It looked like being unlucky home defeat number 13 for Dundee United’s fans until 19-year-old substitute Justin Johnson stole the show in stoppage time.
It was would have been fitting had the final home match of this calamitous campaign ended in another defeat for the relegated club.
However, 19-year-old Johnson was having none of that gloom and doom and lashed in the equaliser to give the supporters something to smile about at last.
Partick took the lead on six minutes with a header from Frederic Frans then Kris Doolan made it 2-0 on 34 minutes after some awful defending from United.
An own goal from Thistle’s Liam Lindsay on 67 minutes gave United hope of a comeback but Ryan Edwards nodding home on 76 minutes to pile on the pain.
United’s Edward Ofere scored with three minutes remaining to make it 3-2 then Johnson stepped up to grab the headlines.
The Tangerines had made only two changes to the starting line-up from their victory at Inverness on Friday night.
However, they were important ones for two of the club’s young talents, with defender Harry Souttar (17) and frontman Matty Smith (19) making their competitive debuts.
Souttar junior was watched from the stand by big brother John, who left United to join Hearts earlier this year.
Callum Morris was suspended, while Mark Durnan dropped to the bench.
Fifteen minutes before kick-off, a small demonstration took place outside the stadium involving a couple of dozen supporters upset at how United are being run.
Inside the ground, the players were applauded on to the park and the match got under way without incident.
Midfielder John Rankin was made captain for what was his 207th appearance and final one in front of the home fans.
On three minutes, United came close to scoring when Simon Murray squared to Smith but the youngster’s shot at the near post was blocked.
With just six minutes on the clock, however, Thistle took the lead with a simple goal.
James Penrice, another youngster making his debut, took a corner out on the right and the ball floated right on to the forehead of Frans, who easily beat United keeper Eiji Kawashima.
The home team tried to hit back on 10 minutes but Billy Mckay’s header at the back post missed by a few inches.
Kawashima was flattened after a challenge by Kris Doolan a minute later but the Japanese international got to his feet after a second or two.
Mckay was on the attack for United again on 21 minutes when he fired in a 25-yard strike that was punched away by Jags goalie Ryan Scully.
On the half-hour a Scott Fraser corner from the right caused all sorts of problems for Scully but no United man could take advantage as the ball bobbled around the six-yard box.
On 34 minutes, some awful defending from United gifted Thistle a second goal.
An innocuous flick forward from David Amoo seemed to bemuse Sean Dillon and, in trying to clear, the Irishman kicked the ball off his own body.
Kawashima was left exposed and Doolan just ran around him before stroking the ball into the net from an acute angle.
The second half started reasonably brightly for United and there was a mazy run and shot from Smith that just flew the wrong side of the post.
On 47 minutes, Murray wasted a good attack when he wayward with his cutback, then 10 minutes later, a Mckay cross from the right flew right across the face of the Jags’ goal.
Johnson came on for Mckay as United tried to get back into the game and they got one back on 67 minutes.
Scott Fraser played a corner deep into the Partick goalmouth and Lindsay deflected the ball into his own net to hand United a lifeline.
The Tangerines were on the front foot and more good work from Smith saw his cut back to Ofere but the striker couldn’t get enough on his shot.
However, it was 3-1 to the visitors on 76 minutes.
It was a terrific goal from the Maryhill men, with Amoo bobbing and weaving out right before delivering the perfect cross to the head of Edwards.
Kawashima kept the scoreline down with a great save off sub Kevin Nisbet’s shot before Rankin was given a loud ovation from the United supporters as he was replaced by young Cammy Ballantyne with two minutes to go.
Johnson then gave the United supporters something to shout about as he dived left then right before lashing home the leveller from just inside the box.
Attendance: 4,689.
Dundee United: Kawashima, Dillon, Dixon, Mckay (Johnson 63), Rankin (Ballantyne 88), Ofere, Knoyle, Murray, Fraser, Souttar, M. Smith (B. Smith 77). Subs not used: Zwick, Durnan, Donaldson.
Partick Thistle: Scully, Seaborne, Welsh, Amoo (Nisbet 83), Doolan (Pogba 74), Lawless, Frans, Lindsay, Wilson (Nesbitt 68), Edwards, Penrice. Subs not used: Gallacher, Leyden.
Referee: Craig Thomson.
