Five Alive for Jags

An injury hit Partick made it 5-alive at the weekend with a vital away win against promotion rivals Ross County.

Despite the loss of Spanish sensation Juan Ramon Escalas pre match due to a calf strain the Dingwall side had no response to the visitors who deserved more than their 1 goal margin of victory.

 County had the best chance of the early exchanges with the busy Steven McGarry blasting a 20 yarder past the post of Kenny Arthur.

This only served to rouse the Jags who came storming back. Lee Hinds, looking more and more like a bargain recruit from Aberdeen, was only denied a raid on goal by an impressive last gasp tackle by Mark McCulloch .

 If Thistle hadn’t been at their best in the first half the introduction of Willie Howie and Manny Panther gave the Glasgow side added width and within ten minutes of the restart the Jags were up.

 A deflected Willie Gibson effort landed at Partick’s new English striker and you had to hind it to Leigh who was on hand to slot home at the far post.

 It should have been two in 79 minutes when Andy Dowie’s thumping header had the home defence bamboozled but sadly left their crossbar in a similarly shaken state.

 Despite being dominated throughout County almost had the temerity to nick a late equalizer but the ever- dangerous Alex Burke fired over. 

 Four in four then for Hinds. Five wins on the spin for the Jags. The good times are coming back to Firhill now. Thistle are most definitely rising again.

Ross County: Garden, Robertson, McCulloch, McCunnie,Canning, Lauchlan, Rankin, Kilgannon, (Mackay 48),Higgins (Winters 68), McGarry (McSwegan 76), Burke. 

Subs Not Used: Malcolm, McCaffrey. 

Partick: Arthur, Billy Gibson, Milne (Howie 46),Murray, Dowie, Fulton, Mitchell, Fleming, Hinds, One,Anis (Panther 46). 

Subs Not Used: Wilkinson, Andy Ross, Pinkowski 

Att: 2,781 

Ref: I Frickleton (Scotland). 

Big Match Reaction

 Gerry Britton said: "If we are to compete in this league then coming to places like this and winning are vital and I thought we really did deserve to win.  The first half we were a bit guilty of standing off them in midfield and when we made the changes in the second half I thought it helped us immensely.

 “We got width with Manny and Jamie and Willie being there really did bring the best out of Stevie Fulton, who I thought controlled the game in the second half.

 “It was a blow to lose Juan in the warm up.  He was struggling with a tight calf all week and although he could have played at pinch, we have a long season ahead and it was not worth risking a long term injury.

 “We deserved the win and I am delighted with the way things went."