William Hill Premiership Play-offs
Fri 9 May, 2025. Kick Off: - 19.45
Somerset Park, Tryfield Place, Ayr, KA8 9NB
Ticketing Information:
Partick Thistle supporters can book their tickets for either the West Stand (seating) or Railway End (terracing behind the goal).
The tickets are priced at
Adult – £22
Concession – £15 (Over 65s, Disabled, Ambulant and Students)
Juvenile – £15 (13-17-years-old)
Child – £6 (Under 13s)
They are available HERE
Please Note:
If any disabled/ambulant supporters require a carer, then they will be able to obtain 1 free carer ticket by calling our Club Shop on 01292 263435 (option 1).
Supporters must have a ticket or they will not be permitted entry to the Stadium.
Tickets must be purchased online in advance of the match as there will not be any cash gates in operation at Somerset Park.
Supporters’ Buses:
City Centre Branch:
Pick ups:
Station Bar – 16.30
For seats call Duncan 07979496154 or e-mail
John Lambie Jordanhill Branch:
Pick-up:
Jordanhill Railway Station – 18.00
Thornwood Bar – 18.05
Prices:
Adults – £20
Concessions – £14
Booking is essential. To make a booking contact Iain on 07779668357 or e-mail
North-West Branch: Please note bus to Ayr is now fully booked.
Pick ups:
Milngavie Railway Station – 17.30
Esquire House, Anniesland – 17.50
Maryhill Community Central Halls – 18.05
Fares:
Full fare – £20
Concessions* – £14
Primary School age – Free when accompanied by an adult
Supporter Information
Supporters Buses should park in ‘The Blaes Car Park’ which sits first left past the Racecourse and then first right and through the metal gates. Stewards will be on hand to assist.
Away supporters will be housed in the Railway End of the Somerset Park ground which can be accessed via Turnstiles numbered 2,3,5 and 10.
Gates will be open from 6.15pm.
QR Codes will be available to allow the purchase of tickets.
Please note the the Bar in Somerset Park is for Home Supporters only.
Please refrain from any pitch incursions.
Partick Thistle’s season will continue for at least another two games after a 2-0 victory at Somerset Park over Ayr United in the Premiership Play Off quarter-finals.
A centurion brace from Brian Graham was enough for the Harry Wraggs to hobble their way through to the next round on a 2-1 aggregate, despite depleted numbers.
Ayr held a one goal advantage after Tuesday’s 1-0 victory at the Wyre Stadium at Firhill, while Thistle had to contend with a bare bones squad that featured numerous players missing.
Dan O’Reilly and Terry Ablade were both ruled out injured, with Ben Stanway coming in to start while youngster Jamie Low made his debut mere days after sitting his Higher History exam.
Alex Jakubiak returned to the bench, alongside a youthful group which featured no less than five Thistle Academy graduates, including Liam Dolan, who was named in his first matchday squad after signing a two-year modern apprenticeship with the club only yesterday.
Low made an immediate impact, hitting a corner flush onto the head of Brian Graham to head home and pull Thistle level seven minutes into the second leg.
With their lead now gone so early into the game, the nerves started to show for Ayr, who struggled to get a foothold in the game.
Thistle looked to take the lead in the tie, catching the Honest Men on the counter attack with some good attacking play, as Ayr’s back line looked brittle.
The game settled into a moderate tempo, with neither side able to create clear-cut chances for vast portions of the game.
Ayr’s best chance of the opening half fell to Marco Rus midway through the first half, but his shot was blocked well by Lee Ashcroft at the edge of the box.
Thistle came close on the 30th minute when Robbie Crawford swung a cross into the Ayr penalty area for Ben Stanway. Stanway, unfortunately, was unable to get his head on it as the ball sailed wide.
Despite another injury setback, with Kyle Turner hobbling off on 39 minutes to be replaced by Xander MacKenzie, Thistle remained resolute against a wave of Ayr pressure, getting into the break still 1-0 up.
