Hibernian Advance in Premier Sports Cup After Narrow Win Over Partick Thistle

Owen Elding’s early strike was enough to drag Hibernian into the last eight of the Premier Sports Cup – but they were made to sweat for it by a bold, relentless Partick Thistle.

The forward claimed his third goal of the season with a classic poacher’s finish at the back post, and for a while it looked like David Gray’s side might stroll through the tie. They did anything but.

Elding pounces as Hibs start fast

Any fears of European hangover after the midweek trip to North Macedonia were quickly dismissed. Hibs, fresh from edging past Shkendija to reach the Conference League play-offs, came out sharp, aggressive and on the front foot.

Gray freshened his line-up, bringing in Kanayo Megwa, Jack Iredale, Joe Newell and Jamie McGrath, and the impact was immediate. Within five minutes, Hibs should have been in front.

McGrath split the Thistle defence with a clever through ball and Elding burst clear, only for Liam McFarlane to stand tall. The on-loan Hearts goalkeeper spread himself and blocked the low drive with his legs.

Elding didn’t dwell on it. He just went again.

On 12 minutes, Iredale surged to the byline down the left and whipped a vicious ball across the six-yard box. It flashed beyond the front men and landed perfectly for Elding at the back post, who crashed it into the net. Simple finish. Ruthless movement. 1-0.

Hibs had their reward for a blistering start and looked ready to turn the screw.

Missed chances keep Thistle alive

The second goal never came. That kept the tie alive and the tension high.

Thistle, initially penned in and struggling to get out, gradually tightened up and made life awkward. They were compact, disciplined and determined not to be picked apart again. Breaking them down became a grind for Hibs, who lost some of their early fluency.

At the other end, the Championship side offered little in clear chances before the break, though Oisin Smyth did see a strike deflected wide as they probed for an equaliser.

Most of the real danger still came in front of McFarlane’s goal. The keeper was outstanding.

He produced a superb stop to deny Elding a second, somehow tipping the striker’s close-range effort on to the bar. Moments later, Nathan Lowe thought he had scored, only for McFarlane to throw out a boot and block again. Hibs were on top, but the Jags’ keeper refused to let the tie drift away.

VAR drama and a frantic finish

Hibs came out after the interval still pushing for that cushion. Mayor saw a shot beaten away by McFarlane, who continued to frustrate the home side.

Just before the hour, Elding passed up another huge chance. Released by a raking ball from Lowe, he was clean through, but a heavy touch let McFarlane close the angle and smother at his feet. The loose ball broke to McGrath, who went for an audacious chip, only to see it drop on to the roof of the net.

Those misses came back into sharp focus when the game exploded into controversy.

On 65 minutes, referee Duncan Nicolson pointed to the spot after Sebastian Drodz’s effort struck Newell inside the box. Thistle celebrated, Hibs protested, and then VAR stepped in. After a review, Nicolson reversed his decision, judging the contact to be accidental. The penalty was gone, and with it a golden chance for the visitors to level.

Thistle didn’t sulk. They surged.

The closing stages belonged to Kris Doolan’s side as they cranked up the pressure. Cale Loughrey hammered a free-kick that Rafa Sallinger had to beat away, the Hibs goalkeeper standing firm as the ball dipped and swerved in front of him.

Smyth went close at the near post, only for Sallinger to get down sharply again. Ben Stanway then glanced a header wide when well placed, another moment that had the away end holding its breath. Ben Dempsey followed with a near-post effort that Sallinger pushed behind as Hibs clung on.

By the end, Elding’s early tap-in felt like a lifetime ago. The margin was thin, the nerves raw, but the job was done.

Hibs are into the quarter-finals. Thistle are out, but they leave with the sense that on another night, with one decision or one finish going their way, this story could have read very differently.