Schalk salvages a point for Staggies but Jags off mark
PARTICK THISTLE put their first point of the season on the board, but for manager Alan Archibald it felt almost like a ninth straight Premiership defeat.
County substitute Alex Schalk cancelled out Blair Spittal’s opener with an 86th-minute spot kick after he was brought down by Jordan Turnbull.
It was another late entry to the action, Thistle keeper Ryan Scully, who was the Jags hero.
Scully, who replaced Tomas Cerny after half-an-hour when the Czech shot-stopper suffered a recurrence of a stomach muscle injury, threw himself to his right to claw away Ross Draper’s 90th-minute header.
Archibald reckoned Scully was entitled to make that save but was effusive in his praise for another he made from Billy Mckay as the Staggies pressed.
The Jags boss reflected: ‘A point is a positive because of where we are, but after leading for so long it feels like a defeat.
‘I thought we dealt really well with their onslaught for the first 15 minutes and after that we created some very good openings on the counter-attack.
‘Again, in the second half it was a bit of an onslaught for 20 minutes and we rode that storm.
‘But the disappointing thing is it was an aimless ball into the box for the penalty.’
County may wonder how they managed to fall behind after peppering the opposition’s goal for 20 minutes.
The enterprising Davis Keillor-Dunn and Craig Curran were especially prominent during that spell.
However, the defence switched off momentarily and were punished when Spittal gathered Kris Doolan’s quickly taken throw-in and shot low past keeper Aaron McCarey.
After three consecutive defeats since beating Dundee on the opening day of the season, County created a raft of chances but lacked a cutting edge.
The introduction of Schalk midway through the second half changed that.
The Dutchman introduced an added sense of urgency to the home side’s play and his persistence won a penalty, from which he sent Scully the wrong way to level the score.
County manager Jim McIntyre felt his side deserved greater reward for their efforts.
He said: ‘In the second half especially we had some really good opportunities.
‘It was really pleasing the way we continued to play after going behind because sometimes when the opposition score against the run of play it knocks you off your stride.
‘Alex and Billy coming on made a major impact, but I’m disappointed we didn’t win.’