Manager Terry Butcher made two changes for the Alba Challenge Cup quarter final tie against Partick Thistle today from the side defeated 3-1 by Ross County last Saturday.  Ross Tokely returned from suspension at right back while the re-signed Stuart Golabek came in at left back.  David Proctor dropped onto the bench with Lioenl Djebi-Zadi dropping out of the squad.  Striker Andy Barrowman made a return from injury, taking a place amongst the substitutes.

With six minutes played we took the lead at Firhill when Danni Sanchez latched onto a ball just inside the box and he fired a right footed shot past Craig Hinchcliffe into the bottom corner of the net.

Three minutes later and Partick carved out an opener when Marc Corcoran set up Paul Cairney but his shot came back off Ryan Esson's legs.

Right on the half-time whistle we nearly threw away our lead when Narius Bulvitis's touch screwed the ball up in the air and towards the net but Ryan Esson was alert to back pedal and save the ball under the crossbar and we went into the break with a deserved 1-0 lead.

Ten minutes into the second period and Partick Thistle created a good opening when Paul Cairney released Simon Donnelly but despite having time he elected to shoot first time and it was straight at Ryan Esson.

Goalscorer Danni Sanchez was replaced on the 66th minute with Andy Barrowman coming into the action.  Five minutes later Jonny Hayes came off with Russell Duncan taking his place on the field.

An outstanding save by Ryan Esson prevented the equaliser with 14 minutes left to play, a Paul Paton cross into the box was headed goalwards by Liam Buchannan but Esson did well to tip the ball over the bar.

However from the resulting corner Partick Thistle equalised when with the ball dropping in the box striker Liam Buchannan smashed the ball home into the net on the 77th minute.  We reacted to this by introducing Adam Rooney for Robert Eagle in our third and final substitute.

Ross Tokely picked up a yellow card two minutes before the end and then the game moved into 30 minutes of extra-time.  Russell Duncan hit a good strike with his weaker left foot after some good link play by Andy Barrowman which Craig Hinchcliffe pushed away but we had no one following up on the rebound.

However with no more goals the tie was settled with penalty kicks.  Partick Thistle's Jim Hamilton took the first kick putting the ball right down the centre of the goal.  Adam Rooney replied with a finish into the bottom corner.  Ryan Esson then produced a good save from Paul Cairney and then Craig Hinchcliffe saved from Richie Foran.  David Rowson put Partick ahead with a strike under Esson's body but Andy Barrowman levelled into the top corner.  Liam Buchannan made it 3-2 but Ross Tokely hit back to level matters.  Then Ryan Esson saved Simon Donnelly's spot kick and that gave Russell Duncan a chance to win it for us but Hinchcliffe made a great save from his kick.

Into sudden death and Ryan Esson made it a hat-trick of saves pushing away Bryan Hodge's kick and Captain Grant Munro sealed the win with a thumping penalty kick to make it 4-3.

Full-time score (AET): Partick Thistle 1 (Buchannan 77 mins) - ICT 1 (Sanchez 6 mins)

ICT win 4-3 on penalties

ICT Team

Esson

Tokely, Bulvitis, Munro, Golabek

Hayes, Stratford, Cox, Eagle

Sanchez, Foran

Subs: Allison (GK), Proctor, Duncan for Hayes (71 mins), Rooney for Eagle (79 mins), Barrowman for Sanchez (66 mins)