One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Written by Paul Dorrian

Partick, the original Thistle, took on the young Pretenders from the north in this fourth round cup replay at Firhill Stadium. The prize for the victor a choice quarter final draw in the nations capital, yet more of Mr Murdoch’s monetary manna and the small matter of bragging rights over their rivals. History was on the side of the Red and Yellows, since Inverness had never before prevailed in their visits to Firhill. Yet current form favoured the men from the Highland capital since they had only tasted defeat twice on their travels this season. Intrigue indeed, played out under a darkened Maryhill sky.

Thistle lined up without the services of Scott McCulloch and Sandy Hodge, who was ruled out by an ankle knock from Saturday’s game against Morton, Boss Dick Campbell was aiming to have his team focus firmly on this fixture rather than look beyond to the next round. Inverness were without Roy McBain but added Ross Tokely and Grant Munro to the squad who drew at home with Kilmarnock at the weekend. Charlie Christie’s immediate ambitions were to improve on his side’s recent showing by defending better as a team and not leaking goals.

And for many the surprise lay with Dick Campbell’s decision to go with Billy Gibson lining up at left full back and Darren Brady being recalled to play in the middle of the park. The action began fast and early with Thistle having the first chance. Caley keeper Brown was forced to come sharply to collect the ball at the edge of his box with McConalogue threatening. Soon after it was the visitors turn to pressurise Thistles goal. Kenny Arthur had to make a good one handed save down to his left to turn the ball away for a corner to Caley.

The visitors were almost gifted a goal after thirteen minutes when a moment of indecision between Arthur and Smyth allowed Dargo to nip in and slip the ball into the middle of the Jags goal. But Smyth was quick enough to recover and slide the ball to safety just short of the line.

Almost right away Thistle broke up the park. A well judged pass by Jimmy Gibson found Adam Strachan making speedy progress down the left wing. His delivery into the box was blocked away for a corner. The kick from the left by McConalogue was met by the head of Strachan at the front end of the six yard box. This touch was enough to carry the ball to the back post where Mark Roberts pounced to slot the ball high into the top of the Caley net.

Thistle’s lead was to last only ten minutes. Caley applied pressure down the Thistle left and a neat pass from wide on the wing found a good run by Black. He hit the bye line and his cut back narrowly evaded the sprawling Arthur and Wyness was left with an easy tap in at the back post.

Caley looked to move the ball quickly from defence with variations of neat one touch passing and long balls into channels behind the Thistle full backs. Thistle’s response was to chase and press whenever Caley had possession and key to this was the tireless work of Jimmy Gibson, who fought for everything and showed a great deal of flair when going forward.

For the next twenty minutes the game was played very much in the middle of the park. Neither team could make another telling blow. Caley finished the half with a series of inconsequential corners but the main talking point was an obvious pass back to the Caley keeper which was completely ignored by referee Calum Murray.

The second half was similar to the latter stages of the first, with both teams probing but neither could gain a significant advantage over the other. Jimmy Gibson had a good chance on 48 minutes as Thistle worked the ball neatly into the left hand channel of the box but his shot was weak and did not trouble keeper Brown. In fifty five minutes a corner from Thistle bobbed around the Caley box but neither Strachan nor Roberts could get into a solid shooting position.

In sixty six minutes McConalogue had a good chance with one man to beat, but as he had done frequently he failed to give himself enough space and the shot went harmlessly wide. The Jags continued to press and good work saw the ball played all the way across the edge Caley box but Brady was intercepted before he could pull the trigger for an effective strike.

In 75 minutes thistle had half-hearted claims for a penalty turned down. A long ball from Kenny Arthur found Mark Roberts in the corner of the Caley box. He appeared to be pushed to the ground but the referee waved the play on. The drama of penalties would wait a while longer.

With extra time looming both sides rang changes. The Thistle replacements would prove significant. Ritchie and McConalogue were withdrawn and in their place came Gillies and Kilgannon. This allowed Dick Campbell to push Strachan and Roberts into more advanced roles.

In fact with three minutes of normal time left it was Kilgannon who was presented with a good chance. The ball was worked wide to him at the corner of the box but he pulled his shot well wide of the left hand post. The last good chance of normal time fell to Wyness. After good work down the Caley right the ball was played into the former Hearts striker but his shot was scooped well over the top.

For extra time the teams lined up shooting in their original directions. The first real chance fell to Caley after poor work from Kilgannon saw the ball given away in a threatening position but the situation was cleared by Grant Murray. The end of the first period saw Thistle come close to settling the tie when a long ball into the right hand corner was chased and recovered by Strachan. With no support on hand he squared up the full back accelerated past him and drove a fierce shot goalwards. This was deflected away for a corner by Tokley who turned his shoulder into the shot without knowing too much about it.

The beginning of the second half of extra time saw the last significant move by Thistle. The tiring Darren Brady was replaced in midfield by Will Snowden. Mark Roberts had two good chances, one in the final minute a header straight at the keeper but neither side could finish the tie off and so the teams lined up with arms linked on either side of the centre spot to witness the penalty shoot out at the Maryhill end of the ground.

In front of the small Caley travelling support Craig Dargo Struck the ball comfortably past Kenny Arthur. Thistle responded by sending goal hero Roberts to the spot. His kick was sweetly struck to the left past Brown. Wyness was next up and his weak kick was caught between the legs of the diving Arthur.

With nerves rapidly reaching shredding point up strode Ricky Gillies to slam Thistles second penalty past Brown and put the Jags 2-1 ahead. Tokley was next for Caley, and his effort was struck to Arthur’s left but the big Thistle legend got down well to make a one handed save. There was an air of the unbelievable as Kilgannon struck the ball sharply past the Caley keepers right and although Barry Wilson delayed the moment a shade longer by converting, it was Will Snowden who stepped up to score and send the home fans wild with delight and the visitors homewards with the strains of ‘SPL yer havin a laugh’, and ‘easy, easy’ ringing in their ears.

It was a typical cup tie according to Dick campbell. Both sides had their chances. Both sides played with passion and endevour and a little skill. But in the end it came down to who had the nerve on the night and it was the nerves of the real Thistle from Glasgow which held firm.

Where’s that Edinburgh train timetable?

Man of the match:
Adam Strachan - There were few disappointments on the night and it would be churlish to pick holes in a team performance. Roberts and Billy Gibson both had strong showings. Murray and Smyth both made some very timely interceptions and Kenny made some vital saves not least the two penalties at the end. From this reporter’s personal point of view, the tirless tackling and running of Jimmy Gibson combined with a string of telling forward passes and surging runs made the wee man the Man of the Moment. But on the day he signed a new contract, it was young winger Adam Strachan who was named MotM, as he was involved in almost everything positive that Thistle did, and also helped set up the opening goal.

STATS

Attendance: 3,166
Scorers: Roberts 15 (PTh); Wyness 24 (ICT)
Bookings: Murray (PTh); Black, Tokely (ICT)

Teams:
• Thistle - Arthur 6, Murray 7, B Gibson 7, Boyd 7, Smyth 7, Brady 6 (Snowdon 105), J Gibson 8, McConalogue 6 (Kilgannon 83. 5), Strachan 8, Ritchie 6 (Gillies 83. 5), Roberts 7.
  Unused subs: Craig, Stewart.
• ICT - Brown, Tokely, Hastings, Dods, Munro, Hart, Wilson, Duncan (Proctor 71), Black (Fox 78), Wyness, Dargo.
  Unused subs: Fraser, Golabek, Bayne.