William hill ScottiSh cup

PARTICK THISTLE 4 Erskine (10, 31), Lawless (30), Osman (64) FORMARTINE UTD 0

THISTLE easily swept aside the challenge of Highland League outfit Formatine United thanks to Chris Erskine’s double and goals from Steven Lawless and Abdul Osman.

Firhill manager Alan Archibald was delighted with his side, who were three ahead at the interval.

Archibald said: “Getting an early goal from a set-piece settled us down and we built on that.

“In the second half we eased off slightly and looked to score the perfect goal. Credit to our opponents as they made things difficult.”

The Jags handed out a warning on eight minutes when Lawless sent a volley that nestled on the roof of the net and, just two minutes later, Archibald’s side got their noses in front.

A flighted free kick from Sean Welsh reached David Amoo on the right byeline and his touch back was despatched home by Erskine despite a valiant effort from Ewen MacDonald.

A Garry Wood header that rose over the bar on 27 minutes gave Thistle a reminder that their lead was still only a slender one at that stage.

That changed on the half-hour mark with two goals in a minute.

Lawless cracked in a low drive from 20 yards after playing a onetwo with Welsh and then Erskine made no mistake after Doolan sent him clear.

Thistle brought on Mustapha Dumbuya at half-time for his first game of the season following an Achilles injury.

Doolan and Erskine both went close in the opening stages of the second half before Firhill skipper Osman grabbed the fourth goal on 64 minutes.

He flicked home from eight yards after Lawless picked up a short corner and curled over a teasing cross.

The visitors twice came close to grabbing a consolation goal in the final 10 minutes with Jamie Masson twisting clear before firing wide and then Conor Gethins firing past with Tomas Cerny’s goal gaping.

Visiting manager Kris Hunter said: “When I saw their team I knew they were treating us with full respect and the way they went about things shows they are a top side.”