Thistle spirit earns a draw

A penalty in the fifth minute of injury time rescued a point for Lothian, but it was no more than the home side deserved after a battling second half comeback in this Premier Division clash.

Vale took the lead in the 14th minute through Chris Inglis who hit a perfectly judged volley from 25 yards out that dipped under the crossbar. The visitors doubled their advantage when Danny Noon tapped in and the first half ended 3-0 as Martin Cairney netted.

Straight from the restart Lloyd Dignan sent a delicate chip over the head of Vale keeper Sinclair Inglis. That set the tone for a second half that Lothian dominated and on the hour mark, a scramble on the goal line saw Matt Costello get a toe to the ball to pull another back.

Then right at the death, the referee controversially pointed to the spot as Chris Inglis collided with Callum Connolly in the area and Ross Elliot dispatched the spot kick into the net.

Lothian Thistle HV: Swain, McDiarmid, Hendrie (McColl 65), Wilkes, Costello, Crawford, Anderson (Handley 88), Connolly, Perry (Hawkins 71), Elliot, Dignan. Subs: Ferguson, Lee.

Vale of Leithen: S Inglis, W Sproule, Thomson (Dodds 65; Gray 85), McKenzie, Blaikie, C Inglis, Smith, Gordon, Noon, K Paterson, Cairney (Moffat 67).