Rose & Thistle FC 2 v 1 Forest Park             (Division 2 Cup)

Two goals from in-form captain Stu Waygood and a penalty save from player-manager Toni Connetta were enough to see-off an experienced Forest Park side and march Rose and Thistle into the semi-final of the Division 2 cup after a battling 2-1 quarter-final win. Putting behind their previous cup disappointments, Thistle were finally able to transfer their league momentum into a cup victory and take a step nearer to finally lifting that elusive silverware.

A large squad for the third week running gave Connetta another selection headache but his decision to stick with the same team from the previous victory against Blackwater was rewarded by Thistle maintaining his 100% management record and producing the first normal time cup win of Thistle’s short history.

Thistle started the brighter of the two teams and within the first few minutes Forest Park were looking defensively vulnerable. A hopeful ball over the top was completely misjudged by the Forest Park centre-back and Lindley raced through from the right only to see his snap shot hit the outside of the near post. The Forest Park defence gained composure as the half wore on and with Thistle’s defence looking as solid as it has been over the last few weeks, chances were at a premium for both sides with Dave Marsden in particular showing all his usual aerial ability following his man of the match performances in the last two games.

Forest Park had the best opportunity of the first half when they were awarded a penalty on the half hour mark after a trip by Phil Leach. Perhaps the Forest Park striker should have listened to Nick Holman’s timely words of advice relating to a cursed ball because despite sending it low and hard to Connetta’s right, the athletic keeper was quick to get a strong hand down to the ball and push it away. Determined to make amends for his earlier mistake, Leach darted in front of the players chasing up and cleared the ball into touch. As half time arrived with the score at 0-0, it was Thistle breathing a huge sigh of relief.

Eager to break the deadlock first, Thistle began the second half in determined mood and were soon in front thanks to their skipper Waygood. A lob shot from inside the area looked to be floating in and with Harris following up a goal looked certain but a splendid save from the out-stretched boot of the agile Forest Park keeper temporarily denied Thistle. Keeping the chance alive, Lindley jinked past one defender before pulling the ball back for Marshall advancing from full back who whipped in a cross which Waygood spectacularly volleyed into the roof of the net to the delight of the home fans.

Lindley had an excellent chance to make it two after Scales broke down the left and turning inside his defender, passed the ball across the face of the goal. The ball slipped past Waygood, leaving Lindley to cut inside onto his left foot but after doing the hard work he could only pick out the despairing lunge of the Forest Park goalkeeper.

The only way for Forest Park to get back into the game appeared to be their dangerous set pieces and the equaliser duly arrived from one. Thistle were given a warning shot as a free kick from the right deceived everyone, including Connetta and drifted into the far corner but the flag was raised and the goal disallowed. Only minutes later Forest Park worked the same free kick again but this time Holman jumped and after receiving a shove in mid air could only watch as his header skidded into the back of the net.

But this was not a Thistle team that were willing to give up quite so easily and the response was immediate. Holman picked the ball up from the kick off and sprayed a pass down the centre towards Lindley who with a deft touch flicked the ball into the path of Waygood. Thistle’s captain shrugged off his defender and hit a powerful shot to the left of the keeper to get his and Thistle’s second.

The instant reply appeared to leave Forest Park shell shocked and Allery was brought on for Gadsten to further stretch their defence. Davison and Gray were introduced to shore up the defence and other than one dangerous free kick that was smashed into the Thistle wall, Forest Park drifted out of the game without creating any real chances. There was still time for Harris and Holman to force decent saves out of the Forest Park goalie late on but Thistle hung on comfortably to progress into the semi-finals and give themselves a real chance to lift a trophy come the end of the season.