hopefully get more chances in the future.

Thistle blew a great chance to seal the game but their effort was blocked on the line. This was the cue for something I'll miss about the Jags as Dick Campbell threw his bunnet to the ground in exasperation.

With the final whistle came another standing ovation from the Accies fans for the entire squad, especially Allan Maitland. The coaches and management joined in on the park and several players threw assorted boots and shirts to the Accies fans. It was a great end to the season, even if the game hadn't been up to much.

With a new management team arriving next week and a bundle of new players due to arrive before the new season things will be very different. But the outgoing regime of Allan Maitland, Denis McDaid, Jimmy McQuade and James Ward have given them a damn fine club to build on.

Partick Thistle: Arthur, Anis, Fleming, Billy Gibson, Snowdon, Madaschi, Andy Gibson (Milne 58), Brady, McConalogue, Hinds (Stewart 70), Ross (Cameron 82). Subs Not Used: Murray, Bennett.

Goal: McLaughlin 21 og.

Hamilton Accies: Jellema, Paquito (Thomson 39), Hodge, Lumsden (Cramb 46), McLaughlin, Hamilton, McArthur, McPhee (McLeod 78), Keogh, Mahouve, Hardy. Subs Not Used: Carrigan, McEwan.

Goal: Hardy 60.

Att: 2,806

Ref: W Young

©AcciesWorld 2005

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