THE wait was an anxious one, but it proved worthwhile for Partick Thistle.
Thoughts would surely have started to turn towards extra-time among the travelling support, and perhaps on the Jags bench too, as the clock ticked on at Recreation Park yesterday afternoon, but a late intervention proved a decisive one.
Jackie McNamara's side will take their place in tomorrow's draw for the next round of the Ramsdens Cup, courtesy of the second-half goal from substitute Kris Doolan that was enough to see off Irn-Bru Third Division outfit Clyde.
"We huffed and puffed and were a bit slack at times in the last third," McNamara said. "When they are camped in, it is important you get the first goal. It was a test of character for us. That is maybe a game we would have drawn last year."
McNamara handed starts to all four of his summer signings – Aaron Muirhead, Hugh Murray, Sean Welsh and Steven Lawless – yet it was one of the Thistle old guard who would come closest to opening the scoring.
A Paul Paton cross was met by Chris Erskine and, as his header looped over keeper Jamie Barclay and the net rippled, the Jags legions thought they were up and running for the new season. It wasn't to be, however, with Clyde breathing a sigh of relief as Barclay gathered the ball from behind his goal.
Thistle continued to dominate, but frustrations were growing as they struggled to force Barclay into any meaningful action. On the half hour, McNamara's side came even closer as Lawless saw his free kick from the edge of the area rise narrowly over the bar. It was little surprise that the second half followed a similar pattern, with Thistle seeing plenty of the ball yet unable to find that elusive killer pass. Welsh saw two headers saved, but it was McNamara who would have the biggest say on proceedings after sending on Doolan to replace Christie Elliot in attack.
Within minutes of his arrival Doolan fired Thistle ahead, the substitute reacting sharply to round the keeper and ease Partick nerves after Barclay had fumbled a long-range effort from Stuart Bannigan.
"It was a tough test and we knew that," Clyde boss Jim Duffy said. "But I thought the commitment from the players was tremendous."
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