HIGH-FLYING THISTLE TOO GOOD FOR ARBROATH

This was Arbroath’s 13th cup tie against last night’s opposition but there was nothing unlucky about this latest defeat, which was no more than they deserved following a relentlessly negative display at Firhill. Partick Thistle have now lost just one of their ten matches this season and will look forward to tonight’s Premier sports Cup quarter-final draw with confidence. They left it late to grab the all-important goal from Aidan Fitzpatrick but they were on top throughout and, on another evening, would have won by a greater margin, a point manager ian McCall accepted. ‘We had some good chances and missed some sitters but credit to Arbroath. They put their bodies on the line and their ‘keeper made some great saves,’ he said. ‘it’s all about getting through.

‘i was just glad that we didn’t get frustrated and kept passing the ball. We kept playing football.’ Winless in five games coming into this tie, Arbroath were very much second best during the early exchanges and a lapse of concentration should have seen them fall behind after only seven minutes. Michael McKenna attempted a passback without having noticed that Thistle skipper Ross Docherty was lurking behind the last Arbroath defender. Docherty could have shot first-time but chose to dribble round goalkeeper Derek Gaston. A heavy touch left him with an angle too acute for a shot but striker Anton Dowds, following up, was unmarked and certain to convert. Docherty’s square ball lacked conviction and accuracy, however, and Gaston gathered. Arbroath had another escape in the 30th minute when Gaston kept out an angled drive from Jack McMillan and Dowds scooped the rebound over the bar. The visiting goalkeeper saved his side again in the 42nd minute, turning a piledriver from Dowds behind for a corner. Gaston excelled himself again in the 72nd minute by diving to his left to push away a netbound drive from substitute Brian Graham. however, the winner arrived with only nine minutes left and it was another substitute, Fitzpatrick, who headed home a cross from steven Lawless. Beaten Arbroath boss Dick Campbell said: ‘i have no complaints as Partick were by far the better side.’