THE relief was tangible for Gary Caldwell as he finally achieved his first victory as Partick Thistle manager – even if here was an element of controversy about it.
Having collected just one point from his opening six games in charge, the miserable run ended thanks to goals from Blair Spittal and Miles Storey.
Dunfermline were adamant Storey’s clinching goal should not have stood as the ball was not over the line, although assistant referee Alan Grainger was convinced it was.
Caldwell said: “We’ll take the decision. Miles has pace and when he wants to run behind defenders he must be difficult to play against.
“I’m delighted for everyone at the club. It’s been a long time coming but we got what we deserved.
“It’s a start and we have to put a run of results together. With that desire and commitment, I’m sure we can do that.
“We showed hunger and desire to keep the ball out and we were a threat going forward. There was real energy and good play. We could have scored more goals.
“There wasn’t a player in the team who you could say didn’t do enough.”
Thistle were ahead in 12 minutes when Dunfermline did not deal with James Penrice’s cross and when it broke to the edge of the box Spittal drove a terrific shot into the left corner.
Lee Robinson made fine saves to deny Storey in 21 minutes and then Kris Doolan 10 minutes later as Thistle dominated.
Suddenly The Pars came to life just before half-time but, crucially, the Firhill side survived.
Robbie Muirhead hit the top of the bar with a ferocious left-foot shot in 39 minutes then Danny Devine’s downward header bounced up to hit the bar in 43 minutes before Jamie Sneddon clawed it away.
And in first-half injury time Sneddon superbly pushed Faisal El Bakhtaoui’s header over the top after Ryan Williamson had crossed from the right.
Then came the contentious moment 11 minutes into the second half when Storey sent a clever back-heel towards the left corner that looked over the line before Robinson got the ball away.
Dunfermline manager Alan Johnston said: “It was a big call for the second goal which was the sucker blow. It’s impossible for the linesman to see if the ball’s in or not with the way Lee dives. I don’t know how the linesman can give that.
“Usually players are honest, but they were adamant that it hadn’t gone over the line. It was very close but they’re probably the defining moments that kill you.
“We’ve still got to take our chances when we penned them in so it’s a frustrating one when you’re playing against the team bottom of the league.”
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