The Thistle Archive

Media report

26-Dec-2002, bbc.com

HIBS AND JAGS SHARE POINTS. Hibs and Partick Thistle shared the Boxing Day spoils at Easter Road following a dramatic finish to an entertaining match. The home side enjoyed the bulk of possession but fell behind after 77 minutes when Alex Burns netted a free kick following the dismissal of Hibs keeper Nick Colgan. 10-man Hibs battled back and earned a deserved equaliser when skipper John O'Neil scored a late penalty. Each team drops one place in the table with the home side falling to sixth and the Jags slipping down to ninth spot.

It was a scrappy start from both sides with play being cluttered up in the middle of the park and nothing in the way of meaningful attacks in the opening spell. The first attempt on goal did not arrive until the ninth minute when Hibs forward Francisco Luna headed Craig James' looping cross from the left over the bar. Luna's strike Mixu Paatelainen also saw a header go too high 11 minutes later afer a great free kick delivery from James. Thistle gave the home side a real scare two minutes later when Stephen Craigan's long throw was flicked on by Martin Hardie and Britton poked the ball just wide from close range. Hibs were finding it hard to break down the Jags and were reduced to long range efforts with visiting goalkeeper Kenny Arthur called upon to thwart shots from James and O'Neil. Hibs started the second half with more purpose and Paatelainen headed wide from another decent cross from left wing-back James. But the on loan Sunderland player was guilty of wasting a decent chance four minutes into the half when he tamely shot straight at Arthur from the edge of the box when the ball was sitting up nicely for him. Gary Smith then shot high over the bar from 25 yards.

Hibs were coming closer all the time and Yannick Zambernardi almost brought Easter Road to its feet in the 59th minute with a drive from fully 35 yards which whizzed just past the post. However, fortune was to smile on the visitors with fifteen minutes of the match remaining when Hibs goalkeeper Nick Colgan was sent off for pulling down Jamie Mitchell just outside the penalty area. Substitute keeper Tony Caig came off the bench with Luna being sacrificed and his first action was to pull Burns' free kick out of the back of the net. The home side staged a late rally and their efforts were rewarded when substitute Derek Townsley was upended in the penalty box by Daniele Chiarini and O'Neil swept home the 89th minute penalty.

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