William Hill Premiership Play-offs
Tue 12 May, 2026. Kick Off: - 19:45
KDM Group East End Park, Dunfermline
Tickets
Tickets for this game are on sale online now, via Dunfermline Athletic’s website, priced as follows:
Adults – £12
Concessions* – £10
Under 18s – £6
Carers – Free of charge
*(Over 65s, disabled supporters, wheelchair users, unemployed fans, full-time students)
CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS FOR THE AWAY LEG
Thistle fans will be housed in the Vertu Community Stand for this game.
Supporters’ Buses
City Centre Branch
Pick up: Station Bar – 17:00
For seats call Duncan 07979 496 154 or e-mail .
John Lambie Jordanhill Branch
Pick-ups:
Jordanhill Railway Station – 17:45
Thornwood Bar – 17:50
Prices:
Adults – £21
Concessions – £15
Booking is essential.
To make a booking, contact Iain on 07779 668 357 or email .
North-West Branch
The North-West Branch is FULLY BOOKED for this game.
Pick ups:
Milngavie Railway Station – 17:30
Esquire House, Anniesland – 17:50
Maryhill CC Halls – 18:05
Fares for non-members:
Full – £21
Concession* – £15
One primary school age child may travel free of charge when accompanied by a fare paying adult.
*Eligibility for concession fares:
It’s all to play for on Friday night, following Partick Thistle’s 1-1 draw away to Dunfermline Athletic in the Premiership play-off semi-finals.
This is the Jags’ fifth consecutive season in these play-offs but this time Mark Wilson’s side had the novelty of a week off, having finished in second – their highest second tier finish since the 2012/13 title-winning campaign.
Dunfermline, on the other hand, hadn’t had much rest with a hard-earned 1-0 aggregate win over Arbroath booking their spot in the semi-finals.
There were five changes made to the side that drew 1-1 with Queen’s Park on the final day of the regular season with Lee Ashcroft, Dan O’Reilly and Ben McPherson all returning to the defence.
Ben Stanway and Ts’oanelo Lets’osa also came in as Cale Loughrey, Luke McBeth, Robbie Crawford and Alex Samuel all dropped to the bench, whilst Ethan Ingram missed out through injury.
It was a cagey opening, with neither side able to assert dominance early on. Thistle’s first real foray into the opposition half came on six minutes, when Tony Watt flicked the ball on to an onrushing Lets’osa, however, the opportunity was quickly dealt with by the Pars backline.
From there, it was all Dunfermline for the next portion, with the Jags having to cope with a succession of corners into the box.
Josh Clarke was called into action for the first time on 10 minutes when he was required to turn a deflected Chris Kane effort around his right-hand post.
The game shrunk into the middle of the park, with neither side able to carve an opening until the 22nd minute when Dunfermline took the lead.
A quickly taken free-kick released Matty Todd into a dangerous area on Dunfermline’s left-hand side and the midfielder hit the byline and cut the ball back to Callumn Morrison at the edge of the six-yard box. The former Falkirk man fired firmly into the back of the net and gave the hosts the lead.
Mark Wilson’s men, however, refused to let the heads drop – firing back with an immediate response. Straight from the restart, Thistle drove forward, much to the shock of the Dunfermline defence. Aidan Fitzpatrick eked out enough space to thread a pass in the direction of Ben Stanway, with Thistle’s Player of the Year duly burying his shot past Pars ‘keeper Aston Oxborough from six yards out to level the game.
Five minutes later, it could have been 2-1 when Logan Chalmers found space approximately 25 yards out and had a pop, but the shot went wide.
Dunfermline had a few speculative chances as the game cooled down after a frenetic few minutes. Morrison ballooned a shot over, before Andrew Tod saw a volley from 30 yards fly into the Norrie McCathie Stand.
Referee Duncan Nicolson drew the ire of the home support moments before half time, when Matty Todd ended up on the ground under Ben McPherson’s challenge. The natives expected a penalty but the man in the middle waved play on.
Half-time – Dunfermline Athletic 1 Partick Thistle 1
Thistle started on the front foot after the restart and would have the ball in the back of the net on 47 minutes, however, Aidan Fitzpatrick’s powerful finish was ruled out for offside.
Not long after, The Jags had another good opportunity when the ball broke to Stanway to have a go, but he was only able to sting the wrists of Oxborough, who parried the shot wide.
The home side had a free kick in a dangerous area in the 53rd minute and Robbie Fraser tried his luck from 20 yards. The former Livingston man got the ball around the wall but saw Josh Clarke bat it away from goal.
A set piece presented an opportunity for Thistle shortly thereafter as Dan O’Reilly got on the end of a Fitzpatrick corner but Ben McPherson inadvertently blocked the goal-bound attempt.
On 65 minutes, Mark Wilson turned to his bench with Samuel, Crawford and Logan coming on for Watt, Lets’osa and McPherson as the Jags searched for a difference maker.
It was Dunfermline though who would have the next big chance as Morrison got the ball to Robbie Fraser in the visitors’ box. Frase chopped onto his right foot and looked set to bend a shot into the far corner, but angled it wide of the right post.
As the clock ticked down into injury time, it was Thistle who started to look more likely to grab a winner. The Jags besieged the Pars box with a plethora of chances as Samuel made his presence felt after coming on as a sub.
A cross from fellow substitute Gary Mackay-Steven on 88 minutes teed Samuel up with a header, but the Welshman nodded just wide of the far post. A minute later, Samuel was at it again with a shot on the turn to no avail.
In stoppage time, Crawford tried his luck, but a good save from Oxborough ensured it stayed level.
