Match Report
The combination of suspension, injury and illness has resulted in Ian McCall making no fewer than five changes to his starting eleven for this fixture with Inverness. Martyn Corrigan made a rare start while Bryan Hodge returned to the heart of the Thistle midfield. The other three changes saw the subs from the previous week against Dunfermline, Steve Lovell, Liam Buchanan and Chris Erskine, start this game.
In an open first ten minutes it was the home side that twice came close to opening the scoring. In the 6th minute Jonny Hayes was threaded through a pass to Adam Rooney who was left with just Jonny Tuffey to beat. The Thistle keeper, however, spread himself well and was able to make a save with his legs.
Three minutes it was his hands that came to Thistle's rescue. Tuffey being able to push away a Foran header after a cross from the right hand side.
It was far from all one way traffic, however, with Thistle posing the home defence more than a few problems. Ryan Conroy's delivery from corner kicks in particular offering hope of a Thistle goal.
In the 16th minute though Thistle did open the scoring. Mark Corcoran had looked in the mood right from the start and it was the white booted wide man that fired Thistle ahead. After turning some 20 yards from corner Corcoran sent a shot into the corner of the net with Esson motionless.
Two minutes later Corcoran again tried his luck. A little further out this time his shot was again on target but on this occasion Esson was able to get down and save at his left hand post.
In the 21st minute Inverness felt that they should have had a penalty when the ever dangerous Hayes went down inn the box but referee Somers saw things differently and booked the Inverness player.
Chris Erskine was posing the home side problems in and around the edge of the box but he was never quite able to direct his final shot on target while in the 37th minute Bryan Hodge sent a 25 yards shot only marginally the wrong side of the post.
A minute later the scores were tied. Hayes found himself with room inside the Thistle box and he shot across Tuffey and into the far corner of the net.
Thistle were more than a little unfortunate not to be back in front before half-time. A Ryan Conroy corner found its' way to Chris Erskine who promptly smacked the ball off the bar.
The first chance of the second half went the way of the home team. Thistle rather needlessly conceded possession of the ball in the middle of the park giving Dannie Sanchez the opportunity to test Jonny Tuffey with a shot that the Thistle keeper did well to turn round the post for as corner.
Nine minutes into the second half Thistle were close to restoring their lead. Liam Buchanan enjoyed the break of the ball inside the box but was denied a goal by an excellent Esson save. When Buchanan was able to return the ball into the danger area the ball was scrambled away for a corner.
In the 67th minute Inverness were handed the perfectly opportunity to edge ahead for the first time. Bryan Hodge was adjudged to have fouled Adam Rooney inside the penalty box and referee Somers pointed to the spot. It was Rooney himself that took the kick but had to watch in agony as Tuffey turned the ball over the bar.
Tuffey was having an excellent afternoon and twice in a minute, firstly from Rooney and then Sanchez, he produced important saves. He wasn't, however, to intervene in the 81st minute when Adam Rooney was clean through only to knock his shot wide of goal.
Just prior to that chance Liam Buchanan spurned an opportunity for Thistle when he took the ball round Esson but found the angle just too tight and he couldn't hit target.
When it looked as if Thistle were set for a point they were dealt a cruel blow in the 88th minute. Inverness were awarded a second penalty when Ian Maxwell was the man this time adjudged to have fouled Adam Rooney. Rooney again took the kick and this time tucked the ball home.
