KILLIE racked up their most convincing win of the season, thanks to a second half performance, and despite the shortcomings of referee Stephen Finnie.
There was more skill, excitement and clinical finishing in those 45 minutes than the Rugby Parkers have produced in a handful of games.
With youngsters Tim Clancy and Iain Flannigan in the starting line-up, manager Jim Jefferies gave youth its chance, and they didn’t let him down.
The match got off to an encouraging start for Killie with Clancy’s neat cross headed past for a corner, and then Mehdi Taouil wheeling in the box and firing the ball just wide.
A challenge by Flannigan on goalkeeper Michael Fraser as he tried to reach a David Fernandez punt into the box saw the ball land at Taouil’s feet, but the Moroccan’s lob was just too high and drifted over the crossbar.
Then, completely against the run of play, the visitors took the lead on 13 minutes when the towering Ross Tokely went down following an innocuous tackle by Frazer Wright.
It was a soft penalty, and understandably contested by the Killie players, but Ian Black converted to give the Highlanders the lead.
That seemed to knock the stuffing out of the home side and they struggled to get a foothold in the game, but Danny Invincibile might have equalised on 24 minutes when his header just cleared the crossbar.
Killie deservedly got back on level terms eight minutes from the break, although there was an element of luck about the goal.
Flannigan’s well-struck free kick from 20 yards appeared to be touched on to the post by Fraser. The ball dropped handily for Frazer Wright and he had a simple tap-in for his fifth goal of the season.
Thistle, who had hardly troubled Alan Combe in the home goal, could consider themselves a tad fortunate to go in at the interval on level terms.
And Lady Luck was on their side again within three minutes of the restart when a terrific piece of Fernandez magic saw the Spaniard bamboozle the Caley defence and have a pop at goal.
As the ball fell to Flannigan, the young Killie midfielder’s shot looked a certain goal until Roy McBain blatantly handled on the line. Much to the amazement of almost everyone in the ground, the referee didn’t award a spot kick.
A minute later Killie did manage to get the ball in the net, with Craig Bryson’s shot from 35 yards beating Fraser inside his right hand post. The goal came at the end of a delightful move on the left involving skipper Garry Hay and Taouil.
Killie were in full flight by this stage, and the Thistle defence found itself under increasing pressure as Killie forced three successive corners.
And we didn’t have too long to wait for the third goal, with Bryson again producing the goods, his shot from the edge of the box from a Clancy pass taking a deflection off a Caley defender, leaving Fraser stranded.
Fernandez then had an opportunity to score, but he shot directly at Fraser.
The fourth goal — and best of the match — came on 63 minutes with Flannigan netting his first top team goal, lashing a Fernandez pass high into the net after a sweeping move on the right.
Invincibile might have grabbed a fifth for Killie near the end, but his shot from 18 yards rose over the crossbar.
A great second half show from Killie that helped erase some of the disappointments from earlier performances.
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