Sparta almost took the lead midway through the first half, but Paddy Kelly's long range effort was parried by the keeper who gathered the ball at the second attempt.

The best chance of the first half fell to Ruairidh Grenfell. He was played through but his touch let him down under pressure, and the ball hit the post and went out for a goal kick.

Midway through the second half, the Thistle XI took the lead after a corner was poorly dealt with, and the ball was stabbed home at the back post.

Sparta then had plenty of chances to level the match. Andy McIntyre twice came close with headers. Paddy Kelly also had another good long range effort across the face of goal, which went just wide.

The best chance for Sparta fell to Ruairidh, but he was denied by a fine save from the Thistle keeper.

Sparta's last clear cut effort fell to debutant Kevin Lafferty, but he put his effort wide.

Overall it was a pretty uneventful game, but it was good to be back in action after a month of inactivity.

Squad: Sutherland, Deans, Walker, Sangster, Donnelly, Condron P, Condron Joe, Condron James, Gailey, Lafferty, Kelly P, Nelson, McIntyre, Grenfell.