Killie kept Partick Thistle still looking for their first win of the
season against a more clinical Kilmarnock side.
Kilmarnock had the first real chance of the game after six minutes
when Garry Hay was allowed to run 20 yards before unleashing a shot from
just outside the area, but the effort deflected off Nish and over the
crossbar.
David Rowson had a chance to put Thistle into the lead after 17
minutes but he could only screw his shot wide of goal.
But Thistle did not have to wait long for the opener when Mitchell
fired them into the lead a minute later.
Kenny Milne exchanged a one-two with James Grady before rolling the
ball into the path of Mitchell to fire home.
Young Stephen Murray - accurately described in
the match programme as an "exciting and talented ball-playing winger" -
treated travelling fans to a few demonstrations of clever dribbling, but
the Ayrshire contingent had to wait 26 minutes on the clock
for a goal to cap their team’s industry.
Murray powered down the left wing past a lackadaisical Jean-Yves Anis
(lackadaisical being Anis’ default mode) and crossed for Colin
Nish to send a looping header over Kenny Arthur for the
equaliser. It was also Killie’s first effort on target.
The home support screamed for a penalty on the half-hour mark when
Gerry Britton dramatically went to ground in the area under pressure
from Killie keeper Francois Dubourdeau, but referee Dougie McDonald was
not interested.
A scramble in the box at the beginning of the second half led to
calls of handball from the Thistle players but the referee gave a foul
to Kilmarnock instead.
Thistle continued to push for the second goal and an impressive Kenny
Milne run down the left flank resulted in a poor finish well wide of the
target.
But it was Kilmarnock who took the lead in the 61st minute.
Nish collected the ball at the far post before cutting back to the
on-rushing Gary McDonald (right) who bulleted his shot into the
back of the net, leaving Arthur with no chance.
Killie could have extended their lead further when Peter Canero
surged down the right wing before picking out Nish a few yards from goal
but he sent his header wide of the post.
Four minutes later young McDonald made it 3-1 with an
audacious back heel. Audacious and frankly cheeky given the lack of
flair he and his colleagues showed for much of the game. Almost as
cheeky as Killie fans chanting “We want five’’
in injury time.
Partick gave themselves a life-line with nine minutes remaining when
they pulled a goal back.
Skipper Derek Whyte won his header at a corner to nod into the path
of Grady, who fired home from four yards.
But any hope Thistle had of salvaging a point was ripped apart when
Nish grabbed his second goal of the day in the final minute.
Sub Kris Boyd spotted Colin Nish (right) unmarked in front of
goal and the striker made no mistake from inside the box, from Boyd's
unselfish pass.
Craig Dargo made his first appearance of the season when he replaced
"man of the match" Stevie "Ruby" Murray in the 90 min.
,
Murray, (Dargo 90 mins), McSwegan, (Boyd 58 mins), Nish
