14 May 2016
Partick and Hamilton share points in finale

Partick Thistle and Hamilton shared four goals in an entertaining final-day draw to cement Premiership finishes in ninth and 10th place respectively.

All four goals came inside the first 20 minutes, Kris Doolan opening the scoring with a header from a corner.

Eamonn Brophy equalised from the penalty spot for Accies before David Amoo headed Thistle back in front.

But Brophy rounded the keeper to level, and might have had a hat-trick in the second half but his drive hit a post.

That opening period provided terrific entertainment, though neither management team would have been delighted with the defending on view.

Accies' debutant keeper Alan Martin saved well from Amoo low at his near post inside the first two minutes, but from the resultant corner the visitors fell behind.

They failed to properly deal with the delivery from James Penrice - the impressive 17-year-old full-back - and the ball eventually bounced towards Doolan, who headed in his 14th goal of the season.

Indecision at the other end soon allowed Accies to pull level. Ryan Scully stuck out a leg, which impeded Danny Redmond, prompting referee Alan Muir to award the penalty, which was coolly converted by Brophy.

Managers routinely express fury at losing goals from set-pieces, so when Martin Canning's side conceded a second goal from an almost identical scenario to the first, the Accies boss - a centre-back himself - would surely have been furious.

Again Penrice swung the ball in from the right, Frederic Frans headed goalwards and almost on the goal-line, Amoo helped the ball into the net.

But Accies' response was even quicker this time as Brophy was left completely unmarked to collect Greg Docherty's pass, round the keeper and slot the ball in.

Talented youngsters impress

Twice in the second half, Brophy was denied a hat-trick by the frame of the goal - first a 25-yard drive came back off the post and later the striker curled a shot against the crossbar.

Aiden Nesbitt was a livewire for Thistle and came closest to a winner for the home side when he lobbed Martin but, like Brophy, was denied by the crossbar.

Nesbitt's was one of several impressive displays from some of the talented youngsters on show - Penrice and David Wilson also shone for Thistle, while Brophy and Docherty showed great promise for Accies.

There was almost a fitting farewell for another Accies youth academy product, Ziggy Gordon, who will leave the club in the summer.

But with the goal gaping and 90 seconds remaining, he blasted over the bar to ensure the spoils were shared.

  • Line-ups
  • Match Stats
  • Live Text

Line-ups

Partick Thistle

  • 12Scully
  • 2MillerBooked at 67minsSubstituted forMcInallyat 89'minutes
  • 13Frans
  • 3Seaborne
  • 29Penrice
  • 18Wilson
  • 16Nesbitt
  • 7AmooSubstituted forNisbetat 61'minutes
  • 19Edwards
  • 11Lawless
  • 9DoolanSubstituted forPogbaat 73'minutes

Substitutes

  • 17Lindsay
  • 21Leyden
  • 25McInally
  • 27Nisbet
  • 35Gallacher
  • 99Pogba

Hamilton

  • 26Martin
  • 6Gillespie
  • 2Gordon
  • 4Devlin
  • 3Kurakins
  • 21Docherty
  • 10RedmondSubstituted forCunninghamat 78'minutes
  • 11CrawfordSubstituted forHughesat 81'minutes
  • 12KurtajSubstituted forD'Acolat 70'minutes
  • 30Boyd
  • 20Brophy

Substitutes

  • 1McGovern
  • 9D'Acol
  • 33Hughes
  • 34Tierney
  • 35Cunningham
  • 39Kelly
  • 42Reilly
Referee:
Alan Muir
Attendance:
2,971

Match Stats

Home TeamPartick ThistleAway TeamHamilton
Possession
Home48%
Away52%
Shots
Home14
Away17
Shots on Target
Home6
Away3
Corners
Home4
Away1
Fouls
Home14
Away9

Live Text

Match ends, Partick Thistle 2, Hamilton Academical 2.

Full Time

Second Half ends, Partick Thistle 2, Hamilton Academical 2.
Attempt blocked. Steven Boyd (Hamilton Academical) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Matthew McInally (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right.
Attempt missed. Ziggy Gordon (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Foul by Steven Lawless (Partick Thistle).
Steven Boyd (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Substitution, Partick Thistle. Matthew McInally replaces Gary Miller.
Attempt missed. Alejandro D'Acol (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Foul by Gary Miller (Partick Thistle).
Antons Kurakins (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Ronan Hughes replaces Ali Crawford.
Attempt missed. Aidan Nesbitt (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high.

Substitution

Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Ross Cunningham replaces Daniel Redmond.
Eamonn Brophy (Hamilton Academical) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the right side of the box.

Substitution

Substitution, Partick Thistle. Mathias Pogba replaces Kris Doolan.
Aidan Nesbitt (Partick Thistle) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Attempt missed. Kevin Nisbet (Partick Thistle) header from the centre of the box is too high.

Substitution

Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Alejandro D'Acol replaces Gramoz Kurtaj.
Attempt missed. Kevin Nisbet (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
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