CHRISTIE ELLIOTT is dreaming of being a more prolific scorer after shooting Thistle into the last-16 of the Betfred Cup with his first goal in nearly three years.

The Geordie’s timing was perfect as he scored three minutes from time to prevent a potential embarrassment for Alan Archibald’s side against League One Stranraer.

However, while he’s delighted to get the monkey off his back, he knows it will be Thistle’s front four that will decide whether the new season will be as productive as last.

Elliott said: “I hope it’s not another three years before I get my next one – next Saturday would be nice!

“The manager said that the goal was a long time coming.

“I get my share of opportunities and I should score a lot more but I’m glad I managed it on Saturday because we deserved the win.

“It was a hard game and we found it difficult to break them down but a win is a win at the end of the day.

“I suppose I couldn’t have picked a better time to score and I really hope it will be a spark for me to score a few more this season.

“We didn’t panic. We kept playing and playing, trying to find a way to break them down and I was always sure we would find a way.

“I always felt one opportunity would come our way and thankfully it did.”

The way things transpired, had Partick been held to a goalless draw and then won the penalty shootout they would still have qualified from Group H.

However, having been woeful from 12 yards in their group opener against Livingston they didn’t wish to take that risk.

Elliott admitted: “We didn’t want to go to pens after the last time! We were happy to stay well away from that.

“So while it was a late goal that has taken us through, we just have to look forward to the next round now and try to go as far as we can in the competition.”

While Elliott hopes to be a more regular scorer, he believes it will be Thistle’s front four that will determine how successful; they will be in the new campaign.

He said: “Although we found it hard on Saturday I think we are more of a threat this season with Blair Spittal coming in.

“He has done brilliantly since he arrived and he is working well with Chris Erskine, Kris Doolan and Stevie Lawless.

“The front four are always moving around and they understand each other’s games so we need to keep getting the ball to the to make sure they keep gelling and stay on form.”

Thistle’s inability to put Stranraer to the sword early meant that manager Alan Archibald couldn’t introduce Niall Keown for his first taste of the action.

And that was a frustration as he wanted to give the defender game time before next Saturday’s tough Premiership opener against Hibs.

Archibald said: “The plan was if it was comfortable we could get Niall on but it didn’t work out that way because we had to get attacking players on so that was a disappointment.

“We wanted to get him some game time as he is just about back to full fitness but unfortunately it didn’t work out that way.”

It was a fourth consecutive group defeat for Stranraer who were one of three teams to finish with zero points,

But manager Stevie Farrell believes their performance at Firhill augurs well for what lies ahead

He said: “I was delighted we took Partick Thistle to so late in the game. It will do us more good than harm and we will be ready for the League One campaign.”