IT has been obvious for some weeks that the Irn-Bru First Division is going to be a two-horse race this season and Partick Thistle are timing their charge for the line just right.
On Wednesday, they were two points behind rivals Morton; by Tuesday night they could be seven clear and galloping towards the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
Their latest victory, a second in the space of just a few days over Cowdenbeath at Central Park, was coupled by a welcome slip-up from their Cappielow counterparts, Allan Moore's side losing to Raith to further encourage the Firhill outfit ahead of their own trip to Stark's Park tomorrow for their final game in hand over Morton.
Thistle had Kris Doolan to thank once again as they headed home with three points. The striker finished well in the first half before converting James Craigen's cross on the hour to cancel out a Craig Moore equaliser that threatened to throw another spanner in a forever fluctuating championship joust.
Since losing manager Jackie McNamara, Thistle have yet to taste defeat and are on an eight-game winning run under the command of Alan Archibald. The Firhill legend has enjoyed a dream start to his managerial career and Thistle are not prepared to let the hard work go to waste.
"We are delighted he has got the job and we have gone on such a good run," Doolan said. "You see the togetherness of the team when strikers and midfielders are throwing themselves in front of things. Everyone is putting their bodies on the line."
Doolan's crucial strikes on Saturday followed his brace last Wednesday but the forward has not always been as central to Thistle's title bid. Despite often finding himself behind Steven Craig in the pecking order this season, Doolan's weekend double took his tally to 14 as he once again proved natural scoring instincts.
"That is what I am here for, to score goals," he said. "As long as I get in those positions, I know I will score. You want to play but when you look through the squad, there is competition all over the team. That is testament to the manager that he is able to move and shuffle the squad and still grind out results and win the games well."
Thistle might be flying high but things are not going as smoothly at the other end of the table for Cowdenbeath and their player/manager Colin Cameron. With just six fixtures remaining and Airdrie United apparently doomed, they prop up the three teams who are likely to fight it out to avoid finishing ninth and having to take part in the play-offs to preserve their first-division status.
"There is a lot to happen still," Cameron said. "I have told my players to keep their belief. They have worked really hard this season and there is no point in working so hard and then letting it go in the last six games. That is not going to happen. They are a good bunch of boys and the one thing they always give me is effort, and they have got good quality as well. I still believe in the next games we will pick up enough points."
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