Thistle hit the ground running after winter break to end Formartine’s dream of a shock

Partick Thistle darted past Formartine United 4-0 at Firhill and the Highland League club’s skipper Paul Lawson praised the Jags for the way they went about their business, writes Craig Stewart.

The North Lodge Park side had been hoping to catch the Glasgow men cold after their three-week winter break but Thistle fielded a strong starting XI who were always in control. Lawson said: “I knew they would treat us with respect as I know the characters of their management team. They also have quality players who went about things in the right manner.”

Partick took the lead after ten minutes when a Sean Welsh free-kick was turned into Chris Erskine’s path by David Amoo and he scored from ten yards.

Welsh then teed up Steven Lawless to net from 20 yards with half an hour played and, within a minute, Erskine, pictured, skipped through to slide home the third.

Abdul Osman flicked home a Lawless cross on 64 minutes to complete the scoring, with Jamie Masson and Conor Gethins missing chances to put Formartine on the score sheet.

Partick boss Alan Archibald said: “We were professional to ensure that we would not be subjected to a shock.”

St Johnstone also made safe progress with a 2-0 success over visitors Stenhousemuir, both goals coming before the break. Steven Maclean headed in after six minutes to put Saints in control and Blair Alston’s deflected shot put the game beyond the Warriors.

Morton’s fine season continued with a 2-0 win over Falkirk at Cappielow. Jamie Lindsay forced the Greenock men ahead from close range on 39 minutes and Ross Forbes scored a scrambled effort at the start of the second half to seal the triumph.

Dunfermline Athletic saw off Alloa Athletic 3-2inatie that was not as competitive as the score-line would indicate. Nicky Clark thumped the Pars ahead before Paul Mcmullan’s cross found the net to make it 2-0 and Joe Cardle drilled home the third on the hour. Stefan Mccluskey headed a goal back but Greg Spence’s second was too late to put the visitors under real pressure.

Ayr and Queen’s Park will meet again tomorrow night after a goalless draw at Somerset Park, while East Fife’s recent signing Nicki Paterson thumped in a volley to see off hosts Livingston 1-0.

Stirling Albion and Clyde will also replay after a roller-coaster 2-2 draw at Forthbank, where Dylan Nguene Bikey put the hosts ahead and then struck to give them a second chance. In-between, Peter Macdonald scored a brace for Clyde but had a penalty saved by Cammy Binnie.