Tannahill at last turned in a good performance for ninety minutes today as they saw off their Kilmarnock rivals without too much trouble. As in recent weeks, Tans found themselves ahead at half time, but this time they kept up the performance levels in the second half to make sure of the victory.

Once again Frazer Martin tormented the opponents defence with his pace and skill and it was he who had the first two opportunities of the match. Both times, passes from Graham Morrison played him in on the right, his first effort was well saved by the keeper, the second flew narrowly past the far post.

It was third time lucky for Martin, midway through the half as Tans took the lead. Morrison was again involved, pouncing on a loose ball before passing to Thomas Robertson. He turned an ran at the defence then slipped the ball through to Martin who held off a challenge to fire the ball low into the keeper's right hand corner.

For a spell in the half, Thistle had a lot of the ball without creating many clear cut chances. A snapshot from the edge of the box which sailed wide, a free kick which Craig Glen held well and a header over the bar from a corner were their best moments. Tannahill rarely looked like giving much away and the back four all played well with Chris Dunbar, returning to right back, doing particularly well.

Tans other good chance of the half came when Brendan Watt did well on the right then stood a ball up towards the back post, but John Campbell, who was tigerish all day, saw his audacious overhead kick fall just wide of the post.

HALF TIME 1-0

In to the second half and it was pretty much even until Tannahill got the all important second goal. From a Tans corner, the ball was cleared, but when a looping ball was played back in on top of the goalkeeper and the defence claiming offside, Colin Forbes was alert and amazingly beat the goalkeeper in the air before prodding the ball into the empty net.

Tannahill nearly added to their tally twice soon after. Possibly the best move of the match started with Forbes in his own half surging forward then finding Robertson who cut inside and passed a square ball to Morrison at the edge of the area. He then layed the ball in to the path of Paul McAlinden bursting in to the box, but the striker was denied the goal his all round play merrited when he saw his shot rattle off the upright. Robertson then went close when he found himself in space in the box. He elected to ignore the unmarked Ross Martin before firing wide.

Robertson made amends soon after when he notched two well deserved goals. His first came after persistance by sub Matt Gribben won a throw in on the right. Gribben quickly took the throw to Frazer Martin who burst into the box along the bye line before picking out the near post run of Robertson who finished clinically.

The fourth and Robertson's second was a swift counter attack. Forbes collected the ball deep in his own half and fired a ball up the left hand side to Robertson in acres of space. The striker strode into the box on the angle before firing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net from ten yards.

Better all round by Tannahill this week, but the next round of this tounament will pose a far greater challenge as they take on Glenburn MW who sit three divisions above todays opponents.

Tannahill (4-4-2)
Glen, Dunbar, Forbes, McNab, Muirhead, Watt, Morrison, F Martin,
Campbell (R Martin), Robertson, McAlinden (Gribben),