Half Time – Ayr United 0 Partick Thistle 1
After a frustrating first half for Scott Brown’s men, Ayr came out the traps in search of an early goal. Watret and McKinnon each came close, with both their headers sailing over the bar as Thistle were kettled into their own half early on.
With the home side then struggling to make clear-cut opportunities, Ayr resorted to long shots and hopeful balls into the box, which Thistle were able to deal with confidently.
After a litany of cards on Tuesday, it was quite a surprise to see the first bookings handed out after more than an hour. Much to the consternation of Scott Brown, it was two Ayr players, Ben Dempsey and Jay Henderson, who were given the first cautions as the game continued to be a tense, cagey affair.
Ben Stanway was a constant issue for Ayr, justifying his inclusion with a superb workrate, pushing the tempo, stretching the Ayr defence and sending in shots in quick succession that just missed the Ayr goal until he was substituted for Alex Jakubiak eight minutes from time.
As the clock ticked down, both sides went for the win, desperate to avoid extra time. With a packed schedule for the winner and the depleted nature of both sides, there was simply no room for another 30 minutes for either Thistle or Ayr.
In a tight game with a few clear-cut chances, it was always going to come down to a singular big moment. As has been the case countless times over the last five years, the opportunity fell to Graham.
A lovely free kick from Luke McBeth was floated into the box for Graham. He flicked on to substitute Jakubiak for a lovely one-two. The ball fell to Graham who blasted it home to send the 1860 Thistle fans in attendance into delirium.
The goal saw Brian Graham finally reach the much touted 100 goals mark for Partick Thistle, a sensational achievement in just over five years, whilst propelling The Jags into the semi finals.
It was a hammer blow for Ayr, who had pressured throughout the second leg, after leading the tie going in. There was to be no late response from Scott Brown’s men as Thistle had somehow clawed their way into the semi finals.
Full Time – Ayr United 0 Partick Thistle 2
There’ll be no time to breathe for Graham and Wilson’s walking wounded, as they are back in action in four days, when they face Livingston at The Wyre Stadium at Firhill in the Play Off Semi Final First Leg.
Partick Thistle: David Mitchell; Jamie Low, Luke McBeth, Lee Ashcroft, Kanayo Megwa; Stuart Bannigan, Robbie Crawford, Kyle Turner (Zander MacKenzie 39’), Aidan Fitzpatrick, Ben Stanway (Alex Jakubiak 82’); Brian Graham
Unused Substitutes: Lewis Budinauckas (GK), Luis Cameron (GK), Stevie Lawless, Matthew Falconer, Nick Lockhart, Liam Dolan
Ayr United: Josh Clarke; Dylan Watret (Ethan Walker 89’), Lenny Agbaire, Scott McMann; Mark McKenzie (Jay Henderson 58’), Ben Dempsey, Marco Rus (Curtis Main 58’), Patrick Reading, Connor McLennan, Jamie Murphy; George Oakley
Unused Substitutes: Robbie Mutch (GK), Jake Hastie, Cole McKinnon
Referee: Nick Walsh
Attendance: 5,308 (1,860 away)
Match Report by David Forrest
Fri 9 May, 2025
William Hill Premiership Play-offs 
Somerset Park, Tryfield Place, Ayr, KA8 9NB
What a night!
A shot comes in that goes wide of Mitchell's right hand post.
Graham is tripped giving Thistle a free kick inside the Ayr half. This one won't be going into the box you suspect.
The ball is in David Mitchell's hands but we have about an hour still to play.
Low is down with cramp. We'll be having more than 7 minutes of added time.
Minimum of 7 minutes additional time. I can hardly watch far less type.
I can hardly breathe. McBeth flights a free kick deep into the box. It's flicked on by Graham to Jakubiak who lays it back to Graham who fires home. 100 Thistle goals for Graham and Thistle in front in the tie.
Not only does Ashcroft need strapped up. He needs a new jersey. No number on the park.
The referee stops play to allow Ashcroft to receive attention. It looks as if he has a cut to his head. He's being strapped up on the field.
