Aaron Connolly was the reluctant hero for EK Thistle on Saturday as the club’s assistant boss climbed off the bench to earn his side a draw.
David McKean had fired the Jags in front at Victoria Park before United turned the game on its head, but Connolly netted in the 88th minute to stretch Thistle’s unbeaten run to three games in the West of Scotland League Third Division.
But he revealed his involvement was unexpected.
Connolly said: “I did say I was stopping playing, but I did have to come on for 35 minutes on Saturday to help out.
“We had a player pull out in the warm-up and I had to go on the bench.
“We were chasing the game a bit and I had to throw myself on. That’s not where I want to be - I want to be helping Garry [O’Hanlon, the manager] on the sidelines - but fortunately I still managed to get us a goal.
“It’s another point on the board and we are unbeaten in our first week, so that’s the positive.
“We didn’t get to the level we should have .”
The draw came off the back of their first win this season, a 3-2 home win over Saltcoats in midweek.
And now Ardrossan visit this Saturday. Connolly added: “Ardrossan were a good team last season and they’ve brought in some really good experienced players.
“I’m expecting a good game. We’ve got to be strong at home and if we can do that we’ll pick up points and be okay.”
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