The striker bagged a first half hat-trick at East End Park on Saturday as Thistle cruised to a 4-0 triumph over a stricken Dunfermline to move within two points of Irn-Bru First Division leaders Morton, with Ross Forbes firing in a superb long-range effort to complete a memorable day for the visitors.
The Fife hammering was only the Jags' third away triumph of the campaign and came at an ideal time as they look to keep up the pressure on the top of the table Ton.
With former Firhill management team Jackie McNamara, Simon Donnelly and Darren Jackson watching on, Craig bagged his first ever treble in the professional game and hopes the Dunfermline demolition is enough to hand interim boss Archibald the job.
He said: "That was my first senior hat-trick. It is always nice to score and to get three was great.
"The gaffer, as we want to call him, told me he would be taking me off shortly at half-time.
"I think this result just proves how much the boys feel about Archie. The quicker they name him the full-time manager the better.
"Our performances under him have been excellent, with the exception of Tuesday night [against Cowdenbeath].
"It is Jackie and Sid's team and I am sure they would have been proud.
"Simon still keeps in contact with all the boys, wishing them all the best before the games.
"I had a marvellous time here under them but nothing has changed apart from the personnel. Archie organises us the same as Jackie and Sid did and we go out and do the business."
Victory for Thistle keeps them well in the hunt for First Division title glory this season.
Rivals Morton head to Hamilton Accies tomorrow night and with games in hand at Cowdenbeath and Raith still to come, Craig is delighted their promotion bid is still within their grasp.
He said: "All we have wanted through the course of the season is for it to be in our hands, that is all we can ask for.
"We have got our games in hand and we just want it to be in our hands. We have just got to win them.
"Our away form has been well documented and there was a bit of a shoot up factor.
"We were getting a bit of stick for that. To win 4-0 at Dunfermline is an emphatic performance and it could have been more really.
"The second half was a professional performance. All we can do is keep the pressure on."
While it was a day to remember for Thistle, Dunfermline don't have their problems to seek at the moment as their financial problems escalate.
Furious Pars players threatened to strike ahead of the Jags clash after only being paid a fraction of their wages and Craig has sympathy for his fellow pros .
He said: "It is a shame what has happened to Dunfermline but if you want to win leagues you need to come to places like this and win. It is a shame for them, it must be hard.
"Their situation has been well documented and the people it really affects is the players. It must be really hard for them. "
