One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Billy and Jimmy Gibson returned to the starting line-up at the expense of Snowdon and Kilgannon, and this allowed Smyth and Murray to return to their normal positions in the centre and right of defence respectively, Strachan continued in attack with Roberts and Billy Gibson on either side of midfield. Dumbarton made just one change to the side that lost at Alloa last weekend, Robert Walker replacing the suspended Mark Dempsie in defence, alongside former Thistle duo Kevin Gaughan and Jamie Smith.

Stephen McConalogue had the first effort of the afternoon after only a couple of minutes when he curled an effort just over the bar from the edge of the box, but it was the home side who posed the first real threat a few minutes later when McQuilken and Rogers combined to launch an incisive attack, but the latter’s return ball into the box was bundled clear by a combination of Smyth and keeper Kenny Arthur before McQuilken could pounce.

There was plenty of fight and effort from the home side early on, but although a fairly even contest, it was Thistle who looked the more likely side to create an opening. Mark Roberts should have at least tested the keeper in the 19th minute after McConalogue had played him through on goal, but with only the keeper to beat he blasted the ball wide.

A couple of minutes later Billy Gibson’s great cross-field pass picked out the run of Strachan, he used his pace to cut inside and beat Gaughan, but with little support in the box, went for goal from a pretty tight angle and his effort flashed across the face of the goal. The youngster again threatened when he got his head to Murray’s cross, but again was off target.

The closest the home side came to posing any problems to Kenny Arthur was Smith’s header into the side netting from a corner, but with half an hour gone they missed an excellent opportunity to open the scoring when a flowing move caught out the Jags defence and when Winter played the ball into the path of Rogers, like Roberts earlier in the game, he should have done much better than blasting the ball wide from a good position.

McConalogue tested the keeper from close range after being teed up by Billy Gibson, and then Strachan failed to take advantage of a slip by the keeper, taking his time to pick out a cross instead of gambling by going for goal, and then failing to find any of the three Jags players free inside the box.

Kenny Arthur’s first save didn’t come until ten minutes from half time, and it was a fairly comfortable one from Winter’s half-volley after he’d been set up by Gemmell, but five minutes later, Andy Rodgers stunned the Jags with two goals in the space of a minute.

His first came after a corner had only been half-cleared, it fell invitingly for the former Falkirk striker at the angle of the penalty box and he blasted a powerful shot towards goal, Arthur got a hand to it, but could do nothing to stop if flying high into the top right-hand corner.

But if his first was sublime, the second was just ridiculous, and it left Marc Smyth with his head in his hands - no doubt hiding his red face. A high ball was launched down the park and Smyth made a complete hash of it, letting the ball bounce over his head and Rogers was left with a gilt-edged chance, and he took it well, firing low past Arthur to make it 2-0.

Strachan had an instant opportunity to pull a goal back, but couldn’t beat the keeper from 12-yards, and the players trudged off to a chorus of boos at the interval. Early in the second half it didn’t look like things were going to improve, with the highlight of the game so far being the fans “Campbell for England” chant (followed by the equally amusing “Campbell must stay, Campbell must stay - away” at the end of the game), but in the 55th minute McConalogue got Thistle back into the game when he ran onto Billy Gibson’s through ball and coolly slotted the ball low past the keeper.

However, Dumbarton were keen to maintain their fight to stay in the Division and in the 63rd minute Rogers almost grabbed his hat trick when he showed Davie Craig a clean set of heels, but from a tight angle he fired his shot just the wrong side of Arthur’s near post.

The game turned in the 66th minute when Arthur pulled off a great instinctive save to deny John Gemmell from point-blank range after he’d got his head to Rogers’ cross. At around the same time Alloa took the lead against Raith Rovers in Kirkcaldy, and three minutes later Thistle were back on level terms when Strachan chipped the ball through to Billy Gibson and his low ball across the box was met at the far post by Roberts.

Those three things combined took their toll on the home side, as they began to look a beaten team with Thistle enjoying their best spell in the last 20 minutes of the game. Grant Murray had a decent shout for a penalty waved away in the 75th minute when a patient passing move resulted in the ball being lofted through to him but he was bundled over on the edge of the box as he went to control it, only for his claims to fall on deaf ears.

Scott McCulloch then teed up Billy Gibson but his drive was well blocked, the loose ball was eventually stabbed wide to Roberts, but he tamely shot straight at the keeper. At the other end the home fans briefly raised their hopes when Arthur flattened Gemmell as the two contested a high ball in the box, but shouts for a penalty went unanswered.

Then with just three minutes of the game left, Thistle took all three points after an error by keeper Steven Grindlay. He dived full length to try and stop the ball from going out for a corner, which he managed, but in doing so presented it straight to Stephen McConalogue, and the Jags striker turned, and despite being only a couple of yards in from the touchline, calmly rolled the ball into the far corner of the unguarded net.

It was maybe harsh on the home side, but with Alloa winning the result was immaterial anyway, and the only team Thistle took maximum points from this season will be playing in the Third Division next year. For Thistle, although the three points were eventually secured, the game was similar to so many other poor quality affairs, and pretty much typified the season.

Everyone at Firhill would have been hoping for a confidence-boosting performance ahead of the play-offs, as it is, we’re just going to have to hope the players apparent belief that they can turn it on when it matters – is proven to be correct in the space of the next fortnight.Man of the match:
STEPHEN McCONALOGUE - Billy Gibson set up two of the goals while Adam Strachan once again looked lively in attack for Thistle, but the former wasn’t that involved for most of the game while the latter too often failed to produce an end result to his possession today, so for scoring twice, including an excellent finish for the winner, McConalogue gets the nod.

STATS

Attendance: 1,257
Scorers: McConalogue 55, 87, Roberts 69 (PTh); Rodgers 40, 41 (Dum)
Bookings: B Gibson, J Gibson (PTh); Borris, Smith, Dillon, Winter, Gemmell (Dum)

Teams:
• Thistle - Arthur 6, Murray 6, McCulloch 5, Smyth 5, Craig 6, Brady 6. J Gibson 5, B Gibson 6, Strachan 6 (Nicholas 80), McConalogue 7, Roberts 6.
  Unused subs: Snowdon, Hodge, Kilgannon, Stewart.
• Dumbarton - Grindlay, Winter, McQuilken (Dillon 65), Gaughan, Smith, Walker (Ferry 65), Borris, Connell, Boyle, Rodgers, Gemmell.
  Unused subs: McNaught, Gentile, Wight.