Nisbet’s Par Four sees a clinical Dunfermline crush Thistle
DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC 5
Nisbet (pen 4, pen 22, 31, 50), Martin (10)
PARTICK THISTLE 1
Cole 75
Dunfermline appeased their fans in the best possible fashion after last week’s Scottish Cup exit at the hands of League One opponents Stranraer by way of a spectacular demolition of 10-man Partick Thistle.
Their victory was structured on the back of a superb individual performance from striker Kevin Nisbet who recorded four goals against the beleaguered Maryhill side.
Pars manager Stevie Crawford was delighted with the response from his players after the previous weekend.
“It was a really clinical first-half performance,” he said. ]“The disappointment from the Stranraer defeat was there for all to see and I have to give credit to the boys for providing a reaction like that.
“I was delighted for Kevin Nisbet – we’re getting a great goal return from him just now.”
No doubt anxious to capitalise on the confidence generated from recent results and looking to negotiate an escape route from their precarious position at the foot of the Championship, Thistle fielded what looked to be a strong attacking line-up.
But manager Ian McCall’s plans were thrown into disarray after only four minutes when they found themselves both a goal behind and a man down.
Dunfermline’s Greg Kiltie dispossessed a rather careless Tam O’Ware wide on the right wing before advancing on goal and the backtracking Jags captain, clearly intent on atoning for his error, fouled Kiltie deep inside the penalty area.
Referee Mike Roncone was left with no alternative but to brandish a red card to O’Ware and point to the spot from which Nisbet stroked home.
Faced with the monumental task of taking something from the game with only ten men for the remaining 86 minutes, Thistle imploded and found themselves four goals adrift before retreating to the sanctuary of the dressing room at half-time.
Lewis Martin put Dunfermline two ahead in 10 minutes, firing in a low shot from Kiltie’s pass and a second penalty, awarded shortly afterwards when Reece Cole upended Nesbit, gave the striker the opportunity to add to his tally and make it 3-0.
Nesbit completed his hat-trick just after the half-hour with a blistering 20-yard shot and he recorded his fourth of the afternoon early in the second half, knocking the ball past overworked Jags keeper James Sneddon from close range after being set up by Tom Beadling.
In the midst of this Fife goalfest, the numerically disadvantaged visitors, who were forced to sacrifice Joe Cardle early on as McCall restructured his side in the aftermath of O’Ware’s dismissal, had offered absolutely nothing in attack, having spent the bulk of the game battling to stem the relentless flow of Dunfermline attacks.
The frustration of the travelling support was evident as early as the 30th minute when the Thistle fans began trickling towards the East End Park exits.
But those who stayed at least had the consolation of seeing their team claw a goal back with 15 minutes remaining, Cole curling home a 35-yard free-kick.
“I can’t analyse that display,” said a clearly shaken Thistle gaffer Ian McCall. “We were confident of winning but the game was turned on its head after four minutes. It was an awful day for the club.”