And a Happy New Year to you too, Rab
Arbroath manager Dick Campbell went through a range of emotions in Inverness yesterday before his side pulled off a surprise victory in the Caledonian Stadium. That was the signal for a warm handshake
Thistle boss Ian Mccall dedicated yesterday’s victory, which lifted his side out of the relegation zone for the first time this season, to major shareholder Colin Weir, who sadly passed away on Friday.
He said: “I didn’t want to be sycophantic in the team talk but I mentioned Colin because he has done an awful lot of things for us as a club. It is a great three points and we dedicate them to Colin.
“I only met him for the first time three weeks ago so I don’t want to say too much but it has hit a lot of the directors really hard.
“It would have been a travesty if we hadn’t won it. It was never a penalty kick. It was just a poor decision, but I probably made about five of them today.” Honours were even coming into yesterday’s match with victories for each on their respective home grounds so far this season, but it was Thistle who edged in front after just five minutes when Osman Kakay crossed from the right for Joe Cardle to cleverly step over and allow Alex Jones to drill the ball past goalkeeper Danny Rogers from eight yards.
Thistle almost added a second after 10 minutes when Stuart Bannigan’s deflected 20-yard effort curled just wide.
Morton finally settled and created an excellent opening three minutes later when Adam Livingstone cracked the ball across the face of goal, but Jim Mcalister couldn’t get the vital final touch.
Referee Craig Napier was at the centre of controversy on the half hour mark when he adjudged Thistle’s Reece Cole to have barged into Reece Lyon as he tried to get on the end of a knock on from Mcalister at the back post.
The referee pointed to the spot and booked both Jags pair Cole and Cardle as tempers flared. Kyle Jacobs kept his cool to fire home.
The Jags came out positively after the break with the outstanding Cole just off the mark with a fantastic 30-yard curling attempt after 51 minutes.
Morton had a long-range effort of their own five minutes later when Nicky Cadden tried his luck from 25 yards but his free-kick flew wide.
Thistle went back in front in 61 minutes. Ex-ton star Tom O’ware forced Rogers into a marvellous near post save, but from Cole’s resultant corner from the left O’ware turned a close-range volley into the net.
Ton boss David Hopkin said: “It was two sloppy goals and we shot ourselves in the foot. We seem to do it every week.
“The first goal was schoolboy stuff. We knew they were going to be a threat from set-plays. It was one of those games where I would have taken a point. Nobody is cutting us open. It’s all down to individual errors.”
Morton:
(4-1-4-1) Rogers 6; Welsh 6, Grant 6 (Muirhead 66, 4), Jacobs 6, Mcalister 6, Nesbitt 7, Lyon 6, Cadden 7, Sutton 5 (Colville 76, 3), Livingstone 5 (Strapp 61, 4), Baird 6. Unused subs – Ramsbottom (Gk); Millar, Orsi, Blues.
PARTICK THISTLE:
(4-4-2) Fox 6; Williamson 6, Penrice 6, O’ware 7, Cardle 6 (Zanatta 72, 4), Bannigan 7, Miller 7, Jones 6 (Harkins 83, 3), Cole 8 (Palmer 88, 2), Kakay 7, Saunders 6. Unused subs – Sneddon (Gk); Mcginty, Slater, Robson.
God Bless Colin!
A man who made a difference to the youth at Partick Thistle. Thank you xx @Leeonhey11