Clyde 1-4 Partick Thistle

Mar 2 2008 Alan Mcmillan Reports

DEADLY Damon Gray grabbed his first two goals for Thistle and revealed he would love to stay at Firhill.

The 19-year-old hitman, signed on an emergency short-term deal from Hibs, cancelled out Craig McKeown's opener to begin the fightback.

Gray then grabbed the Jags' fourth after Mark Roberts and Scott Chaplain got their names on the scoresheet in a win that does nothing to ease Bully Wee boss John Brown's relegation worries.

And hero Gray said: "I've been welcomed into the dressing room and am enjoying the chance to prove myself at a level above reserve team football.

"I'm here until March 22 and after that we'll have to wait and see. But if there isn't first-team football available to me at Hibs I'd be happy to stay.

"After getting two goals I can't wait for the next game."

The day started badly for Thistle when Clyde raced ahead in 10 minutes.

Steve Masterton's free-kick found skipper McKeown who beat Jonny Tuffey with a powerful header.

But Ian McCall's side equalised four minutes later. Clyde failed to clear a Simon Storey free-kick and when the ball was played back into the box loan star Gray shot home from six yards.

It was 2-1 after 29 minutes. Defender Marc Twaddle fired in a free-kick that deflected off the boot of team-mate Mark Roberts and flew in to the net with keeper David Hutton having already dived the other way.

Clyde found themselves further behind in 37 minutes. A Storey free-kick was knocked on by Twaddle and a clever dummy by Gray allowed the ball to run on for Chaplain to slam home a right-foot shot.

Clyde began the second half with Christian Smith on in place of Masterton and Kevin Bradley on for David McKay.

But Thistle remained in charge and only the bar stopped David Rowson making it 4-1 with a thunderous shot.

Gray then struck again 12 minutes from time. The forward chased a long ball and beat McKeown for pace before coolly slipping the ball past Hutton.

Furious Clyde boss Brown said: "If we continue to play like that we won't be second bottom of the league - it will be rock bottom and we'll go straight down.

"We started well then chucked it and that is not acceptable. They should all take a good look at themselves over the weekend.

"I won't be letting any of them talk to the press. They need to start doing their talking on the pitch."

Jags gaffer McCall said: "We had some terrific performances from the players and it's good to have young Damon here while our top scorer Liam Buchanan is out injured."

MoM: Gray (Partick)