cinch Championship
Fri 5 May, 2023. Kick Off: - 19:45
Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy
Match Information:
Fixture Details:
Thistle supporters will be located in the North Stand with tickets priced as follows:
Adults – £20
Over 65 – £13
Under 21 – £12
Under 16 – £8
Under 12 – £5
Under 5 – FREE
Tickets are available for online purchase. Click here to purchase your ticket.
There is no cash gate in operation at Stark’s Park on matchday and all supporters are required to purchase tickets online in advance of kick off.
Supporters’ Buses:
City Centre Branch:
Pick ups:
Q Club – 16:15
Station Bar – 16:30
For seats call Duncan 07979496154 or e-mail
John Lambie Jordanhill Branch:
Pick ups:
Jordanhill Station – 17:30
Thornwood Bar – 17:35
Prices:
Adults – £17
Concessions – £10
Booking is essential and priority will be given to former members and regulars.
To make a booking phone or e-mail Alistair on 07817612563 or Alternatively phone or e-mail Iain on 07779668357 or
North-West Branch:
Pick ups:
Milngavie Railway Station – 17:15
Esquire House, Anniesland – 17:35
Maryhill Community Central Halls – 17:50
Fares:
Full fare – £16.50
Concessions – £10
The North-West Branch is now fully booked for this fixture.
Thistle get the point they need to secure a play-off spot but it isn't enough to finish second despite bombarding the Rovers goal.
It looks as if it's back to Firhill and a play-off quarter-final with Queen's Park on Tuesday.
Brownlie's header goes over the bar.
It changes again with an Ayr goal. Thistle back down to 4th.
Into injury time we go.
Play halted for a Raith player to receive treatment.
Crowd: 2,899.
An Inverness equaliser has changed things a little again. Queen's Park second, Thistle third and Morton fourth.
The corner is cleared.
Well the news that Morton now lead at Cove isn't easing the nerves. A Thistle winner and it looks like a second place finish. A Raith winner and it's 5th and no play-off place.
Thistle are close to a third goal but Mullen can't squeeze the ball home.
Into the final 10. You can't help but think that this remarkable last day has more twists to cone yet.
Fitzpatrick's lung bursting run ends with a shot saved by MacDonald.
The ball falls to Turner at the edge of the box but he can't control his volley and it flies over the bar.
Mitchell makes an important save to push away Akio's powerful drive.
Graham is able to divert a ball into the box towards the Raith goal but nit 8s an easy save for MacDonald
MacDonald gets a strong hand to Turner's corner.
That goal doesn't change the current league positions but does take Thistle to one goal away from a potential second place finish.
Mullen fires a cross across goal that nobody can get on the end of. The ball is returned across goal and this time there is someone on the end of it as Tiffoneey smashes home.
Brown lashes a shot well wide of the Thistle goal.
There is some activity on the Thistle bench.
As things stand Thistle would remain in 4th but events at inverness and in particular Cove are getting even more attention now.
The nightmare scenario unfolds as Rovers take the lead. McGill finding the net with a low shot from the edge of the box.
Turner's quick through finds Lawless. He goes down inside the box and there are more appeals for a Thistle penalty
Tiffoney's cross comes off a defender. He appeals for handball and a penalty but has to make do with a corner which is cleared.
Tiffoney turns and shoots but the ball rolls wide of goal.
Rovers clear. Thistle look for a foul at the edge of the box but the decision goes the way of the home side.
Vaughan is close to bundling an Akio cross into the net but Thistle clear.
First chance of the second half comes the way of the home side as McGill fires a shot narrowly wide.
Strap yourselves in for the next 45 minutes, we're back underway. Thistle shooting towards the big Thistle support in the second half.
It's been a dominant first half performance from Thistle but not one that sees Thistle lead.
Darren Brownlie fired Thistle ahead and a relentless Thistle side looked for more goals. Out of the blue though Rovers equalised from the penalty spot.
Scores elsewhere have things every but as tight as they were before kick-off. As things stand Dundee would win the league, Queen's Park would be second, Ayr United and Thistle fourth but there is a hell of a lot of football to be played before anything is settled.
The free kick is touched to Tiffoney and he drills a shot just inches wide of goal.
Turner is fouled outside the Rovers box just left of centre. Good distance and angle for a shot.
Holt stretches to reach the corner but the ball glances of his forehead and away from goal.
Vaughan tucks the penalty away and from nowhere Rovers are level.
A handball gives Rovers the chance to level.
The referee spots a push as Turner's corner comes over and Rovers have a free kick.
It's been relentless from Thistle since kick-off. Pace has dropped slightly in the last few minutes but Thistle still moving the ball about the pitch well.
Graham finds Tiffoney to his right with a neat pass but Tiffoney is caught fractionally offside.
Docherty pushes a pass up to the feet of Turner at the edge of the box. He turns towards goal but his shot is too high.
It's been coming and Thistle have a deserved lead. Tiffoney's shot is saved by MacDonald but Brownlie is there to fire home.
Brownlie is on the end of Turner's corner but his header is blocked by a defender with some shouts for handball againts the defender.
Docherty nearly catches MacDonald off his line with a free kick from the centre ircle but MacDonald tips the ball over.
Tiffoney advances to the edge of the box but MacDonald is down quickly to push away his low drive.
Turner hangs a cross into the Rovers 6 yard box but MacDonald is there to claim the ball.
Thistle swarm round the edge of the Raith box but neither Turner nor Tiffoney can manage to get a shot towards goal.
Lawless puts a cross deep into the Raith box looking for Graham but MacDonald is there to collect.
Lawless and McMillan link up well but McMillan's low drilled cross is cleared.
Vaughan and McGill work a short corner but McGill's delivery is poor when he gets a chance to cross.
It's been a frantic opening with Thistle nearly scoring inside the opening seconds. At the other end a Vaughan run took him to the edge of the Thistle box before being crowded out.
Turner's corner is cleared.
Thistle kick off and are nearly in front within seconds with MacDonald pushing a Turner shot round the post for a corner.
The Championship season comes down to a dramatic conclusion this evening with issues at both ends of the table to be settled.
The number of potential scenarios are almost limitless but Thistle's play-off hopes lies firmly in their own hands. A point or better tonight against Raith Rovers and a play-off position will be secured. A victory could be enough to secure a second place finish.
Kris Doolan has selected an unchanged side, right down to his choice of substitutes, for this important fixture and with just under 30 minutes to kick-off the away end is steadily filling up indicating a big travelling support this evening.