Match Report
Thistle welcomed a free from suspension David Rowson back into the team for this match and there was also a slot in the defence for Martyn Corrigan as Paul Paton and Paul Cairney dropped out of the sixteen.
On a difficult playing surface the opening exchanges of this game did little to inspire the crowd of just over 2,000. County perhaps had the better of the opening quarter of the game winning a number of corners which the Thistle defence dealt confidently with.
It took Thistle until the 18th minute to pose any threat to the County goal. David Rowson and Liam Buchanan linked up well which earned Thistle their first corner but Conroy's corner was a poor one and County were able to clear.
In the 31st minute the game came to life with a Thistle goal. A gem of a through ball from Jackie McNamara picked out Liam Buchanan with Liam, after taking a touch to steady himself, knocked beyond McGovern and into the corner of the net.
The remainder of the half belonged to Thistle who were perhaps a little unfortunate not to extend their lead. In the 39th minute Buchanan pushed the ball through to Steve Lovell but McGovern in the County goal was sharp off his line and was able to block Lovell's shot.
As Thistle attempted to press home their advantage John Robertson was able to get his head to a Ryan Conroy corner but McGovern, with David Rowson in close attention, was able to make another important save and ensure that County went in at the break trailing by just Buchanan's 31st minute strike.
County were close to levelling the game in the first minute of the second half. Substitute Steven Craig squared the ball for Garry Wood but Jonny Tuffey was somehow able to scramble away Wood's point blank range effort.
A Scott Morrison swerving shot nearly caught out Jonny Tuffey but he was alert enough to push the shot out as County enjoyed the early pressure in the second half.
The game's next goal though was at the other end. Thistle broke quickly with David Rowson's cross cleared at the expense of a corner kick. Conroy's corner was only cleared as far as Bryan Hodge who promptly returned the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Although Thistle had a two goal advantage it wasn't game over and in the 64th minute County were close to reducing their deficit. Jonny Tuffey doing exceptionally well to keep out a Gardyne effort with his legs with Greg Shields on hand to complete the clearance.
A third Thistle goal would surely have sealed the points and that goal nearly arrived in the 68th minute. A deft flick from Steve Lovell put Liam Buchanan clear on goal but this time he rather skewed his shot and it went wide of target.
From a position of starting to look fairly comfortable with a two goal lead with 15 minutes remaining Thistle found themselves back in a real fight for the points. County substitute Barrowman lifting the ball into the net from close range with Thistle looking for a foul.
Thistle nearly restored their two goal lead just two minutes later. Liam Buchanan and Simon Donnelly combined well with the latter seeing his shot turned round the post by McGovern for a corner.
It was a tense closing few minutes for Thistle with 4 additional minutes having to be negotiated before the points were safe.
