Dundee United 3 Partick Thistle 3

Frederic Frans opened the scoring in the sixth minute, crashing a header into the United net as he rose unchallenged to meet Penrice's driven corner from the right. Simon Murray was, as usual, making a nuisance of himself and set Knoyle off down the right; his deep cross was met at the back post by Billy Mckay, but the striker could only find the side netting from the angle. Murray was again at the heart of United's next attack, a cute turn on the right touchline gave him room to drive past Penrice and fire a cross come shot through the six yard area but it found neither the net nor a team mate. In an even half, Partick seemed content to hit United on the counter attack and United were fortunate that Kris Doolan did not spot the run of Edwards, otherwise the Thistle attacker would have been clean through on goal. United's best chance of the half came on twenty one minutes: Dixon robbed Amoo off the ball on the half way line and raced forward before sliding the ball to Mckay 25 yards out. Mckay took a single touch and fired a wicked shot that had Thistle keeper Scully stretching to push away from goal. Mckay then had another effort from distance, but this time the shot screwed well wide. John Rankin was next to try his luck from distance, fully forty yards from goal, he fired a free kick which the Thistle defence did well to deflect for a corner. Souttar was unfortunate not to make contact with Fraser's cross and the chance came to nothing. In the forty first minute United were undone again, as has been so often this season, by their own poor defending. A long ball was flicked on by Amoo, looping the ball over Souttar,  Dillon stretched to clear, but the ball rebounded off his own chest into the path of Doolan, who waltzed past Kawashima and rolled the ball into the empty net. Half Time: United 0-2 Partick Thistle United started the second half much the brighter team; it was full twelve minutes into the half before Partick stepped into the home team's half. Inbetween that Murray forced two corners in quick succession. Youngster Matty Smith was growing more confident, his pace a trickery causing problems for the Thistle defence. United were on top now and Smith slipped a pass on the right to Rankin whose cross was lashed for a corner by a nervy Thistle defence. Scott Fraser saw the first yellow card of the match, unfortunate to clip scorer Frans as United showed more and more desire to win the ball. Billy Mckay was replaced by Justin Johnson in the sixty second minute. Knoyle, improving with every game, was next to trouble the defence slipping in behind before flashing a cross that Murray would miss. United's pressure finally paid off in the sixty sixth minute: a driven corner flew into the six yard area and deflected off the unfortunate Liam Lindsay into the bottom corner out of reach of the despairing Scully. Thistle then made their first change with Aiden Nisbet replacing Wilson. Thistle's first attack of the second half almost resulted in their third goal, Lawless got the break of the ball as he strode into the box and Kawashima made a point blank stop, the rebound fell to Amoo, his effort was well saved too but his attempt was flagged for offside. United nearly got their second as the ball flashed across the box and ricocheted off Seabourne agonisingly, for the by now vocal Terrors' support, wide of the post. Pogba replaced Doolan for Partick Thistle before Danny Seabourne fired a free kick high over the stand at the "Shed" end. Justin Johnson was now causing problems down the right for United, skipping past Prentice at will. Ofere was booked for a scything challenge on Amoo after it appeared that the United man had been fouled first. Thistle then scored with only their second attempt of the half, Amoo did well to keep his balance on the byline and fire in a cross which was met on the full by a flying Ryan Edwards. His header gave Kawashima no chance and Partick had restored their two goal advantage with only thirteen minutes remaining. Immediately Matty Smith was replaced by namesake Bradley for United. Penrice received a yellow for fouling Johnson who was now running the Partick defender ragged. Harry Souttar was inches away with a header from the resultant free kick. Thistle introduced Nisbet for Amoo with almost immediate results as the substitute latched onto a great through ball and forced a diving save from the United keeper. Edward Ofere, who had done a great job of holding up the ball all night was then played in by Fraser and rifled home from 18 yards for what looked like a late consolation. Captain for the evening, and departing Tannadice after five years, John Rankin then left the field to an appreciative crowd. He was replaced by United's fifth debutant on the night, Cammy Ballantyne. But it was Justin Johnson who was to steal the show in the first minute of added on time, cutting in from the left, he feinted once, then twice before unleashing a fine drive low and to the right of Scully in the Partick goal and wheeled off to celebrate in front of the Eddie Thompson stand. Full time: United 3 - 3 Partick Thistle Summary: A thrilling evening of football in what shouldn't have been competitive game, but was from the first whistle to the last. In a largely disappointing season it was great to see the young talent on display and a fighting spirit sadly lacking on too many occasions this term. Man of the match: Regardless of the impressive youths, after five great seasons of service John Rankin deserves the plaudits for his attitude, battling and never say die attitude in a tangerine Jersey. He will be sorely missed but fondly remembered for his time at Tannadice. Teams :

United: Kawashima, Dillon, Dixon, McKay (Johnson 63), Rankin (c) ( Ballantyne 88), Ofere, Knoyle, Murray, Fraser, Souttar, Smith (Smith 78) Subs: Zwick, Durnan, Donaldson, Johnson, Smith, Ballantyne Partick: Scully, Seaborne, Welsh (c), Amoo (Nisbet 83), Doolan (Pogba 73), Lawless, Frans, Lindsay, Wilson (Nesbitt 68), Edwards, Penrice Subs: Gallacher, Nesbitt, Leyden, Nisbet, Pogba Referee: Craig Thomson Crowd: 4689