MATCH REPORT: PARTICK THISTLE 3-2 MOTHERWELL

Motherwell were in generous mood on Archibald's birthday as they shipped three goals in 12 first-half minutes. Blair Spittal, Ryan Edwards and Conor Sammon struck before the half-hour mark.

But the visitors came out fighting and scored through Ryan Bowman and Craig Tanner to set up a thrilling finale.

Thistle had gone four points adrift at the foot of the Ladbrokes Premiership after a 5-1 defeat at Kilmarnock on Saturday and Archibald demanded a reaction following an "unacceptable" performance.

There was little in the opening stages but Spittal made the most of the first opportunity in the 16th minute when Carl McHugh was adjudged to have fouled Miles Storey as he slid in just outside the corner of the box. Motherwell goalkeeper Russell Griffiths took a step to his right but Spittal went the other way and the ball flew in the roof of the net.

Thistle doubled their lead six minutes later after Charles Dunne failed to cut out a ball down the left side of Motherwell's defence. Storey played in Edwards, who fired high past Griffiths.

The visitors again presented Thistle with another goal six minutes later when McHugh was robbed by Storey in the right-back position. The former Aberdeen man set up Sammon and the on-loan Hearts striker slotted into the corner for his first goal for the club.

Wing-back Elliott Frear was Motherwell's one bright spark in the first half and he set up Dunne with a cross but the defender's header bounced wide. Andy Rose and Frear threatened and the fightback stepped up after Gael Bigirimana and Tanner were introduced at half-time.

Bowman headed well wide from a good chance before Cedric Kipre headed home Tanner's free-kick. But the goal was belatedly disallowed by referee Don Robertson after a chat with assistant referee Gary Hilland, who had not flagged. Dunne was penalised for offside after moving towards the goal-bound ball.

Motherwell had their goal moments later when Tomas Cerny could not stop Bowman's header bouncing behind the line after Tanner's 56th minute corner. They continued to threaten from cross balls and corners but Thistle weathered the storm.

Tanner re-ignited the game with 11 minutes remaining when he shimmied past two defenders and drilled home from 18 yards.

Storey curled just over on a breakaway but the Jags otherwise struggled to get out of their half, however Cerny secured the points when he held Frear's stoppage-time header

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