The Thistle Archive

Ross County won their final Scottish Premiership match of the season, after Partick Thistle had fought back from two down. Jordan Slew's first goal for County gave the visitors the lead and Yoann Arquin headed their second just after the break. Lyle Taylor nodded in to reduce Thistle's deficit and then set up George Moncur for the equaliser. But Melvin de Leeuw's strike secured victory for Derek Adams' side. With both sides having secured top-flight safety in midweek, the result served only to confirm their final positions in the league. County finish seventh, three places above Thistle. Having shed the pressure of trying to avoid the play-off spot, these sides served up an enthralling end-of-season encounter. Slew dragged an effort wide in 16 minutes after some neat footwork in the area, and four minutes later he finally broke his duck for the Dingwall men. The on-loan Blackburn Rovers striker collected an Arquin pass, beat Conrad Balatoni and then fired low past Scott Fox. Just before the break, County midfielder Alex Cooper tested Fox with a drive from distance which the Partick keeper palmed up into the air. As the ball dropped, Slew headed off the post and collided with Fox, and while the County man escaped with a bandaged wrist, the Jags goalkeeper had to go off, with Paul Gallacher brought on. The visitors doubled their lead three minutes after the interval, as Arquin rose to power home a header from Graham Carey's free-kick. Taylor then sparked Jags' revival, making full use of a few yards of space in the area to head past Mark Brown from Christie Elliott's delivery. The goalscorer turned provider as the hosts hauled themselves level in 73 minutes. He collected a Kallum Higginbotham pass and produced a clever back heel for Moncur, who drilled the ball beyond Brown. Staggies edged ahead again four minutes later, though. Dutchman De Leeuw turned inside Taylor and had a dig that took a deflection off James Craigen and flew past Gallacher. Partick piled forward late on in search of an equaliser but the Staggies stood strong to ensure they headed north with all three points.

bbc.com

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