Beating Rovers is kids’ stuff for scorer Lawless

AS IF it wasn’t special enough scoring his first goal for the Jags at Firhill since July 2017, match-winner Steven Lawless was even more delighted it was witnessed by his children.

His composed finish three minutes before the interval proved to be the difference against Raith Rovers and ensured Ian McCall’s charges remain a point behind early frontrunners Ayr United.

Their dad having opened his goalscoring account for the season in the opening-day win at Dundee, two of his three kids — Rhea and Braeden — watched him do so in front of home fans for the first time in his second spell at the club.

‘I scored here last year for Motherwell when Queen’s Park were playing at Firhill,’ revealed Lawless (pictured). ‘But scoring here for Thistle was something I was looking to do quickly. Obviously when I scored my first goal for them it was away at Dundee but, as soon as I got that, I wanted to get one here and I’m happy to have done it.

‘You set wee targets for yourself when you sign for a club, you want to get goals as soon as possible.

‘So that’s me got one home and away and it was extra special as two of my kids were here and that was the first time they have seen me score, which isn’t great to say as Rhea is nine.

‘I think Rhea has seen me score but it didn’t really register with her before. This was the first time six-year-old Braeden has been at a game when I scored.

‘My wife texted me about their reaction, she said the two of them were going nuts. They were buzzing. ‘I’ve also got a younger one, Neive, she’s two but wasn’t at the game.

‘This was the first game Rhea and Braeden have been at this year and it was a good wee milestone for me.’

Scott Tiffoney gave Partick a third-minute lead, which was doubled by Lawless before Raith’s Ethan Ross pulled one back prior to the interval.

Ross then spurned a glorious opportunity to clinch a point as he clipped a shot wide when through on goal in the dying stages.

‘I’m annoyed with myself because I score those goals in training,’ he said. ‘I know I should score it. It’s disappointing because I scored a good goal in the first half.’