Walsh wonder strike wins it for Inverness
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Partick Thistle 1
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2
Scorers – Partick: Bannigan (68) ICT: Doran (65) Walsh (82)
TOM Walsh made a fairytale comeback from injury to score the winner and give Inverness all three points against Partick Thistle.
Aaron Doran gave Inverness the lead midway through the second half but Stuart Bannigan’s cracker from the edge of the box drew the game level for Partick before Walsh’s winner nine minutes from time.
John Robertson kept faith with the same team which won against Dundee United in the Scottish Cup and Queen of the South in the Championship as they looked for a hat trick of wins.
Inverness had the first chance of the game when Aaron Doran won the ball in midfield and released Carl Tremarco down the left wing. He managed to release a shot on goal but he didn’t trouble goalkeeper Jamie Sneddon.
Partick responded when Scott McDonald was allowed to get a shot at the edge of the box but was blocked by Brad McKay to prevent it finding the net.
Inverness piled on the pressure when Joe Chalmers connected with Sean Welsh's cross and forced Sneddon to tip the ball over the bar.
The best chance of the game came after Steven Saunders fouled Liam Polworth 35 yards from goal. Chalmers free kick into the box found the head of Jamie McCart who forced a fine header from Jamie Sneddon.
Partick thought they had taken the lead early in the second half when the ball ricocheted between several players in the box before Steven Saunders fired into the net from close range but was ruled offside.
Inverness took the lead midway through the second half when Doran ran on to a pass from Tremarco and kept his composure to fire past Sneddon from 15 yards.
But the lead only lasted three minutes when Stuart Bannigan unleashed a thunderous drive from 18 yards into the top left corner.
Craig Slater almost gave Partick the lead with 10 minutes to go when he saw his shot rattle the post from eight yards.
But Walsh sealed all three points for Inverness with a stunning volley after latching on to a Doran cross from 12 yards.
Partick Thistle: Sneddon, Elliott, Penrice, Anderson, Bannigan, McDonald, Harkins (Spittal 61), Slater, Mansell (Storey 55), McMillian, Saunders.
Subs (Unused) Lennox, McGInty, Doolan, Fitzpatrick, Cardle.
Inverness: Ridgers, Tremarco, Chalmers, Donaldson, McCart. Poloworth, Doran (Rooney 84) Welsh, White, McKay, Trafford (Walsh 69).
Subs (Unused) C Mackay, McCauley, Austin, McHattie, Machedo.
Referee: John Beaton
Attendance: 2142
