Tuesday 9th August, 2016 at 7:00am
I am only going back as far as the month of May this year to recall a match Thistle drew, but which they should have won by the length of Tannadice Street. We were immeasurably the better side in the first-half and led 2-0 at the interval. The first goal was a thing of beauty and it arrived after just 6 minutes. Thistle forced a corner on the right. The sweet left foot of young James Penrice swung in an absolute beauty with plenty of pace and big Freddie Frans scored with a flashing header from the edge of the six yard area. In 33 minutes the ever-dangerous Kris Doolan did what he does best, controlling the ball expertly and whipping a low drive into the corner of the net.
With a two-goal advantage the half-time cup of tea tasted very delicious indeed. Everything went to plan until the 66th minute when the unfortunate Freddie Frans gave the home side a life-line with an own goal he could do little to prevent. However, no need to worry. In 76 minutes Ryan Edward restored our two-goal lead with a bullet header. Now there were two options – see the game out or go for another goal and put the game to bed – we did neither. Dundee United came alive, Ofere narrowed the gap in 86 minutes and having previously given a composed performance, we were now flying distress signals all over the place. Eventually, after 92, yes 92 minutes Johnson equalised. One dreads to think what might have happened if the game had gone on any longer.
I don’t know about you but ever since the disaster of the play-off all of 20 years ago, Tannadice gives me the creeps, especially when play nears that bottom goal down by the pavilion, and would you believe it, our seats are now right above that goal where it all unfolded – May 1996 and May 2016. Oh dear, excuse me which I reach for the tranquilisers.
Robert R
P.S. The full team was as follows:- Ryan Scully, Dan Seaborne, Sean Welsh, David Amoo, Kris Doolan, Steven Lawless, Freddie Frans, Liam Lindsay, David Wilson, Ryan Edwards, James Penrice
