One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

The beast that is a Partick Thistle cup run, 2008 vintage, roused itself to see off another contender. As with the previous game against Dunfermline, it may have taken a considerable effort on the part of the home team but in the end the Jags were not to be denied by an opposition who had earlier looked ready to put their aspirations to the sword.

Thistle and Livingston collided for the second time in this years Scottish Cup. The Firhill match was to decide who would progress to meet Premier League opposition in the quarter final round. Both teams had their sights set on a potential big pay day which, in Thistle’s case, could provide much needed cash to bolster thinned resources. The home team were without front man Mark Roberts, still sidelined by a calf injury and Stephen McKeown cup-tied in this competition. There was an expectation that Alan Archibald and Liam Buchanan would return to the side beaten by Stirling on Saturday and so it proved at kick off time. Early reports indicated that the visitors had no problems with selection aside from injury to defender Dermot McCaffrey.

After exchanging what would pass for opening pleasantries, which saw a Buchanan shot blocked away for a corner and a Dorrans run whose ultimate shot was blocked, it was the home team who began to take control. Buchanan, playing mainly wide on the right to allow Donnelly to take up a central position, had a cross blocked for a corner. From this the ball broke to Rowson and the Thistle number eight saw his shot from the edge of the box tipped over by Stewart.

Livingston then fashioned a move involving Makel, Snodgrass and Fox which saw the ball eventually fly just right of Tuffey’s post. The pace continued to maintain a high tempo and in twenty one minutes Rowson played in Buchanan but the Jags forward could not find enough space for a real shot in a box crowded with white-shirted defenders. At the other end the vastly influential Dorrans made another good incisive run but his shot was well wide of the mark.

Harkins, playing in an advanced role from the middle of the park, was looking to win high balls played in his direction. And it was during one of his sorties that he was to win a high ball twice in quick succession and his release of Donnelly saw the number tens shot blocked away for a corner. As affairs moved into the second part of the first half Livingston began to show signs of taking control. A break by the visitors saw Craig break clean through and Tuffey was called to make not one but two saves to relieve the threat. Just after the half hour mark Snodgrass was the provider whose break arrived eventually at Dorrans and his curling shot was well dealt with by Tuffy. Two minutes later the same Livingston striker was to outwit two Thistle defenders and his shot across the goal was only just wide of Tuffey’s left post.

So it came as no surprise when the visiting number seven was to finally punish some slack Thistle defending. A poor header from Storey, who Dorrans was giving a very hard time to, saw the ball break to the West Brom bound forward. This time his curling shot from fifteen yards evaded the diving Tuffey and the visitors were a goal to the good. Thistle at this stage were being outfought, out run and out-muscled in almost every area of the park and as the teams trouped off at half time many home supporters were thinking that the West Lothian men would go on to finish the job off in the second half.

Gary Harkins had an early chance to level the scores but after driving his way into the box and composing himself for a shot he somehow slid the ball narrowly wide from a great position. From the outset of the second half things changed and not to the advantage of the Red and Yellow. Kinniburgh replaced Storey, it seemed that the intention was to move Robertson out to full back to try and dampen down Dorrans. But that move was to become redundant almost immediately when two minutes into the second half Robertson pulled up limping, a damaged ankle appeared to be the problem and he was replaced with McKinlay.

This resulted in moving Harkins to the right back position and McKinlay taking up position in the mid-field. And in the time that it took for Thistle to readjust Livingston caught Twaddle both waving and drowning. Tuffey had to move smartly from his box and the goalkeepers header only found a Livingston foot which returned the ball inches past the left hand post.

Thistle made what seemed to be an early final throw of the dice by replacing Buchanan with Keegan. Matters did not change much to begin with. The visitors still seemed to have the edge and the Jags found themselves chasing the game and losing the fight. Chaplain and Rowson continued to chase over every square inch of brown grass (or green mud) and they were being ably assisted by the new starts Keegan and McKinlay but they did not appear to have enough of an edge to overcome the talented visiting team.

