First Division: Late winner makes it eight in a row for Thistle

Partick Thistle manager Jackie McNamara learned a lot 
about the resilience required to be successful during his Celtic days and it looks like he is passing it on to his Firhill players who struck just before the end to see off Raith Rovers 3-2 and record an eighth consecutive home success.

Grieg Spence converted an Allan Walker free-kick after 
12 minutes to put Raith ahead, but Thistle quickly rallied and Steven Craig set up Stuart Bannigan to beat Ross Laidlaw from the edge of the box.

McNamara’s men were leading by half-time when Steven Lawless collected a partially-cleared Aaron Muirhead cross and shot himself into double figures for the season.

Both sides attacked each other in the second-half and a Brian Graham levelled with eight minutes to go.

But, after a corner was not cleared, Craig struck the winner on 87 minutes.

McNamara said: “I thought the win was going away from us but the players’ effort and desire have seen us pick up a massive three points. We were not at our best but we managed to get the win. If you want to go on and do well then you need to have that kind of resilience.”

Rovers boss Grant Murray said: “I felt that we did enough to get something but it wasn’t 
to be.”

Closest challengers Dunfermline Athletic fell three points behind, having played a game more, when they drew 1-1 with Hamilton Accies at East End Park.

The visitors took the lead when Ali Crawford picked out Steven May and the striker sent home a low shot from the edge of the box.

Dunfermline levelled before half-time when Craig Dargo raced to the touchline and set up Andrew Barrowman to find the net with a well-struck shot.

Accies came closest to winning in the second half with Gary Fisher hitting a post just after the restart and then being kept out by a fine save by Michael Hrivnak just before the end.

Morton moved to within a point of Dunfermline by defeating Airdrie United 2-0 at Cappielow with David Graham scoring in the first half and Martin Hardie sealing the win just before the end from close range.

Falkirk won for the third game in a row as they defeated Cowdenbeath 2-0, the opening goal coming in 33 minutes when Stewart Murdoch netted a 
penalty after Connor McGrandles had been fouled.

Lyle Taylor, who had netted just after referee Paul Robertson blew for the spot kick, got his name on the scoresheet before the break with a fine volleyed finish.