Saturday 2nd November, 2024 at 5:29pm
Scott Robinson’s second half goal made it three wins in a row for Partick Thistle as Dunfermline were seen off 1-0 at the KDM Group East End Park.
Firhill manager Kris Doolan made one change to his starting line-up from last weekend’s win over Queen’s Park with Aidan Fitzpatrick dropping out after picking up a knock and Robbie Crawford was brought in from the start.
There was also the welcome sight of Terry Ablade returning from a short spell on the side-lines and take a place on the substitutes’ bench.
After a minute’s silence for Remembrance was impeccably observed Stuart Bannigan kicked the game off with The Jags deploying Kyle Turner on the left and Crawford in the middle of the midfield trio.
Brian Graham looked to have set up the visitors’ first attack on three minutes with a pass down the right for Logan Chalmers however Kieran Ngwenya got back to cover and end the danger.
Three minutes later Chris Hamilton appeared to handball before sliding a pass through to Chris Kane however the ball raced over the touchline and the game restarted with a by kick.
On nine minutes a combination of strong running and fine skill took Harry Milne deep into the Dunfermline box with his low cross cut-out before finding a team-mate.
Crawford was tripped 40 yards from the home goal five minutes later however Thistle’s hopes of putting pressure on Tobi Oluwayemi’s goal were ended when Bannigan’s dead ball was cleared.
Shortly afterward Dan O’Reilly dived to head away a dangerous cross at the expense of a corner that fell to Kyle Benedictus who sent a shot high over.
On 20 minutes Doolan’s side had two good chances in quick succession with Robinson played in behind the home defence by Graham only for three defenders to converge on him.
A corner was the midfielder’s only reward as his shot was deflected wide and, from Turner’s corner, Graham rose highest with his flicked header flashing just wide.
Three minutes after the half-way point of the first half a fine flowing move involving Robinson, Bannigan and Kanayo Megwa took Thistle some 60 yards up the pitch only for the full back’s cross to be blocked.
Robinson was tripped wide on the right wing nine minutes from half-time to give Chalmers the chance to send over a left-footed in-swinging free kick that Lee Ashcroft was just unable to get on the end of.
On 42 minutes a lightning raid on the Dunfermline goal was started with a Graham turn and pass right to Chalmers who advanced and advanced until he was one on one with Oluwayemi who was able to turn the midfielder’s shot wide.
As The Maryhill Men kept up the pressure before the break Ashcroft’s header was clawed away by Oluwayemi from under his bar.
Half Time – Dunfermline Athletic 0 Partick Thistle 0
Megwa and Chalmers looked to take the game to the Fifers on the restart however they were repelled by a determined Dunfermline defence.
Ashcroft stood strong to head a Sam Young drive from 25 yards behind for a corner that was scooped up by McCrea FS Player of the Month for October Myles Roberts.
Milne was in the correct position to do likewise 60 seconds later when a looping left-wing cross looked to be heading into a dangerous area.
Ngwenya was cautioned for tripping Mega in full flight on 57 minutes just to the side of the home penalty box and the Jags took full advantage by opening the scoring.
Turner’s clipped free kick flew across goal where Dan O’Reilly knocked it back in the opposite direction and ROBINSON darted in to apply the final touch two yards out and right in front of the Thistle fans who had arrived in fancy dress.
There was a late Halloween scare four minutes later as a cross from the left reached Chris Hamilton with plenty of the goal to aim at however the Pars man sent his shot over.
Graham led visiting attacks twice in quick succession to no reward as the home rear-guard regrouped and shut the Jags skipper out.
Milne was the next to lead a raid on the home goal as he charged down the left on 78 minutes with the move eventually ending with Robinson just failing to get on the end of a Graham knockdown.
Oluwayemi raced out of his goal with nine minutes left and stuck out his hands and pushed the ball away with his hands. After the shot-stopper was booked Turner clipped in another fine dead ball but there were no takers this time.
The visiting defence, bolstered by substitute Aaron Muirhead, remained calm as Dunfermline looked to build up a head of steam with a shout from Roberts that he was coming to punch away heard across Fife.
Deep into injury time Ablade looked to go on a piercing run however a strong tackle ended his progress with the final whistle going after six additional minutes.
Teams
Partick Thistle – Myles Roberts, Kanayo Megwa, Daniel O’Reilly, Lee Ashcroft, Harry Milne, Stuart Bannigan (Luke McBeth 88), Robbie Crawford (Ben Stanway 90+2), Logan Chalmers, Scott Robinson, Kyle Turner (Terry Ablade 83), Brian Graham (Aaron Muirhead 88).
Unused substitutes – Mason McCready (G/k), Liam Smith, Charlie Sayers, James Lyon, Ricco Diack.
Dunfermline Athletic – Tobi Oluwayemi, Aaron Comrie, Kieran Ngwenya (Craig Wighton 83), Kyle Benedictus, Chris Hamilton (Josh Cooper 71), Lewis McCann (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 46), David Wotherspoon, Chris Kane (Matty Todd 50), Craig Clay (Ewan Otoo 58), Sam Young, Dapo Mebude (Taylor Sutherland 83).
Unused substitutes – Deniz Mehmet (GK), Joe Chalmers, Tommy Fogarty.
