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Cirencester Town 0

Partick Thistle 6

By Danny Hall

THREE goals in each half saw Scottish Premiership side Partick Thistle return to their temporary base at the University of Bath very satisfied after an impressive workout against the local Southern Premier opposition.

But Cirencester Town, who had managed just two training sessions before this early warm-up game, will have been happy to get their pre-season up and running in earnest with some minutes of game time.

Manager Brian Hughes has so far signed little more than half the squad he will have on the opening day of the season, so these games are a chance for potential players to catch his eye.

Hughes included former Shortwood United captain James Coates who finished the season at Hellenic Premier Division Brimscombe.

Town were understandably chasing shadows in the first half as Thistle played the ball sweetly around the park – and their finishing was superb.

Chris Erskine opened the scoring in the 12th minute. David Amoo, who was lightning quick down the right flank all night, fired in a cross which eventually broke to Thistle’s No.10 and he spun neatly before finding the net with a slick first-time finish.

The visitors added two more goals late in the first half as Ciren’s efforts to harry their slick opponents began to take its toll.

Erskine doubled the lead in the 38th minute leaving a lunging Ciren defender on his backside with a smart turn before carefully placing the ball past debutant Harvey Rivers in the home goal.

Steven Lawless, who had looked dangerous throughout, skimming the bar with a screamer in the 16th minute, got the goal his first-half performance warranted in the 43rd minute with another cultured finish.

James Penrice also came close from the edge of the box late on in the half with an audacious left-footed first-time volley which crashed back off the post.

Ciren had worked hard but the nearest they came to a goal was when Ben Brown nodded a back-post corner narrowly wide in the 36th minute.

Ex-Hereford keeper Rivers was not at fault for any of the goals but did impress with his speed off the line and his strong left-footed kicking.

The hosts made eight changes at the start of the second half, experienced duo James Mortimer-Jones and Adam Connolly remained in midfield while captain Mat Liddiard dropped back to play at centre half alongside triallist James Fawke.

The second half failed to catch fire until past the hour mark when two goalkeeping errors allowed The Jags to extend their lead.

Mathias Pogba, brother of France’s Euro 2016 star Paul Pogba, had come on for Erskine soon after the break and he chanced his arm from distance in the 63rd minute.

Replacement keeper Josh Langley, a target for Shortwood United, could only weakly palm the ball on to the bar with Ryan Edwards following up to nod it home.

In the 75th minute it was 5-0 as Langley spilled a cross from Michael McMullin and Pogba gratefully accepted the gift.

Thistle finished the scoring seven minutes later when sub Kevin Nisbet was played clear in the box and he squeezed the ball past the advancing Langley.

Aidan Bennett fizzed a couple of chances wide at the other end while sub Alex Dinsmore pounced on an error by Thistle’s Conor Cullen only for the keeper to redeem himself by saving with his legs.

Prolific ex-Slimbridge striker Paul Fahy showed glimpses of what he can offer, while Ben Prictor gave a very solid second half display.

Partick, who brought down a large squad and a respectable number of supporters, now move on to play Bath City on Saturday.

Meanwhile Ciren return to fitness work and the search for new players ahead of their next outing at Brimscombe on Saturday.

Cirencester Town (first half): Rivers, Coates, Bevan, Brown, Liddiard, Hoskins, Connolly, Mortimer-Jones, Griffin, Else, Knight.

Cirencester Town (second half): Langley, Ballinger, Prictor, Fawke, Liddiard (Youngsam, 72), Francis, Connolly (Dinsmore, 65), Mortimer-Jones (Ferris, 72), Fahy, Bennett, Green.