Partick Thistle 3 Raith Rovers 0: Visitors sent packing as home side secure a semi-final berth

Monday 10 September 2012

Twelve second-half minutes proved decisive for Partick Thistle as they yesterday beat Raith Rovers to book a place in the Ramsdens Cup semi-finals.

Partick Thistle 3 Raith Rovers 0

Custom byline text:

Chris Jack

The home crowd had to be patient for their team to spark into life but Jackie McNamara's side eventually turned on the style, a three-goal burst at the start of the second half enough to see off their Fife opposition.

"I think we can play better," McNamara said. "There wasn't much in the first half, it was a bit scrappy. Our keeper has had a fantastic save from their corner. The first goal was crucial in the game, we got a lift from that and got the shackles off, if you like, and started passing the ball. There was a 12-minute period when we killed the game off."Thistle did have first-half chances. Paul Paton and Sean Welsh came close from range and Stephen O'Donnell saw his shot saved by Allan Fleming after he cut inside from the right flank.After going in all square at half-time, Thistle emerged to quickly go up a gear, with Chris Erskine at the heart of their attacking forays. He owed some his first of the afternoon to the industry of Steven Craig, the on-loan Ross County striker bursting down the left wing to find his forward partner unmarked, but his own skill shone through as he controlled the ball and fired low into Fleming's net. Minutes later, the roles were reversed as Erskine's cross enabled Craig to stab home the ball from close range.The best was still to come from the home side's mercurial striker as he put the tie beyond Raith Rovers' reach before the hour mark, collecting Paton's raking pass with a sublime touch before showing composure to beat the defence and curl the ball beyond Fleming from the edge of the area.The goal marked the end of a disappointing afternoon for the visitors and a busy weekend for Fleming, who had played for Kelty Hearts against St Andrews in the Junior East Super League the day before appearing in front of the television cameras."The manager phoned me last Friday and asked if I would be available to sit on the bench," Fleming said. "I got the go-ahead from Kelty, then I got a call on Thursday to say to not rule out the possibility of playing because Ross [Laidlaw] got injured in training. It was only confirmed on Saturday night that I was starting."

Contextual targeting label:

Block list

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Partick Thistle 3 Raith Rovers 0: Visitors sent packing as home side secure a semi-final berth

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED