This weeks fixture took Steins to Paisley on league business, against Erskine YC. On a playing surface as tight any football team would struggle to play the beautiful game. Steins did their best on a tight, bumpy pitch with puppet master Sneddon being the most creative in the busy midfield. Steins were on top from early on and only turned their possession into goals after big Mope got on the end of a corner to open his and Steins' account for the day. Erskine looked susceptible to cross balls and big Craigy emphasised this point when he volleyed home from another quality corner from Benson. Steins were really on top now and pushed home their authority with a splendid overhead kick by the big tall defender Hope. Steins were well in control now and good play down the right hand side, by Dr Stuart and new found wing wizard Gary Wright led to a fourth goal, when McVicar latched onto a through ball and finished crisply. With the game all but over now Thistle relaxed and allowed Erskine some passes of play. With Kay and Fox being turned inside out on Steins' left flank it was left up to Lavery to save their blushes by pulling out three top drawer saves. With Maley and Sneddon working hard with little to show for it, it was clear that one of the flankmen would have to join the fray. It was left up to Wright to step up to the plate, and open his account for the season, with a splendid individual effort. Dancing round two defenders like John Sargeant he fired home from twenty yards.
Being five up at the break Steins took the opportunity to bring some of the second string on. With Craigy and Mope, who had been solid through the first half, being replaced by Laurel and Hardy look-a-likes, wee Marky and Wilcox. Steins continued where they had left off and after great work on the right by Gary Wright, it looked like hard working Benson was eventually going to open his account, but before he could do so a fine diving header by Erskines fullback into his own net thwarted the Steins hitman. Steins started now to attack on the other flank with Fox and Kay making it extremely difficult for Erskine. However credit where credits due Erskine never stopped playing and now started to press the Steins' back line. Their efforts proved dividend when from a corner kick and Lavery doing a superman impersonation the home team got one back. However this was short lived, when after good work by Fox, Kay and Sneddon, McVicar proded home from close range for his second. Steins then replaced the ever present Fox with utility man Warham. The fact that Steins' top hitman had failed to find the net so far clearly annoyed him, as Wallace upped his game and worked harder than yet recorded with the goal keeper having a string of, it has to be said, excellent saves from the hitman to Alsayeds great amusement. Steins now playing fluently trying to increased their goal tally were not disappointed, when their last and McVicars third was probably the pick of todays goals. When McVicar, playing with new found confidence and desire, showed why Thistle wanted him so badly at the beginning of the season. He finished with a spectacular volley from eighteen yards sending a message to Wallace, ''Im on your trail''.
That was the last action of todays match, a thoroughly deserved win by Thistle gained them three valuable points. Thistle head to the west coast next week for a tough tie against West Kilbride in the Lady Darling trophy.
Keeping it real, the Plunge.