I know someone who doesn't want a goal in the next 7 minutes. Livingston manager David Martindale. Both teams continuing to slug it out.
Low takes the free kick. Clarke looks to have it but looses the ball under pressure. Thistle though can't force the ball home.
Low is fouled deep inside the Ayr half giving Thistle a free kick.
A quick turn gets Henderson into the Thistle box where he drags his shot wide of Mitchell's right hand post.
Crowd: 5,308 (Away: 1,860)
Thank you to every one of those 1,860 fans.
McLennan has another shot and again his shot goes high over the bar.
McLennan has been good for Ayr tonight and he works himself into a shooting position but the shot is poor and clears the bar.
Reading's corner goes to the back post where it bounces off the leg of Main and out for a goal kick.
Stanway is in the thick of the action again and his shot from the right hand side of the box goes wide of the far post.
The energy and work rate from Stanway has been fantastic. He looks to be struggling a little at the moment and stretching what looks like a tight calf.
Thistle break and Fitzpatrick is able to find Stanway. Stanway's shot though is wide of Clarke's left hand post and drifting away from goal.
Another short corner with Graham heading clear when the ball does go into the Thistle box.
Ayr have a free kick wide on the left just about in line with the 6 yard box.
McBeth's free kick finds Fitzpatrick on the left. His low driven cross is collected by Clarke at his front post.
Dempsey's late challenge on Fitzpatrick earns him the first yellow card of the night. By this time on Tuesday half the Jackie Husband Stand had been booked!
Hour played and this play-off tie is still locked at 1-1. Ayr are on top at the moment.
Ayr work a short corner. When the ball does come in it is delivered into a dangerous area and McKenzie heads over. The referee though spots a push and Thistle have a free kick.
McLennan does well on the right for Ayr and his cross is headed over the bar by McMannn.
Brian Graham's 6th minute goal has Thistle ahead on the night and the tie level on aggregate.
Minimum of 4 minutes additional time to be played. The pressure is all coming from Ayr at the moment.
MacKenzie has slotted in at the right wing-back position that had been occupied by Turner.
Turner's night is over unfortunately.
A Murphy cross from the left drifts out of play for a goal kick and before that goal kick can be taken Turner is again treated by the physio.
Crawford crosses and a Stanway header goes just wide of goal.
Graham looks to have been caught on the foot or the ankle but is back up without needing the physio but is limping a little.
Ashcroft blocks a Rus shot at the edge of the box.
Fitzpatrick robs Watret of the ball. He as Graham to his right but goes for goal himself and sees his shot saved by Clarke,
Low takes the corner and Clarke punches clear.
Turner is back on and looks okay.
Turner looks to have picked up a knock. This is the last thing we need. He's receiving some treatment and play is again halted.
Back underway. 1-1 on aggregate in case you didn't know.
Still not restarted.
Delay as some pyro is cleared from the pitch.
Low's corner finds Graham at the back post and he nods home. His 99th Partick Thistle goal. Much, much more importantly though the tie is level again.
Watret bursts past Low and cuts the ball back for Rus who sees his shot blocked by Ashcroft.
Murphy's pass finds Watret but Mitchell claims his cross.
It's a good corner from Reading but Thistle survive an early scare.
We're underway. Thistle shooting towards the home end in the first half.
Kick-off is now just a little under 15 minutes away and there is no shortage of talking points in the Thistle team selection.
An already depleted squad has been further hit by the injury.
Dan O'Reilly and Terry Ablade miss out through.
In come Ben Stanway and Jamie Low who makes his Thistle debut tonight, who we expect to see at left wing-back. I'm told Low sat his Higher History exam recently. I sat mine 38 years ago. Those two facts make me feel extremely old.
On a very youthful looking bench there are five products of the Thistle Academy. Luis Cameron, Zander MacKenzie, Matthew Falconer, Nick Lockhart and Liam Dolan.
Whatever is going to happen in the next couple of hours Thistle will not be lacking in support. The Jags fans are here in numbers and are making their presence felt.