Partick Thistle 3 Ross County 2

Last updated : 30 September 2006 By Footymad Previewer
Partick Thistle halted their recent poor run of home results with a hard earned victory.

The game took a while to settle but Ross County moved ahead on 13 minutes after Scott Boyd was adjudged to have fouled Gary Irvine on the edge of the penalty area. Kevin McKinlay made no mistake from the spot.

It took Thistle all of 23 minutes to make Craig Samson work in the County goal, when Pat Keogh's ten-yard header was brilliantly saved.

Thistle managed an equaliser on 33 minutes when Scott McCulloch fired home a 20-yard free-kick.

The visitors had the first opportunity of the second half and really should have taken the lead when Andy Dowie had a free header from six yards, but put it just the wrong side of the crossbar.

The two sides huffed and puffed to make any further clear chances, but both defences held firm until County re-took the lead on 80 minutes when Alex Keddie was given too much space on Thistle's six-yard line to power home a header.

Thistle looked dead and buried at this stage but managed an equaliser in the most unusual of circumstances when, on 83 minutes, McCulloch took a corner which went straight into the net.

The goal seemed to inspire Thistle and they pushed forward for the winning goal which came in the last minute.

Keddie surprised Samson by slicing a clearance and the goalkeeper parried the ball into the path of substitute Stephen McConalogue, who made no mistake from close range.

The goal gave Thistle a victory their overall play deserved, but the visitors will be aggrieved they went home with nothing to show for their efforts.