Thistle toast promotion with treble

Stirling Albion 0 - Partick Thistke 3. THE joyous celebrations at Forth Bank represent a renewal of faith for all those connected with Partick Thistle.

Five years ago, Thistle were relegated from the Premier League in the cruellest of fashions - losing a playoff to Dundee United in the very last minute. The club fell into steady decline after that - even flirting with relegation to Division Three before John Lambie returned to his spiritual home of Firhill.

This season, the team's loyal supporters - of whom more than 2000 journeyed along the A80 to join the party - have been rewarded as Thistle became the first team in Britain to gain promotion.

Following the conclusion of this comfortable 3-0 win over bottom club Stirling the players embarked on a lap of honour.

It was hard not to feel happy for them - years of gloom ending in the Stirling sunshine. This was also a proud day for John Lambie; one of football's most honest and engaging managers.

Initially, he was content to linger on the fringes as his players lapped up the adulation. But he couldn't hold out and was eventually carried shoulder high towards the travelling support who know his passion for the club is as great as their own.

Partick had arrived at Forth Bank needing just a point to clinch their first promotion since 1992 but were determined to make the step up in emphatic fashion.

In that respect, they could not have asked for more compliant opponents. Stirling, battered by Berwick in midweek, will also be departing Division Two come the end of the season, but via the trapdoor to Division Three.

Martin Hardie and Scott McLean have been waging their own personal battle to be Thistle's top scorer this term and are currently level on 16 a piece. But they were upstaged by 28-year-old Swede Peter Lindau, who contributed a hat-trick of well taken goals.

Lindau edged Thistle in front after just four minutes, bashing home a David McCallum corner from virtually on the line.

In a match which was at times engulfed amid a flurry of free kicks and midfield stalemate, Lindau's precise finishing shone through.

He claimed a second goal in 61 minutes, holding off Neil Bennett to fire a sweet 18-yard shot beyond Chris Reid. Lindau completed his hat trick 11 minutes from time, spinning in the box and sweeping his shot high into the net. His standing ovation when replaced by Allan Moore after 85 minutes was thoroughly merited.

Stirling, soundly beaten in the end, had their misery compounded by the 70th minute dismissal of John Millar for his second caution.

Five years ago, Albion were promoted to Division One on this very weekend but their fortunes since, have been bleak.

Until now the same could have been said of Partick but, at last, something is stirring down Maryhill way.

Copyright 2001
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