Date: 13th December 2008
Venue: Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
Opponents: Airdrie United
Attendance: 2,296
Venue: Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
Opponents: Airdrie United
Attendance: 2,296
Final Score:2-1
Scorers: Harkins, O.g. (McLaughlin) / Lynch
Scorers: Harkins, O.g. (McLaughlin) / Lynch
Misc:
Match Report: by Kieron Dempsey from oneteaminglasgow.com
In front of a disappointing crowd of only 2,296 Thistle managed to dig out a win to put us six points from the top of the league in third position. Manager McCall chose to bring back Roberts, Storey and Kinniburgh for this match and to reshape the forward line with Roberts lining up beside Buchanan.
Thistle started well and from an early free kick, Harkins blasted a 35 yarder that had the Airdrie keeper having to work to keep it out. In the 6th minute Maxwell was replaced by Archibald after picking up an early injury. Thistle seemed to have most of the play and, as in previous weeks, again showed some good passing moves, but within thirteen minutes it was the visitors who had gone ahead after some shaky Thistle defending ended in a Kinniburgh blunder that left Airdrie’s Lynch free to fire the ball into the net from about four yards.
Following the centre Airdrie were able to defend well, easily snuffing out Thistle’s attempts to push forward in their efforts to pull one back. However, the determination of the Jags paid off quickly and within five minutes both sides were level with a well worked and well taken goal. An excellent through ball from Mark Roberts went straight to the on-running Harkins. Harkins saw the keeper running out to narrow the angle and block, so he lifted the ball brilliantly over the keeper and into the back of the net. Indeed, so heavenly was this goal that it seemed to take an eternity before it hit the net and the fans could be sure that Thistle had indeed equalised.
Thistle followed this goal with some really good outfield football, but unfortunatley these forays forward often broke down near the box, one exception being an excellent effort set up by Paton with a strong drive with which Buchanan just failed to connect.
The rocky Thistle defence that has dogged the Jags periodically throughout the early part of the season, was apparent again in 28 minutes when a slightly hesitant Tuffey was called upon to block a close range effort from Lynch.
In the 37th minute Thistle got a corner which almost led to another goal. Paton’s corner found Buchanan’s head and it whistled just past the post. The rest of the half ran out with both sides making little penetration. Much effort came from the Thistle side but possession was constantly being lost by one side then the other.
Thistle replaced Turner at half time with Twaddle. Apart from a Roberts effort that came as a gift from a miss-kick by the Airdrie keeper, the early part of the half began as the first had ended with some strong effort from the Thistle players. The difference this time was that they managed to retain possession and to press forward and create some real chances. The first of these came from a good run by McKinlay who sent a dangerous cross into the Airdire box that was booted out for a corner. From the resulting corner Buchanan headed the ball just past the goal. Another such opportunity arose when another cross, this time from Rowson, had the Airdire defence in disarray. Minutes later Buchanan fired the ball brilliantly just in front of the Airdrie goal – the ball having to be put out for another corner.
The almost constant Thistle pressure paid off in the 62nd minute when a Twaddle cross pressed Airdrie’s McLaughlin into taking desperate defensive action that resulted in him sending the ball into his own net leaving the Airdrie keeper helpless. Thistle continued to press the Airdire box and at times the Airdrie defence increasingly looked very rocky.
However, Airdrie were not a spent force and a McLaughlin shot from just outside of the Thistle area came close and made it clear to all that the points were anything, but secure. McLaughlin again came close with another shot from the edge of the box with 15 minutes to go.
Thistle reacted and pressed forward and a Donnelly effort went narrowly wide in the 82nd minute. Four minutes later McKinlay forced the Airdrie keeper into making a low dive to keep his team in with a chance. The keeper again kept Airdrie in the match when he saved a Donnelly effort with only minutes to go.
It was with some relief that the fans greeted the final whistle and saw all three points stay at Firhill. This was not a tremendously entertaining match, but the effort was there from the first to last minute. In a cold Firhill it was difficult to choose the man of the match but after some reflection I think I would have to give it to Gary Harkins not just for his goal, but for his speed and excellent close control that in itself often provides a jewel of entertainment in plain setting.
Partick Thistle: Jonathan Tuffey, Paton, McKinlay, Storey, Kinniburgh, Maxwell (Archibald 7), Turner (Twaddle 46), Rowson, Buchanan, Roberts (Donnelly 70), Harkins.
Players not used: Hinchcliffe, Chaplain.
Goals: Harkins 19, McLaughlin 62 o.g.
Airdrie Utd: Robertson, Smyth, Hazley (Noble 79), McDonald (Brown 66), Donnelly, McKenna, McDougall, McLaughlin, Di Giacomo, Lynch, Cardle.
Players not Used: Nixon, Darren Smith, Hollis.
Bookings: Cardle, Donnelly.
Goal: Lynch 14.
Att: 2,296
Ref: Mike McCurry
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