The ex-Queen's Park defender, who has signed a three-year contract with the Firhill side, scored the opener in the 25th minute.

Simon Lynch challenged for a Marc Twaddle cross, and the ball dropped for Paton to send a shot into the net from the edge of the box.

The Jags increased their lead through striker Mark Roberts in the 72nd minute.

Roberts, who is approaching his fourth season with the Firhill side, secured his second pre-season goal by steering the ball into the net from the corner of the six yard box following a header by new signing
Ian Maxwell, the former Morton defender.

Thistle's fans will be hoping that Paton's goal is a sign of things to come, and it can only get better following last week's news that Ian McCall has secured the services of another Queen's Park player, Paul Cairney.

However, the Jags faithful will have to wait a little longer before they can see the 20-year-old midfielder in action as he will spend the first half of the season with the Spiders before joining up with his new team-mates in January.

The midweek victory against Stirling marked an improvement for the Jags after they lost 1-0 to Brechin City on Saturday, with Charlie King grabbing the only goal of the game in the 55th minute.

And with only two more friendlies to go before the first competitive game of the season, the players do not have much time to shape up their game.

Ian McCall and Gerry Britton have confirmed they have been working the squad hard by putting them through double training sessions in preparation for their upcoming matches.

Thistle take on Carlisle on Saturday for their first pre-season home match before they entertain Owen Coyle's Burnley on Monday.

Kick-off for Thistle's match against Carlisle is 3pm and the game against Burnley will start at 7.30pm.

McCall's men will then play Queen's Park on Saturday, July 26, in the first round of the Challenge Cup.