Match Report
The journey back to Glasgow for the 152 Thistle fans who travelled to Dingwall and gave the Club fantastic support seemed that bit quicker thanks to two Kris Doolan goal within 2 minutes of each other midway through the second half.
Following Saturday's reverse at home to Clyde manager Ian McCall made a number of changes to his starting eleven for this fixture, not least in terms of the shape of his team. Paul Paton dropped to the bench and the manager elected to operate with a flat back four. There were also starting slots for Scott Chaplain and Lucas Akins.
These changes seemed to have a positive impact as Thistle enjoyed the better of the opening 15 minutes taking a firm grip of the midfield area.
The first chance of the game came in the 7th minute when Gary Harkins was able to get his head to a Stephen McKeown corner kick but his header always looked like being on the high side.
Harkins came close once more two minutes later. After some excellent midfield approach work Harkins curled a shot from the edge of the box just wide of goal.
Thistle continued to do the early pressing and in the 15th minute a dangerous cross from the right hand side from David Rowson nearly picked out Kris Doolan but Doolan arrived just too late to connect with the cross.
After having made such a promising start to the game Thistle rather fell out of the game for the next 20 minutes or so.
In the 16th minute Craig Brewster very nearly benefited from a couple of miscues in and around the penalty box only to see Marc Twaddle clear the ball from close to the goal line.
County began to enjoy more possession as the half wore on and were able to put the Thistle goal under sustained pressure winning a series of corner kicks on both sides of the pitch. The closest they came to a goal, however, didn't come from a corner. Former Thistle player Adam Strachan swung over a cross from the left hand side with Craig Brewster's glancing header slipping past the post.
Although County were on top during this stage of the game they weren't able to create any clear cut openings. An excellent John Robertson tackle denied Martin Scott an opportunity and Scott Chaplain was able to divert a Sean Higgins drive away from goal.
The first half ended with what at this stage was almost an isolated raid on the County goal. Gary Harkins did well to feed the ball through to Marc Twaddle but Malin was able to make a comfortable save from Twaddle's low drive.
As they had done so in the first 45 minutes Thistle started the second half well. Inside the half's first minute a left sides free kick from Simon Storey was glanced toward goal by Marc twaddle with Malin having to turn the ball round the post for a corner kick.
A minute later Thistle had the ball in the back of the net. David Rowson pushed the ball through to Kris Doolan but although Doolan's low shot found the net he was adjudged to have strayed marginally offside.
In the 58th minute Doolan was again unfortunate not to open the scoring. David Rowson was once more the man to play the through ball to Doolan. Doolan had to take the ball wide of goal but his shot still beat Malin but slipped agonizingly wide of the opposite post.
This was all much more encouraging from Thistle but it took an excellent 65th minute save from Jonny Tuffey to keep Thistle level. A cross from the right picked out Steven Craig 10 yards from goal. Craig looked set to score only for Tuffey to get a touch to his fierce shot, a touch that took the ball over the bar.
That proved to be a pivotal moment in the game as 2 minutes later Thistle were in front. Thistle scored some memorable goals in the 4-2 win against Livingston and while this goal was, perhaps, less spectacular it was every bit as good a goal as any scored in that match. Mart Twaddle and David Rowson worked a one-two at the edge of the box with the former's cut back knocked home by Kris Doolan.
After having waited 337 minutes to score against Ross County this season a second followed just 2 minutes later. Kris Doolan was again the scorer taking his tally since joining Thistle in January to five. This time Stephen McKeown was the creator. His pass split open the heart of the County defence and Doolan showed excellent composure to steer the ball beyond Malin and into the net.
The home side naturally threw bodies forward in search of a way back into the game but with the confidence of a two goal lead behind them Thistle defended well and were able to repel all that County had to offer. Jonny Tuffey showing excellent handling on several occasions and John Robertson thwarting sub Daal with a perfectly timed challenge.
Thistle could even have managed a third goal. With just 8 minutes remaining Kevin McKinlay, a sub for Lucas Akins just 2 minutes earlier, was able to gather a through ball only for Malin to beat out his shot.