In the seventy third minute a move between Keegan and Chaplain saw the latters shot palmed away by Stewart. Almost immediately Livingston broke up another ineffective Thistle attack and there followed what is known in the trade as a jail break, with no less than four Livingston players rushing through on the Jags goal. When it seemed that Craig must score from inside the Thistle box a quite tremendous covering tackle by Archibald blocked the ball away for a corner. The ensuing cross into the box found the free head of Craig and the ball flashed narrowly past the post

It was round about that time the home team, backed a baying crowd, roused themselves for one final set of efforts. Harkins ploughed through from a wide right position and could not quite manoeuvre enough space to get in an effective shot. McPake was then pulled up for pulling down McKinlay but the free kick was absorbed by the white wall. The crowd were to up their energy level as well as the game entered the last ten minutes.

The Livingston keeper Stewart put even more spark into the Jackie Husband Stand dwellers by refusing to chase a dead ball and then taking his time to place the ensuing by-kick. Thistle broke forward from this kick and won a free kick of their own. The ball into the box was a very ugly effort and the clearance was made all the easier by Thistle forwards who seemed to be looking in all the wrong places for the ball as it bounced up and around the place. Still the Red and Yellow pressed forward and Chaplain’s shot from the edge of the box saw the sinner Stewart spill the ball just around his right post.

And then simplicity itself. The inswinging cross was met sweet as a nut four yards from goal by the head of Twaddle. At that range there was no chance for keeper or defenders to react and the Jags were level with seven minutes left. The home team pressed forward looking to finish the job in regulation time. Twice in quick succession Keegan was caught narrowly offside and the ninety minutes came and went and the teams headed off into extra time.

Still the Jags continued to press and it seemed that they had the fresher legs with Rowson and Chaplain continuing to maraude all over the midfield and Donnelly joining in to good effect perhaps as the game slowed slightly to a pace where he could operate more comfortably. The Jags number seven broke into the box but could not find enough space to get in a telling shot. Just after that Harkins fired a cross into the box but Keegan was not quite in a position to get a telling touch to the ball.

As if sensing that the game was slipping out of their control Livingston started the second extra period in a more threatening mood. A McPake cross was missed at the near post by Craig. And it was the same player just two minutes later who was to break through the heart of the Jags defence by way of a stiff-arm to Archibald’s head but then ballooned his shot high over the bar. Livingston had the last good chance of actual play when a free kick from thirty yards went narrowly past Tuffey’s left hand post.

And so the game entered territory familiar to Firhill Fans. The penalty shoot out. Despite protests from manager McCall, Referee Kenny Clarke chose to have the final showdown at the end of the stadium where waving visiting fans were clearly visible to those involved. James and then Chaplain successfully despatched the first pair of kicks. Then Dorrans followed by Harkins contrived to miss the next two. Fox despatched the fifth kick and, despite Stewart getting a hand to the ball, Keegans converted the sixth. Substitute Weir put away the seventh spot kick and to the horror of the home fans, Kinniburgh skied his attempt high over the bar. That left Mackay to finish the job but he followed Kinniburgh by booting his shot high, over and ugly.

And thus it was that the game really did become sudden death. Makel and then Rowson kept the contest alive at a time when many were struggling to keep breathing. Livingston’s Walker hit the right-hand post with perhaps a helping touch from Tuffey. Then it was the over to Captain Alan Archiebald’s left foot to finally extinguish the Livingston struggle. He duly obliged and suddenly Jags players found enough life to run to their fans in celebration of a cup run that was not yet done.

It seemed that the early energy and undoubted talent of the visitors would triumph. Dorrans is well worth the money that West Brom will pay for him. But there remains an almost indominatable spirit about this Thistle team. Yes, there were times when they appeared to be chasing ghosts and lost causes but eventually the application of Chaplain and Rowson became irresistible. Harkins seemed to solve the enigma that is Dorrans for he had a much less effective second half, and in the heart of the defence Archibald was immense. But it was the unflappable Tuffey who, if you had to pick out one player in particular, was the difference. His calm under pressure, in particular his management of the high ball, was outstanding and he was rightly named sponsors Man of the Match.

Writing a Match Report demands a degree of calm detachment in order to do it effectively. And to do it for one hundred and twenty minutes plus the agony of a penalty shoot is particularly stressful. So if you will excuse me for a moment now that the job is done………. !!!!!

Man of the match: Jonny Tuffey