v ICT (A) SC 2002

PARTICK hero Scott Paterson admitted he doesn't usually take free-kicks after his wonder goal earned the Jags a pounds 250,000 Hampden semi- final against Rangers.

Former Liverpool defender Paterson curled a magnificent 25-yard strike past Nicky Walker midway through the second half to secure the Firhill club a quarter of a million payday at Hampden.

After the match Paterson said: "I'm delighted. I don't usually come up for free-kicks, but I fancied this one. I knew where I was putting it."

However, there was a major blow for Partick when Martin Hardie and Derek Fleming both received bookings in the dying minutes, ruling themselves out of the next round.

It needed something special to separate the sides on a foul night.

Giantkillers Caley, who have cup wins over both Celtic and Hearts to their credit in their short history were left bitterly disappointed after failing to make the last four for the first time.

Instead, the Maryhill side reached their first semi-final since losing to Rangers at Hampden in 1979, where the eventual winners required a replay before finally knocking them out.

However, the game was lucky to kick-off at all last night after referee John Rowbotham only passed the ground playable after two inspections.

An army of groundstaff forked the pitch right up until kick-off time, with supporters slow to arrive because of the weather and a serious car crash on the outskirts of Inverness.

But with 1000 Partick fans having made the long trip north, the Jags were happy with the decision to play.

It still proved an uncomfortable evening for both the players and the spectators with torrential rain leaving pools of water all over the surface.

And it was the visitors who made the better of conditions early on with former Caley player Scott McLean trying his luck with a curling shot from 25 yards out.

There was a scare for the home side in the 24th minute when keeper Walker allowed a Hardie snap shot to squirm out of his hands for a corner.

Caley almost made the visitors pay on the break, a clever shot from the edge of the area by the dangerous Russell Duncan forcing Kenny Arthur to dive to scramble the ball away.

Brute strength was more effective than subtlety and Caley defender Bobby Mann fired a 30-yard free-kick narrowly off target after Dennis Wyness had been brought down.

Veteran Charlie Christie almost broke the deadlock just three minutes into the second half, skillfully eluding two Thistle defenders before firing in a shot which Arthur gathered with difficulty.

But it was John Lambie's men who had the ball in the net in 55 minutes, however Paterson's brilliant diving header was chalked off for offside.

Clearly the first goal was going to be crucial with both sides well aware of the high stakes and it was the visitors who conjured it up in the 67th minute.

Mann conceded a foul on Gerry Britton 25 yards out and Paterson was the Partick hero for the second time in 10 days when he sent a Beckham-style drive into the net for the only goal of the match.

INVERNESS CT: Walker, Munro, Mann, McCaffray (Bavidge s65), Tokely, Duncan, Christie, Bagan, McBain, Ritchie, Wyness.

PARTICK: Arthur, Deas, Paterson, Craigan, Kelly, Hardie, Lennon, Fleming, Dolan, Britton, McLean.

ATTENDANCE: 5,000

MAN OF THE MATCH: Paterson