One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Partick Thistle v Airdrie United
Irn-Bru Scottish League 1st Division
Saturday 2nd May 2009
Firhill Stadium Glasgow
Kick -Off 3.00 pm
Reporter: Tom Hogg
Referee: Crawford Allan
Attendance: 3,250 approx

Thistle’s lingering hopes of catching St Johnstone in the run in were dashed in a lack lustre display that said more about the lengthy queue outside the physio’s room in recent weeks, than some mid season form which hinted ever so slightly at the chance of outrageous over-achievement. The loss of emergency loan signing Lucas Akins meant that a reshuffle was needed in any case, but Chaplain and Donnelly both started despite being only partly fit and the long term problems of Buchanan, Archibald and Kinniburgh are well documented. Young Graeme Eaglesham was listed on the bench, alongside Paul Paton with Buchanan starting alongside Doolan up front in a 3-5-2.

The south west facing slopes of the JHS were again bathed in spring sunshine as the teams kicked off, Thistle facing the visitors unveiling a new kick off ploy of short passes rather than the usual left wing punt, but it was Airdrie who had the first shot at goal as a trundler from Di Giacomo was easily dealt with by Tuffey. Thistle started brightly, with some quick ball movement down the left resulting in a Doolan flick being cleared off the line with Buchanan hovering. This was followed shortly after by a great Twaddle run, the ball finally reaching Storey on the right whose cross back in was cleared for the first of two successive corners.

Th Jags were exerting no small amount of pressure at this stage, but Airdrie held firm, defending in numbers on their 18 yard line, although Steven Robertson in their goal had to look lively when Buchanan connected with another Doolan first time lay off at the front post, the Airdrie keeper conceding a fourth corner with only ten minutes played.

Airdrie weathered the storm and began to take the sting out of the game with long clearances to eager runners keeping the Thistle back line on their heels. A break by them on 21 minutes saw a half clearance blasted over when it could have proved more dangerous.

The injured Chaplain was clattered when a short pass form Donnelly invited a strong tackle and he needed to leave on 25 with Paton coming on and the midfield being reshuffled to a similar set up as last week against Livingston. Yet another Thistle corner on the half hour mark saw a scramble in the goalmouth eventually ending with a Rowson shot flicked on by Maxwell into a grateful Robertson’s arms.

The last third of the first half was typified by scrappy play, Airdrie by now getting to grips with Thistle front two and effective pressure being exerted on the Jags back line whenever relief was available by the usual route of a punt up the park.

The teams came out for the second half after a busy break that included a cheque presentation, a song from some schoolkids and the half time draw being made by the suspended Gary Harkins, sadly missed, as both midfields spent little time on the ball and more spoiling the other team.

The Jags started brightly though, with Donnelly sending Twaddle off to swing in a low hard cross, a feat he repeated again minutes later, but there were no takers on each occasion. Donnelly was playing further forward, pushing Doolan and Buchanan wide as the Jags reshaped into a 3-4-3 and the tiring ex junior was replaced directly by Kevin McKinlay on 56. Thistle were moving the ball forward quickly but in general high balls were being dealt with, the only real exception a looping Paton cross which McKinlay failed to get under full control before being closed down.

Airdrie were not out of it and John Robertson was lucky to survive being tackled deep in his own half and an away forward straying offside as the ball was played through. The same player conceded a foul which the ref played on, only to see the shot clear the bar after which Robertson’s name was taken. The injured Buchanan was withdrawn on 74 minutes to be replaced by Kinniburgh who took up position in the middle of the frront three, presumably to knock balls down to his supporting forwards, but the immediate action was at the opposite end as Airdrie saw a good claim for handball in the box waved away by the ref.

Thistle began to crank things up again and Rowson shot over after a corner was half cleared and Twaddle got in to good positions twice only to see no takers for his crosses. Donnelly’s ineffective corners were eventually taken over by Paton and in the last five minutes of the game he delivered well to the back of the box twice, the second cleared by Maxwell inexplicably.

However the game was destined to end in controversy with McKinlay bursting through in the box and rounding Robertson only for the ref to call him back for an apparent foul on the keeper as they both ran for the through ball. As Thistle pushed upfield and another Paton corner was cleared, Rowson and Archibald found themselves caught four on two and Lynch appeared to be offside as he collected McLaughlin’s pass to sidefoot past Tuffey for the only goal on 93 minutes.

There was a degree of inevitability to it and St Johnstone were already champions, but the goal could mean First Division safety for Airdrie if they win against the champions next week and Ross County stumble.

If Thistle had made the breakthrough early on and Airdrie had been forced to chase the game then things might have been different, but as the ninety minutes wore on the tired legs began to show and the quality of the game suffered. McCall would have been a hero if the Kinniburgh ploy had paid off, but fans instead were left puzzling over the lack of a run out for one of our young hopefuls in the form of Eaglesham.

MOTM at the stadium was Twaddle who did stretch those telescopic legs to good effect but lacked a killer pass, but for me, despite only playing two thirds of the game Paul Paton deserved it, mopping up effectively, distributing well and firing in dangerous balls especially in the last fifteen minutes.

Partick Thistle

Tuffey, Storey, Twaddle, Maxwell, Robertson, Archibald, Chaplain, Rowson, Buchanan, Donnelly, Doolan

Subs. Hinchcliffe, Paton, McKinlay, Eaglesham , Kinniburgh