Match report PARTICK THISTLE 0 - 1 AIRDRIE UNITED
Partick Thistle 0 - 1 Airdrie United ALBA Challenge Cup
12 October 2008 Firhill 3.00 pm.
Reporter: Kieron Dempsey
Scorers: Airdrie United : Di Giacomo 3 minutes.
Attendance: 2,761
The sun shone brightly over Firhill but not on Thistle’s fortune as the Jags failed to progress to the final of the ALBA Challenge cup falling to a soft goal scored in just three minutes by the visitors. To date this was Thistle’s best performance in a tournament that Airdrie in their different forms had on four occasions been finalists : winning three times as Airdrieonians and losing once as Airdrie United in 2003 - 2004 to Inverness Caledonian Thistle by two goals to nil.
Manager Ian McCall made a couple of changes to the Thistle side with Hinchcliffe replacing Tuffey who was on international duty, Turner coming in for the suspended Harkins and McKinlay replacing Paton.
The crowd had barely had time to have the first bite of their mutton pie before the visitors had gone ahead. Di Giacomo was allowed to run a good length of the pitch without any challenge. As he approached the box he was able to pass by two static defenders and was then able to drive a low shot which the stretching Hinchcliffe could only manage to palm into the corner of his own net.
Airdrie had another chance ten minutes later when a fluffed Di Giacomo shot fell to Mc Dougall whose effort was well saved by the Thistle keeper. Thistle were not in the game at all at this stage and it wasn’t until the 17th minute the Jags tested the Airdrie keeper. A move involving Donnelly and Roberts ended with Turner rifling a shot at the Airdrie goal which Robertson could only block. The rebound almost fell for McKeown, but he could not capitalise and the chance was gone.
Di Giacomo, who had failed to impress when on loan to the Jags last year, again gave the Jags fans some nervous moments. A Maxwell error in a shaky Thistle defence allowed him the opportunity to shoot with Hinchcliffe saving the home side from going another goal down.
Airdrie United had the upper hand at this point in the game and had another chance to go two ahead from a corner kick with Hinchcliffe saving well. Thistle looked out of sorts throughout the rest of the first half and only a couple of half chances fell to them the best of which ended in a Rowson shot which flew over the bar. Thistle went in at half-time deservedly one goal down Airdrie United having had most of the first half possession and real chances.
Manager McCall made one change at the start of the second half with Paton coming on for McKeown. Thistle still looked out of sorts and Airdrie began as they finished, pressing for a second goal. Paton’s first contribution was in defence cutting out a Cardle header and booting the ball up field. However, the improvement in the performance of the Thistle team began to show as the half progressed and within ten minutes of the restart Paton’s second contribution came in attack when saw a half chance and shot toward the Airdrie goal. His shot blocked, he then sent an inch perfect cross towards the back post which Donnelly could only head wide of the goal.
Thistle were beginning to get much more of the possession now and were taking more of the game to Airdrie. Their efforts nearly paid off on the hour mark when a fiercesome shot from McKinlay rattled the underside of the Airdrie crossbar with the keeper well beaten.
Manager McCall then made another tactical substitution bringing on Liam Buchanan for Mark Roberts. Buchanan made his return to the team to fantastic reception from the Thistle fans. McCall’s excellent change turned up the heat on the Airdrie defence who were beginning to feel the pressure, being pushed back more and more as the game progressed.
However, in fairness to Airdrie their defence did respond cloaking their goal area well and clearing number of Thistle efforts. Indeed, stramache followed stramache as waves of Thistle attacks followed. The Airdrie defenders continued in their task and a dangerous cross from Turner was neutralised just as the Thistle forwards pushed into the box. Thistle stuck at the task, driving for the equaliser and this nearly paid off when Turner passed through to Buchanan whose control was excellent but his shot was easily saved by Robertson. The keeper again came to Airdrie’s rescue moments later as he was forced to punch a McKinlay header over the bar - this was an excellent save by the Airdrie keeper.
With ten minutes to go manager McCall made his final substitution with Chaplain coming on for Rowson. However, it was Airdrie who had the best chance to score when the referee awarded a controversial penalty in the fortieth minute for a Maxwell tackle on Noble, However, although Hinchcliffe dived to his left he was able to save Di Giacomo’s straight penalty with his feet.
Thistle continued to push for the equaliser and in the dying minutes of injury time a shot from Chaplain was saved right on the goal line by Robertson. This was the last real effort of the game and as the final whistle blew so ended Thistle’s sortie in the ALBA Challenge Cup.
In fairness, Airdrie had most of the first half and deserved their half time lead. The second half belonged to the Jags but they were unable to score against a resolute Airdrie defence.
Airdrie will now face Ross County or Morton in the final on 16 November.
Partick Thistle: Hinchcliffe, Storey, John Robertson, Maxwell, Twaddle, Turner, Rowson (Chaplain 81), McKeown (Paton 46), McKinlay, Donnelly, Roberts (Buchanan 61).
Players not used: Lennon, Murray.
Booked: Rowson, McKinlay.
Airdrie Utd: Robertson, Bobby Donnelly, McKenna, Nixon, Lovering, McDougall
(Brown 72), Darren Smith, McLaughlin, Cardle, Di Giacomo, Lynch (Noble 79).
Players not used: Hazley, Watt, Hollis.
Scorers: Di Giacomo 4.
Referee: David Somers
Att: 2,761