Hugh MacDonald
IT was the sort of night that testified to the fleeting joys of football in the raw.
It was appropriate, then, that a graduate from the school of Kello Rovers and Auchinleck Talbot should dominate the match.
Kris Doolan, the 28-year-old Partick Thistle striker, had never enjoyed such an evening in senior football. His four goals in the 5-0 thrashing of Hamilton Academical at Firhill marked a performance of unprecedented success.
Doolan, who was brought to Maryhill from Auchinleck in 2009, has made his reputation as a skilful, clever forward who has scored, roughly, about a goal a game for the Jags.
On Wednesday night, he scored from close-in, with a fine shot, with a superb header and, extraordinarily, with the sort of cute backheel that brightens the darkest of evenings.
"It's massive for any striker,'' he said of the night that has raised his and his team's confidence for the rest of the season.
Doolan, who has been in and out of the Thistle team, admitted his frustration but added: "You need to prove when you come on or when you start games that you can contribute and you can score goals and hopefully I have shown that.''
He said he had not approached Alan Archibald, the Thistle manager, about his intermittent appearances.
"I have been here long enough and I know the manager really well so I know the reasons behind it. I just have to work harder.''
The labour paid dividends and now Doolan looks to a brighter future.
"Everyone in the dressing room was delighted on Wednesday but we have another massive game at Kilmarnock on Saturday so we need to produce another big performance," he said.
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