Doolan’s double marks dream day
IN a week which saw manager Alan Archibald bemoan the number of players who fail to put in the effort required to maximise their talent, how fitting it should be that Partick Thistle propelled themselves into the box seat for a top-six finish thanks to someone who has created something quite magical by making the very most of what he has got.
Kris Doolan was 22 when he arrived at Firhill from the Juniors and Auchinleck Talbot in January 2009. Even now, he could hardly be described as the complete striker, but he has seen off plenty of challengers and, wearing the captain’s armband yesterday following an injury to Abdul Osman, he lived out a dream.
With his side trailing to a Craig Curran strike, Doolan produced a great piece of skill to deliver the 100th goal of his 312-game career at the Jags. The joy when his 101st arrived 15 minutes later to earn a hard-fought win and put them four points clear of seventh-placed Kilmarnock and only four behind fifth-placed Hearts was almost tangible. Doolan is a walking advertisement of what can be achieved. Modest and down-toearth, he is what keeps Scottish football engaging, a guy deeply connected to the Thistle fanbase and proof that hard graft can go a hell of a long way.
Whatever happens in the remaining eight games, this is likely to be the most special season of his career, but he wants to make sure it finishes with Partick being in the top half of the table for the first time since the mid-season split was introduced and aiming for the stars.
‘It is about making memories,’ beamed Doolan. ‘As a team, we want to establish ourselves in the history books at the club. All the boys want to come away with their names remembered.
‘I have scored some memorable goals over the years, but these ones are the big ones. We still have a few games to go to make the top six, of course, but this has gone a long way to helping us.
‘Getting the 100th goal and the winner while having the armband was a dream come true. It means the world to me.’
A poor opening 45 was most notable for Curran and Liam Boyce having penalty claims turned down for the visitors in addition to Alex Schalk, seemingly tugged by Liam Lindsay on 21 minutes.
‘It’s 100 per cent a penalty,’ said County manager Jim McIntyre. ‘Not getting that was a sickener.’
As was seeing Marcus Fraser hit the bar with an angled header from a Boyce cross in first-half stoppage-time. That close call actually turned a turgid game into something pretty entertaining, with County taking the lead just before the hour.
Martin Woods outstripped Lindsay on the right and put a low ball into the box. A challenge on Boyce saw the ball spin out to Curran at the edge of the area and he despatched a terrific left-footed shot into the far corner.
Thistle’s equaliser shortly afterwards was equally delightful, though, and a lovely way for a dogged and determined little professional to reach such a pleasing career landmark.
Doolan received the ball from Lindsay at the edge of the box with his back to goal, took a touch, turned and lashed home a fine, left-footed effort, which beat keeper Scott Fox low at his right-hand post.
Immediately, he lifted his shirt to reveal a T-shirt bearing the message ‘100 and counting’, but referee Willie Collum put a bit of a dent in the party spirit – receiving abuse from the Jackie Husband Stand in the process — by flashing a yellow card.
‘I think I said to Willie that he could book me all day long,’ said Doolan. ‘That top was coming off.’
Undeterred, the 30-year-old kept looking for chances and took the one that came 11 minutes from time, playing a one-two with Adam Barton and finishing from 10 yards.
‘That was the whole point of the message on the T-shirt,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t going to get to 100 and stop.’
Archibald was certainly delighted with events in an afternoon already branded on Thistle’s Twitter page as ‘April Dools’ Day’.
‘If any young player wants to look at someone else for guidance, he’s the man,’ said the manager. ‘He struggles a bit when it comes to pace and strength, but his touch and the quality in his left foot more than makes up for it.’