Best Goals Categories

[Jaggernaut]

Along with Archie Gemmill's dribbling run vs. Holland, two and possibly three of Scotland's goals vs Denmark could be contenders for the shortlist of 'best ever Scotland goals.'

How about best ever Thistle goals? Here's some of my favs:

Best dribble and goal: Dan McLindon vs Dundee Utd. (Special mentions to Dools vs Hibs and Erskine vs Falkirk.)

Best Barcelona-type goal: Stephen O'Donnell's vs Dundee United. (A few recent ones have been the outcome of great teamwork from several players, but can't put my finger on a particular one right now.)

Best long-range goal: One of Stanway's recent few. (Special mention to Rowson for his howitzer vs. Livingston.)

Best headed goal: Donnie MacKinnon's only goal, a bullet header from around 15 yards, from a corner, vs. Hibs. (Special mention to Badger for his header at Hampden which the lodge members conspired to disallow.)

Cheekiest goal: Frank Coulston crawling on his hands and knees to head the ball over the line (vs. Stranraer?) (Special mentions to Trigger (vs Falkirk) and Graham (I forget the opposition) for unexpected scoring backheelers.

Flukiest goal: Steven Craig sticking out a foot from which the opposition goalie's kick-out rebounded into the net.

Best "Haha, thank you goalie!" goal: Yon Falkirk goalie completely missing his kick.

Any other categories and contenders?

 

 

Edited November 20, 2025 by Jaggernaut

[JeanieD]

Best dribble - Denis v Clyde

Best long range - Denis v East Fife

Cheekiest - Jimmy Bone v Celtic - after all he just had to walk the ball into the net!

[Duke Gekantawa]

In the spirit of Tuesday's opener- best overhead kick goal. There's not a lot of competition that I recall, but Graham Dorrans's effort against Peterhead is the obvious stand out.

[JeanieD]

Sorry to be repetitive but best overhead

Denis v Motherwell (8-3)

[Dick Dastardly]

I think the Steven O’Donnell goal you mean was against Dunfermline in a 5-1 win. Won a tackle at right back then was on the end of a cross at the left post to chip the keeper. That was the best goal I have EVER seen, certainly live.

Forbes scored a contender for long range effort in the same game

[King Kenny]

16 minutes ago, Dick Dastardly said:

I think the Steven O’Donnell goal you mean was against Dunfermline in a 5-1 win. Won a tackle at right back then was on the end of a cross at the left post to chip the keeper. That was the best goal I have EVER seen, certainly live.

Forbes scored a contender for long range effort in the same game

I loved that goal, was a brilliant finish. 

The goal Jaggernaut mentions against Dundee United is correct though, it was a sensational Barcelona type move finished by SOD on his weaker foot with Paul Paton watching on in disbelief 🙂 

[Lenziejag]

4 minutes ago, King Kenny said:

I loved that goal, was a brilliant finish. 

The goal Jaggernaut mentions against Dundee United is correct though, it was a sensational Barcelona type move finished by SOD on his weaker foot with Paul Paton watching on in disbelief 🙂 

4 touches from start to finish, if I remember correctly.

[Dick Dastardly]

I recall an own goal in our favour, possibly St. Johnstone as I picture blue shirts, which was scored from just inside their half. Sometime late 80’s (maybe)

[lady-isobel-barnett]

41 minutes ago, Dick Dastardly said:

I think the Steven O’Donnell goal you mean was against Dunfermline in a 5-1 win. Won a tackle at right back then was on the end of a cross at the left post to chip the keeper. That was the best goal I have EVER seen, certainly live.

Forbes scored a contender for long range effort in the same game

SOD's was the best of the bunch. He was playing right midfield that day but did pick the ball up in a deep position. Ross Forbes's shot is perhaps the next memorable goal but Conrad's header was also a cracker. In my mind summed up that season's "everyone a star" stature of the squad. 

 

Of the two SOD goals, they're hard to pick which is the better. The Tannadice one wins it as a team goal but perhaps the other tops it on the individual side of things. The former was also in a top tier match.

In the "Best goal Jags goal that meant absolutely hee-haw" Dorran's overhead v Peterhead will be hard to beat. 

 

[elevenone]

Gerry Britton’s at Dens.  Not sure what category it falls under though.

[jaggy]

Chic free kick at Forfar in the cup, late 80’s. I’m sure it was at least 40 yards. 
 

Denis dribble against Clyde, McLinden too early for me. 
 

Somner & McAdam scored some incredible headers, so did Tierney v Rangers

[Lenziejag]

Just for the sheer joy of it, Gerry’s 3rd goal vs Rangers at Firhill that pretty confirmed our survival.

[laukat]

The thing about the Scotland goals that made them ever so good is they were scored in such a significant game

So I think that narrows the Thistle candidates down to those goals that were scored in games that were crucial to achieving something.

With that in mind Scott Patersons freekick away to ICT to get us to Hampden for the first time in many years must be up there?

Peter Lindau's in the league clinching game also in the category of great goal in an important game

 

[partickthedog]

49 minutes ago, laukat said:

The thing about the Scotland goals that made them ever so good is they were scored in such a significant game

So I think that narrows the Thistle candidates down to those goals that were scored in games that were crucial to achieving something.

With that in mind Scott Patersons freekick away to ICT to get us to Hampden for the first time in many years must be up there?

Peter Lindau's in the league clinching game also in the category of great goal in an important game

 

If significance of the goal at a vital moment in a vital game is a prime consideration then Gary Fraser's stunner away at Hearts in season 2013-2014 has to be a contender in the long range strike category.

[Thistle_1876]

The whole move in the Gerry Britton goal away to Dundee in the Scottish Cup was ridiculous.

[Dick Dastardly]

If importance of goal is considered then Billy Gibson’s deflected free kick at Peterhead becomes a tough one to beat

[Auld Jag]

Much more recent for me, in fact only last month. Smyth's winner against Ross county, from our own by line and into the Ross County net, it took only 4 passes and 20 seconds. As has already been mentioned Ben Stanway does not score tap ins and has scored a few this season that could be described as goal of the season.

Of course any goal that Thistle score is the best goal imo.   

[Auld Jag]

Thank you goalie, the last competitive game we played. Airdrie away, Cade Melrose. 🎅

[Jaggernaut]

14 hours ago, Dick Dastardly said:

I think the Steven O’Donnell goal you mean was against Dunfermline in a 5-1 win. Won a tackle at right back then was on the end of a cross at the left post to chip the keeper. That was the best goal I have EVER seen, certainly live.

Forbes scored a contender for long range effort in the same game

The O'Donnell one I mentioned was at Tannadice, but you're right: both of those goals vs Dunfermline were sublime. The shot by Forbes was a real daisy cutter.

[Jaggernaut]

8 hours ago, Dick Dastardly said:

If importance of goal is considered then Billy Gibson’s deflected free kick at Peterhead becomes a tough one to beat

Haha, maybe top of the "flukiest" category too!

[thornwoodjag]

Long range - nutty Storer v Morton 

[partickthedog]

Jamie Sneddon must have a good chance in the goals by a goalkeeper category.

[sandy]

On 11/20/2025 at 11:13 AM, elevenone said:

Gerry Britton’s at Dens.  Not sure what category it falls under though.

Saw that one live