AIDAN FITZPATRICK came off the bench to nod in the winning goal ten minutes from time to send Partick Thistle through to the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup as the Maryhill outfit secured a late but deserved win over Dick Campbell’s men.
Arbroath were low on confidence heading into the encounter, without a league win in five attempts to far this season, and the visitors played like it as they ceded possession, sat deep and absorbed wave after wave of Jags attack.
The men from Gayfield struggled to break out of their own half and truly threaten Ian McCall’s side and there was an air of inevitability about Fitzpatrick’s winner.
Steven Lawless reacted well to hoover up a loose ball deep in the Arbroath half and showed good composure to pick out substitute Fitzpatrick, whose cushioned header lofted over Derek Gaston and into the back of the net to book Thistle’s place in the hat for this evening’s draw.
“We had some good chances and missed some sitters but credit to Arbroath – they put their bodies son the line and their ‘keeper made some great saves,” said Thistle manager Ian McCall.
“Ironically, David Mitchell also made a great save right at the end to prevent extra time but that’s football.
“I was delighted when our goal finally came. Ultimately, it’s a cup tie and you just want to go through. If Arbroath had dominated us and we’d still won 1-0 I’d be just as delighted as I am now.”
The majority of the cup tie at Firhill was one-way traffic. Anton Dowds found himself presented with a few decent opportunities but failed to make the most of them and Scott Tiffoney fluffed the occasional half-chance as Thistle attempted to make their supremacy count.
Fitzpatrick’s late intervention drew a sigh of relief from the home crowd but there was still one hairy moment thereafter when Harry Milne’s goal-line clearance denied a certain equaliser after the away side had struck the woodwork moments earlier.
“I have no complaints as Partick were by far the better side,” said Arbroath manager Dick Campbell ahead of the reunion between the two sides in the league this weekend.
“Never in your life would you believe the side I put out as there were six or seven players missing. We didn't create anything until the last few minutes but I have no complaints.
“Partick are on a high just now but the good thing is we get the chance to play them again and we will get that chance on Saturday. Hopefully we will bring a few players in before that and have a few of the injured boys back.”