Full-time – Dunfermline Athletic 1 Partick Thistle 1
The tie is now finely poised, going into Friday’s winner-takes-all second leg at The Wyre Stadium at Firhill.
Elsewhere, in the Premiership, tonight’s results confirm that the winner of this tie will face St. Mirren in the final.
Teams
Dunfermline Athletic: Aston Oxborough; Shea Kearney, Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Kieran Ngwenya, Robbie Fraser; Callumn Morrison, Charlie Gilmour, Alfons Amade, Matty Todd; Andrew Tod (Tashan Oakley-Boothe, 86’), Chris Kane (Lucas Fyfe, 69’).
Unused Substitutes: Billy Terrell; Kyle Benedictus, Chris Hamilton, Rory Macleod, Keith Bray, John Tod, Josh Cooper.
Partick Thistle: Josh Clarke; Ben McPherson (Cammy Logan, 65’), Dan O’Reilly, Lee Ashcroft, Paddy Reading; Ts’oanelo Lets’osa (Robbie Crawford, 65’), Ben Stanway (Fraser Taylor, 86’), Oisin Smyth; Logan Chalmers (Gary Mackay-Steven, 79’), Aidan Fitzpatrick, Tony Watt (Alex Samuel, 65’).
Unused Substitutes: Lewis Budinauckas; Kyle Turner, Luke McBeth, Cale Loughrey.
Referee: Duncan Nicolson
Attendance: 6,873 (1,840 away)
Tue 12 May, 2026
William Hill Premiership Play-offs 
KDM Group East End Park, Dunfermline
Thistle are under heavy pressure at times in this game but finish the match much the stronger and come close to taking a lead back to the Wyre Stadium at Firhill on Friday.
It's going to be some night under the Firhill Floodlights on Friday.
Crawford's shot is blocked. It's all Thistle at the finish.
Reading's cut back is cleared.
Taylor's corner is hacked to safety as Thistle press late on.
Crawford's effort nearly sneaks in.
A Samuel shot is blocked.
Thistle free kick wide on the left.
Samuel sees a header drop just wide of goal.
Oxborough gets a hand to a Fitzpatrick effort as Thistle try and snatch a late winner to take back to Firhill.
Ashcroft is winning no friends with the Dunfermline fans but that was a piece of strong defending.
Another shout for a Dunfermline penalty. That one could charitably be described as optimistic.
Thistle win a free kick inside the Dunfermline half.
Ashcroft makes an important clearance as the Thistle goal again comes under pressure.
Crowd: 6,873 with 1,840 travelling Thistle fans.
Thistle survive another scare before Fyfe lashes well wide.
Tod picks the ball up on the left inside the Thistle box, cuts in towards goal and sends a shot just wide of Clarke's right hand post.
Thistle free kick midway inside the Dunfermline half.
Activity on the Thistle bench. Looks like a triple change coming.
Morrison's free kick clips the top of the Thistle wall.
O'Reilly fouls Kane and Dunfermline have a free kick in a central position at the edge of the D.
Kearney shoots over the bar as Watt looks for a free kick that was never going to come.
O'Reilly gets his head to Fitzpatrick's corner but it is blocked by a defender.
Thistle have their first corner of the night.
Fraser goes for goal and Clarke has to push the free kick away, As Morrison tries to get to the loose ball he goes to ground and there are again appeals for a Dunfermline penalty.
Amade goes over the leg of Stanway and Dunfermline have a free kick a few yards outside the Thistle box near the right hand corner of the box.
A Reading effort sails high and wide of the Dunfermline goal.
Dunfermline have been a threat from set pieces tonight but they don't threaten the Thistle goal with this corner,
The ball breaks to Stanway and his effort is beaten away by Oxborough.
Fitzpatrick has the ball in the net but the flag is up for offside.
No changes from either side at the break.
Well that was quite a half of football.
Thistle probably happy to hear the half-time whistle level at 1-1.
Minimum of 1 minute added time to be played.
Howls for a Dunfermline penalty as Todd goes down under McPherson's challenge. I'll be honest, my heart was in my mouth there.
A cross from the right falls to Todd at the back post but he doesn't make good contact with the ball and Clarke has an easy save.
Dunfermline look for a third corner in quick succession but the ball goes behind for a goal kick.
Ashcroft is a little late on Tod but it's a lecture from the referee rather than a booking for the Thistle captain.
Tod has an effort from about 25 yards out. It's over the bar but not by much.
A clever pass from Lets'osa finds Chalmers and from the edge of the box Chalmers drags an effort wide of Oxborough's left hand post.
It's a rapid response from Thistle. Stanway finds a route to goal and from six yards out manages to bury a low shot into the net.
The home side take the lead. Todd has space on the left hand side and his low cross is drilled into the net by Morrison.
Thistle look for their first corner of the game but a goal kick is the decision.
Short corner this time and there is a chance for Kane on the turn but he sees his effort blocked.
Clarke has to dive full length to turn a Kane effort round the post.
Clarke gets a strong fist to Todd's corner but Dunfermline remain on the attack.
A third corner as Lets'osa rather needlessly knocks the ball behind.
Stanway flicks the corner away for another on the opposite side.
Hint of a chance for Thistle as Watt flicks the ball to Lets'osa but the dangers is snuffed out. Neither side has taken a grip on the game yet. Both sides seeing possession in the opposition half.
Dunfermline kick-off. Thistle shooting towards the big and noisy travelling support in the first half.
Kick-off and the start of another play-off journey is now a little under 15 minutes.
After rotating his squad in the final two league games of the season Head Coach Mark Wilson has made five changes to the side that started the final league game against Queen's Park.
In come Lee Ashcroft, Dan O'Reilly, Ben McPherson, Ben Stanway and Ts'oanelo Lets'osa.