Partick 1 Livingston 1

Last updated : 09 August 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Partick had to settle for a share of the points from a game they should have won.

Both sides showed many changes from last season's teams and it was Thistle's new boys who appeared to settle more quickly with Stephane Bonnes and James Grady combining well after just three minutes.

However, Grady's shot was easily saved and the referee waved away his vain appeals for a penalty.

Thistle continued to control the game but found themselves up against a well patrolled Livingston offside trap.

As the game settled down the unusual heat appeared to be taking its toll as both sides toiled to make any clear chances.

Thistle opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Ken Milne fired home from 25 yards out with Livingston keeper Roddy McKenzie only able to watch the ball flash high into the roof of the net.

Livingston tried for an equaliser but good defending and poor finishing particularly from Theodore Whitmore kept the score 1-0 at half time.

The second half began with Thistle again on the attack and Stuart Taylor's cross should have been finished off but was cleared for Thistle's first corner of the match.

In the 47th minute Grady thought he had doubled Thistle's lead but his snap shot was touched over the bar by McKenzie.

Livingston were coming more into the game and Fernando Pasquinelli almost caught the Thistle defence out when he ran clear in the 55th minute but his chipped shot was well saved by Jakup Mikkelsen.

Fernando Pasquinelli did however score Livingston's equaliser in the 77th minute when he made good John Paul McBride's poor play before making room for himself to shoot home into the far bottom corner from eight yards out.

Livingston will feel they should have claimed all three points when Marvin Andrews found himself with a free header six yards out after 85 minutes but his header went the wrong side of Mikklesen's post.

Both sides had to settle for a point each which will probably suit Livingston more than Partick.