Partick beat Inverness 4-2 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at Firhill to set up a tie against Hearts in the fifth round of the Tennent's Scottish Cup.

Mark Roberts fired the home side into the lead against the run of play in the 14th minute but the Highlanders fought back with Dennis Wyness levelling the scores in the 24th minute with a simple tap-in from an Ian Black cut-back.

A goalless second half and 30 minutes of extra-time brought the drama of penalties and Roberts, and substitutes Ricky Gillies and Sean Kilgannon, all scored for the home side.

Craig Dargo and Barry Wilson converted for the visitors but Wyness and Ross Tokely both had their kicks saved by Jags goalkeeper Kenny Arthur.

Then up stepped Partick substitute Will Snowdon, on in the 105th minute for Darren Brady, to slot the ball away to give the Bell's Second Division side a trip to Tynecastle on Saturday week to take on Graham Rix's cup favourites.

It was the visitors who took the initiative from the first whistle and there was only a minute gone when Arthur was forced into a great save from Wilson.

Wyness sneaked into the Firhill penalty area and when strike-partner Dargo cleverly allowed his pass to go across him, the Inverness wide man curled a shot from 16 yards which Arthur stretched full length to push around the post.

From the resultant corner Wyness eventually found himself alone at the back post but his angled volley from 10 yards out went wide of the target.

There was no let-up and in the 14th minute Dargo raced in on goal to beat Jags defender Marc Smyth and the on-rushing Arthur with a header but Smyth got back to clear the ball before it went over the line.

However, the home side then immediately ran up the park and took a sensational lead.

After Adam Strachan won a corner on the left, Stephen McConalogue swung his cross into the penalty area where the unmarked Strachan flicked on to the back post.

Roberts was on hand to slam the ball into the roof of the net to stun the visitors.

However, the visitors were back level in the 24th minute. Wilson put Black through on the right and when the Caley midfielder squeezed a cross in from the byline Wyness had the easiest of tasks to stroke the ball in from a yard out.

The match took a well-deserved rest for a spell but the classier Inverness retained the slight edge, moving forward with more purpose than their lower league opponents.

Partick's spirit and enthusiasm, however, was their most potent weapon along with Strachan, who was testing the hesitant Tokely down the left-hand side.

In the 37th minute, as the visitors began to slowly take a firmer grip of the game, a little chip by the wily Wyness at the edge of the Firhill penalty area put Wilson in with a chance but the alert Arthur was quickly out to smother the veteran's angled shot from close range.

After the interval the home side initially showed renewed enthusiasm, exemplified after a few minutes when Jimmy Gibson nutmegged Tokely in the Inverness penalty area before his weak cross was blocked by sheer numbers.

Inverness were on the back foot now as Partick peppered their penalty area but the ball just would not drop kindly for the hosts.

In the 58th minute Partick's veteran striker Paul Ritchie tried a snap-shot from 20 yards which Inverness goalkeeper Mark Brown gathered to his chest with a degree of comfort.

As the second half progressed and neither defence looking like giving anything away, the prospect of extra-time began to loom large.

In the 85th minute Dargo's drive from 20 yards was easily saved by Arthur before Wyness' first time drive from a Wilson cross went inches over the bar.

But with no more scoring the game went into extra time and in the first 15 minutes it was two sets of tired players who were looking in hope more than expectation for the next goal.

In the 100th minute, as the tension increased, Arthur fumbled a Wilson cross but went unpunished by the lurking Dargo just before Strachan's drive was deflected past by the head of Darren Dods at the other end.

After the sides turned round again, the stalemate continued. Roberts had a shot then a header saved by Brown but the game ended 1-1 and then came the drama of penalties and joy for the never-say-die home side.

Teams

Partick Arthur, Murray, Boyd, Billy Gibson, Smyth,Brady (Snowdon 105), James Gibson, McConalogue (Kilgannon 83),Strachan, Ritchie (Gillies 83), Roberts.

Subs Not Used: Colin Stewart, Craig.

Booked: Murray.

Goals: Roberts 15.

Inverness CT Brown, Tokely, Hastings, Dods, Munro, Hart,Wilson, Duncan (Proctor 71), Black (Fox 78), Wyness, Dargo.

Subs Not Used: Fraser, Golabek, Bayne.

Booked: Black, Tokely.

Goals: Wyness 24.

Att: 3,166

Ref: C Murray (Scotland).FT Partick 1 Inverness 1 (aet; Partick win 4-2 on penalties) In the 100th minute, as the tension increased, Arthur fumbled a Wilson cross but went unpunished by the lurking Dargo just before Strachan's drive was deflected past by the head of Darren Dods at the other end.

Dargo and Barry Wilson converted for the visitors but Wyness and Ross Tokely both had their kicks saved by Arthur.

Then up stepped Firhill substitute Will Snowdon, on in the 105th minute for Darren Brady, to slot the ball away to give the Bell's Second Division side a trip to Tynecastle on Saturday week to take on cup favourites Hearts.

Intro: Partick booked a fifth-round Tennent's Scottish Cup clash with Hearts after overcoming top-flight Inverness at Maryhill.

The Bell's Second Division side forged ahead in the 14th minute through Mark Roberts but Caley hit back within 10 minutes through Dennis Wyness.

There were no further goals and it came down to penalties, with Wyness and Ross Tokely's efforts saved by Jags goalkeeper Kenny Arthur and Will Snowdon slotting in the crucial fourth penalty for Partick.