Partick Thistle v Ayr United – 15th March 2025

Partick Thistle continued their run of good form with a fine 2-0 win over Ayr United at The Wyre Stadium at Firhill.

Goals from Logan Chalmers and Luke McBeth saw the Jags continue to stake their claim for a place in the promotion play-offs, extending their lead over Greenock Morton and Raith Rovers to seven points, with both of them having a game in hand over Thistle.

Today’s match was the third annual fixture dedicated to the Her Game Too (HGT) campaign. HGT aims to tackle sexism in football and allow women to feel more included and welcome at matches.

Thistle boasted a 100% record in previous HGT-dedicated fixtures, having bested Raith Rovers in 2023 and Inverness last season, and were keen to keep the streak alive against Scott Brown’s Ayr United side who sit third in the Scottish Championship table.

Scott Martin was the only change to the starting line-up, having sustained an injury in Tuesday’s win over Queen’s Park. Much like at Hampden, Kyle Turner replaced him. Two Academy players, Nick Lockhart and Liam Rooney, received their first call ups to the matchday squad, with fellow youngsters Matthew Falconer and Zander MacKenzie also featuring on the bench.

After a period of sustained pressure, Thistle took the lead on twenty minutes. A ball was played through to Brian Graham, who cheekily flicked it with his backheel through to Chalmers. Ayr keeper Josh Clarke rushed out as Chalmers took a touch, before firing past Clarke to make it 1-0.

Seven minutes later. The Jags doubled their lead. Chalmers swung a cross in off a free kick, but it was headed away by Ayr defender Lenny Agbaire. The ball fell to McBeth who floated the ball in from 15 yards out for an excellent goal.

Half Time – Partick Thistle 2 Ayr United 0

Desperately looking for a way back into the game, Ayr rang the changes at half time. Marco Rus, the aforementioned Agbaire and Mark McKenzie all made way, with Cole McKinnon, Frankie Musonda and Jay Henderson coming on in their place as Ayr changed their shape to try and cut Thistle open more.

With the exception of a chance for McKinnon a few minutes after the restart, the changes did not seem to give Ayr much of a foothold in the game, as Thistle continued to shut them out.

On 68 minutes, Thistle nearly added a third, after Josh Reid found himself in space and launched a shot towards the goal. Keeper Clarke was powerless to stop the ball as it flashed by, with Scott McMann forced into a clearance off the line to stop Reid’s effort from going in.

Today’s Man of the Match, chosen by the Partick Thistle Charitable Trust, was awarded to Luke McBeth for his imperious play at the back, and his well taken goal in the first half.

Thistle’s defence continued to marshal the game into the final stages, with Ayr unable to break through before the final whistle, as Partick Thistle’s Her Game Too streak lives for another year.

Full Time – Partick Thistle 2 Ayr United 0

Partick Thistle are next in action on Friday (21st), back at the Wyre Stadium at Firhill. They will do battle under the lights on BBC Scotland, against Raith Rovers.

Teams

Partick Thistle – Lewis Budinauckas, Kanayo Megwa, Lee Ashcroft, Dan O’Reilly, Josh Reid (Sean Kelly 70’), Kyle Turner, Stuart Bannigan, Luke McBeth, Robbie Crawford (Aidan Fitzpatrick 61’), Logan Chalmers (Zander MacKenzie 81’), Brian Graham (Alex Jakubiak 61’)

Unused substitutes – David Mitchell (GK), Terry Ablade, Matthew Falconer, Nick Lockhart, Liam Rooney

Ayr United – Josh Clarke, Patrick Reading, George Stanger, Mark McKenzie (Jay Henderson 46’), Scott McMann (Dylan Watret 70’), Lenny Agbaire (Frankie Musonda 46’), Connor McLennan, Marco Rus (Cole McKinnon 46’), Ben Dempsey, George Oakley, Curtis Main

Unused substitutes – Harry Stone (GK), Liam Russell (GK), Nick McAllister, Jake Hastie, Ethan Walker

Referee – Lloyd Wilson

Crowd – 4.289

By David Forrest

50/ 50 draw results

1st Prize (£675) – 242353

2nd Prize (Chance to take part in crossbar challenge) – 242017