One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Following a disappointing performance at the weekend there was unsurprisingly a number of changes to the Jags starting line up for tonight’s game; Harkins moved back into defence after his foray into midfield at the weekend, Robertson replaced Storey at right back, McKinlay, Gibson and Strachan all started in midfield with Keegan earning his first start of the season alongside Buchanan in attack. For Ayr, manager Neil Watt continued with Corr in goal, while veteran attacker Jerome Vareille started in midfield with the experienced duo of Moore and Williams in attack.

In wet and windy conditions the game started slowly and we had to wait 12 mins for the first shot on goal when Ayr’s Robertson shot wildly over. Five minutes later Thistle threatened for the first time when Harkins picked out Strachan with a fine cross-field pass and his first time cross was headed behind for a corner. From it Rowson saw his shot deflected behind for another corner, from which Twaddle had a free header right in front of goal but directed his header straight at the keeper.

Corr made a fine block to deny Buchanan at his near post before McKinlay headed wide, then at the other end Robertson made a great tackle just as Moore was about to shoot and although Stevenson latched onto the ball, Tuffey was equal to his low drive. Moore had another chance after half an hour but his looping header dropped just over the bar with Tuffey beaten.

The Jags keeper was called into action again when the ball broke for Stevenson and he went for goal, but Tuffey made a good save low down to his right to deny him and Dunn could only fire the rebound over the crossbar. Right on the stroke of half-time McKinlay met Strachan’s free kick at the near post, but Corr saved his header and the half finished goalless.

Williams came close to opening the scoring for Ayr in the 50th minute when he ran onto Moore’s header but his early shot flashed narrowly wide of the far post. Ayr had another chance seconds later but just when it looked as if they must score with only the keeper to beat, somehow the shot was blocked and the chance was lost. The home side threatened again from a free kick but Tuffey made a fine block to stop Stevenson’s fiercely hit shot.

With an hour of the game gone Thistle slowly started to step up the pace and Buchanan was almost played in by Keegan’s neat reverse pass inside the area but the outstanding Henderson was on hand to block before he could collect the pass. It looked as if Thistle were going to need some help to open the scoring and in the 65th minute they got it when Buchanan flicked on Murray’s corner, and Eddie Forrest lashed the ball into the roof of his own net to put Thistle in front.

The Jags looked to build on the opener and after Rowson had driven the ball just wide from a corner seconds after they’d gone in front, Buchanan latched onto a loose ball and raced clear but his angled drive was touched round the post by the keeper.

Tuffey made a routine save from Robertson before Thistle failed to capitalise on a series of gilt-edged chances to extend their lead. The first came in the 77th minute when Buchanan had another chance to test the keeper, but after being played in by Gibson, he took an extra touch instead of going for goal which allowed Corr to close him down and block his shot.

Two minutes later Buchanan had an even better chance when he latched onto Tuffey’s long clearance and held off the challenge of Swift to race clean through, but wastefully blasted over the bar. Next it was McKinlay’s turn, he collected Murray’s pass and with only the keeper to beat, he too failed to even hit the target.

With five minutes of the game left, Thistle were made to pay for those missed chances when Twaddle slid in to challenge inside the box after Roberts had given possession away cheaply, and the ref awarded a penalty. Williams made no mistake from the spot to level the tie and take the game into extra time.

Despite the setback of losing a late equaliser, it was Thistle who looked the most likely to win the game in the opening period of extra time. Almost straight from the kick off Buchanan flashed a low ball across the face of goal and Murray arrived at the back post, but once again the finishing wasn’t good enough and he fired the ball over the bar.

Five minutes later Jimmy Gibson did manage to get his shot on target following good play down the right wing by Robertson, but he was unlucky to see his effort deflected behind for a corner. Right on the stroke of half time Murray’s corner caused problems for the Ayr defence, but although the ball bounced around in the danger area, no one in red and yellow could get a telling touch.

The second half of extra time seemed destined to be a pretty meaningless kick-a-bout prior to penalty kicks deciding the outcome with neither side able to create anything of note, only for disaster to strike in the final minute of the game. With the home side pushing forward one last time, instead of just clearing the ball to safety, the previously solid Robertson put Tuffey under pressure with a back pass and the Jags keeper who is usually so reliable with the ball at his feet, made a mess of his clearance firing it straight at Ayr’s Alex Williams, who didn’t waste the opportunity handed to him to fire Ayr into the semi-finals.

Worryingly there was little to choose between the sides tonight and you’d be hard pushed to tell who was the First Division side. Thistle did, on occasion, play the better football, but both sides had their chances without being able to control the game.

However, after going in front Thistle created enough clear-cut opportunities to seal their progress, and McCall will no doubt be furious at throwing it away. With a win at home to QOS on Saturday a must, the Jags boss will have to quickly rediscover that wining formula, otherwise the confidence will start to falter, amongst the players and the fans.

Man of the match: Liam Buchanan