Following on from last weeks emphatic win at home to Forfar Albion a rather small Thistle squad travelled to Fife to face high flying Kennoway Star Hearts. The previous fixture back in Kirrie resulted in a 3-3 draw, with Davie Millar, Stewart Russell and Robbie George notching. The Budgies started the better and went one up on Kirrie after five minutes when Craig crossed to Brand, via a box scramble, and the winger volleyed in with help of a deflection. The hosts almost doubled their lead straight from the kick off after Simpson played the ball to ex Forfar Athletic player Kevin Byers who struck just over. A returning Kameni had Kirrie's first effort on target testing small from the edge of the box, before Brand almost doubled his tally for Star hitting the side netting from a narrow angle. The opening exchanges saw Thistle work extremely hard to counteract the free flowing Kennoway side, and for that they should be proud, Craig for the home side had their next chance but his goal bound shot was brilliantly blocked by skipper Robbie George. Thistle almost grabbed an equaliser from a Muckersie cross which was head inches over by a Trialist. Muckersie swapped roles minutes later but his shot also failed to trouble Kennoways giant goalkeeper.

Kirrie brought on Stewart Russell at the half for their Trialist, but Kennoway again started very fast and Simpson was unlucky not to double their lead when sent through one on one. The game was thrown wide open when skipper George equalised with a spectacular free kick from fully 60 yards out. After spotting keeper Small off his line the centre half fired his strike goal-wards and with aid of the wind it flew into the back of the net for his fourth of the campaign. Kirrie keeper Knox was forced to make his first save of importance when Brand volleyed well at the near post but Knox did well to flick out for a corner. The hosts were awarded a penalty mid way through the half when Simpson was tripped by George in the box, however when he stepped up his tame effort was easily saved by Knox who dived to his right and clung on. Kirrie then began to step up the pressure and almost went in front through Muckersie's powerful drive from twenty two yards. And then a minute later from exactly the same position, after receiving the ball from Headridge, Muckersie found the back of the net with an impressive rising effort that flew into the side of the goal. The strikers eighth of the season and arguably the best of the lot. The frontman almost got his second when sent through one on one but Small pulled off a good save to deny. Substitutes Russell and Millar linked up well with ten to go on the clock, but Russell's diving header failed to find the target.

Kennoway began to throw everything forward in an attempt to keep their promotion ambitions on course and won a corner. Thistle will be bitterly disappointed that they could not hold onto the three points with Brewster nodding in for the hosts but a point against difficult oppositions shows a large degree of progress. Midfielder Ogg collected his third red of the season in the closing stages for a lunge on Lornie but Thistle managed to keep things tight and see out the game with Knox keeping a Byers header out in the last minute.

Thistle face Kirkcaldy YM at home on Saturday whilst Kennoway have a free week.

Glen Barclay