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| Who Put The Ball In The Rangers Net? Kris Doolan! |
by William Sheridan
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 KRIS DOOLAN07.05.2017 Rangers [h] L1-2 (SPFL Premiership - game 35) Having made a conscientious decision to refuse offers to play elsewhere, Kris Doolan had sacrificed an extra couple of quid in exchange for personal happiness in his working environment, and the opportunity to indelibly stamp his achievements in the history books forever. It was an admirable decision, and one which looked to be wiser with every passing year, as the number nine continued his relentless ascent up into the highest echelons of the all-time Partick Thistle goal-scorers charts. We’re still talking about Willie Paul more than 100 years later, and I’m sure future Jaggy generations will be doing the same with Kris Doolan into the next century. Three goals against Rangers contributed towards his legendary status within the walls of Firhill, but what a pity they were all defeats. This entry is one example where the player’s general credentials are enough to outweigh such disappointments. A 90th minute equaliser in the League Cup Quarter Final of September 2017 vies hard for inclusion, but his opener in a Firhill League encounter on Sunday, 7th May, 2017, was the better goal. Rippling the net at 12:29pm, it was the earliest on the clock in Doolan’s extensive goals portfolio. And what a joy to behold it was.  An unidentified flying object (formally measured as 1.2 Km in height by the official SPFL satellite) was controlled from out of the sky by Doolan. Turns out it was actually the match ball, which he then held up brilliantly before laying it off to the supporting Stevie Lawless, making a run down the left on the main stand side. Stevie jinked past one and played a beautiful cross-field pass with the outside of his left foot, finding the overlapping Christie Elliott who was bombing down the right wing in front of the JHS. Six yards from the bye line, Christie zipped in a cross precisely, and the masterly box sense of Kris Doolan ensured that the invitation was timeously received with the respect it deserved, his diving bullet-header leaving Wes Foderingham with absolutely zero chance of a save. Truly, an awesome team goal. Right there, right then Thistle were riding as high as Jags fans can care to remember in recent decades. We were closing out the season as a Top 6 side, and played Rangers off the park in that first half. Dreamland! (It was good while it lasted anyway.)
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Originally published on 07-Dec-2017 (WAT). |
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Republished here on The Thistle Archive, 07-Sep-2020. |
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Latest edit version 13-Aug-2020. |