Football: BRECHIN DONE BY AN OLD JUAN TWO; PARTICK.......................3 BRECHIN .....................0.
Byline: Colin PATERSON reportsSPANISH sensation Juan Ramon Escalas made himself an instant hero with the Thistle fans by bagging a brace on his competitive debut.
The new boy grabbed a goal in each half to add to Billy Gibson's early opener as the Jags cruised past Brechin into the second round.
The margin should have been wider but talented Brechin keeper David Hay saved Jamie Mitchell's first-half penalty.
After a long summer that eventually saw Partick's relegation from the SPL confirmed in the courts it was time to get on with the job of simply playing football.
Co-bosses Derek Whyte and Gerry Britton were impressed with the 1-1 midweek draw against Fulham but rang the changes for the visit of Dick Campbell's men.
Seven players were dropped although there were starts for new signings Andy Dowie, Stevie Fulton and Escalas.
Like the Jags, Brechin were relegated last season and will be among the favourites for the Second Division championship this term.
The Angus part-timers look a formidable force on paper with the impressive Hay well protected by towering central defensive duo Shaun Dennis and Scott Walker.
And with the talented Charlie King, Ally Mitchell and former Caley Thistle hitman Paul Ritchie in front of them, no one will fancy a trip to Glebe Park.
It wasn't long before ref Ian Fyfe had to make his first big decision of the season, awarding the Jags a penalty in the 11th minute.
Midfielder Willie Howie beat the visitors' offside trap to latch on to Mitchell's pass and was one-on-one with Hay.
As Howie tried to round the grounded keeper, Hay sent him crashing to the deck and was lucky to only see yellow.
On another day he would have walked but Fyfe showed great common sense - and allowed the goalie to redeem himself immediately.
Mitchell stepped up to take the spot-kick but watched in horror as his right-foot effort was superbly beaten away by Hay, who punched the air in delight.
Walker tested Jags keeper Kenny Arthur with a stinging shot after 30 minutes.
But the Jags weren't to be denied and found the back of the net just four minutes later.
Derek Fleming's corner fell perfectly for Gibson who fired the ball home from close range.
Thistle doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time.
Jean-Yves Anis barged into the box and passed to Escalas who bundled the ball beyond Hay.
Thistle paraded two new signings during the interval. French hitman Armand One and fellow striker Leigh Hinds - who signed from Aberdeen an hour before kick-off yesterday - were both given standing ovations.
Anis surged forward in the 52nd minute and passed to Escalas who unselfishly set up Mitchell but he screwed a poor shot wide.
Three minutes later visiting boss Campbell decided to go on the offensive, replacing King with Chris Templeman. It made little difference, though, as rampant Thistle made it 3-0 with a simple goal in the 61st minute.
Fulton's in-swinging corner found Escalas who made no mistake from six yards.
The poacher should have bagged a hat-trick in the 68th minute when Howie fired in a low cross but strike pal Mitchell swiped the ball off his toes and blasted wide.
Escalas was given another chance minutes later but this time a last-gasp block by Ritchie denied him his moment of glory.
Brechin sub Graham Gibson sent a shot flying well wide as his side sought a late consolation.
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| Title Annotation: | Sport |
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| Publication: | Sunday Mail (Glasgow, Scotland) |
| Date: | Aug 1, 2004 |
| Words: | 572 |
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