Jags prove to be just unstoppable
Paterson’sdelightwith100percentrecordsofar
Scott Hadden netted four goals as East Kilbride Thistle hit Mid-Ananndale for six on Saturday to maintain their 100 per cent win rate in preseason.
And Jags gaffer Alan Paterson insists it could have been double figures.
Thistle have won four from four in their warm-up matches as they build towards their first competitive match on August 2, a Sectional League Cup clash with Blantyre Victoria.
They put the game to bed in the first half with all six goals – four from Hadden and a brace from Jordan White – arriving before the break.
Paterson said: “We were expecting to go down there for a really tough test, but it could have been nine or 10.
“Paddy Flannery’s team are hoping to win their league (South of Scotland) this season to get promoted to the Lowland League, so I was surprised by how things turned out.
“But from the first minute we were brilliant. Haddy’s scored four goals from outside the box, we’ve hit the bar and the post a few times and at half-time we were 6-0 up so the game was over.
“I was delighted with the performance.
“We looked a lot fitter than them, even although we started pre-season at the same time.
“That’s the most complete performance I’ve seen from these guys, even when I had them at EK Amateurs.
“But we’ll keep a lid on things because we know there’s tougher games to come.”
Thistle opened the scoring when Hadden whipped a free-kick into the top corner from the edge of the box.
They soon doubled their advantage when Scott Gillespie’s cross found Scott McKean and when his effort was saved White mopped up the rebound from five yards.
Hadden grabbed his second of the day when he met Joe McIntosh’s cross ball and drilled the ball home from 20-yards.
The hat-trick arrived when he beat two players before playing a one-two with Scott McKean and finding the top corner with a composed strike.
White notched his second and Thistle’s fifth when he powered home a header from the penalty spot after getting on the end of a Gillespie cross.
And before the half-time whistle sounded a great team move was executed perfectly when David McKean teed up Hadden to curl a strike into the top corner, capping a fine performance.
Paterson added: “At half-time I think Mid-Annandale were a bit shell-shocked.
“We made a lot of changes and gave some other boys a rest. You end up taking your foot off the gas a bit in that situation.
“The important thing was we built our fitness up and the boys had a good bonding session. Apart from the weather, it was a great day.”
Thistle are hoping to find opponents for a freindly match this evening at the Showpark. They have no scheduled match for this Saturday afternoon.