Saturday 21st December, 2024 at 6:30pm
First half goals from Brian Graham and Dan O’Reilly ensured that Partick Thistle returned to winning ways with a 2-0 success over Airdrieonians at the Albert Bartlett Stadium.
The Thistle line-up was the same as the one that took to the field against Livingston eight days ago but there was the welcome sight of Kanayo Megwa back on the substitutes’ bench after injury.
Stuart Bannigan kicked off and Thistle threatened within the first minute with a driven cross from Logan Chalmers taken off the toes of Graham just as the skipper looked set to side-foot home.
Three minutes later Graham hooked a pass into the path of Aidan Fitzpatrick who bore down on the home goal with Kieran Wright sticking out a foot to save his low drive with Chalmers’ powerful drive on the rebound headed clear.
Myles Roberts was involved on seven minutes as he took three steps off his line and clutched a home cross that was swinging into a danger area.
Shortly afterwards Scott Robinson sent a fine 40-yard pass wide right to Chalmers before darting forward to receive the ball back and curling a shot just over Wright’s bar from the edge of the box.
Midway through the opening half Bannigan showed composure in his own box as he mopped up a Diamonds attack with a perfectly timed tackle.
On 25 minutes Graham released Fitzpatrick down the left with the wide-man’s outside of the boot cross was caught by Wright.
Just before the half hour mark the heavens opened however that did not prevent Kyle Turner charging down the right wing with Wright leaping out of his goal to push his cross away. A minute later a Graham flick from the penalty spot found the unmarked Robbie Crawford however Wright spread himself to save his close-range effort.
As the Jags continued to press a Charlie Sayers cross found Graham who fought and wriggled to get a shot in with his effort deflected wide.
Airdrie almost sneaked into the lead nine minutes form the break when a break of the ball fell to Adam Frizzell 20 yards out with his powerful shot deflecting out of the reach of Roberts and hitting the top of the bar.
A goal did arrive on 38 minutes, and it came at the right end for Thistle fans with Chalmers delivering another teasing cross and GRAHAM got on the end of this one and he slid in to net from six yards out.
The number nine’s 90th goal for the club!
A second arrived two minutes from half-time, and it was first Thistle goal for O’REILLY who was perfectly placed to head firmly into the net from four yards after a Chalmers corner was headed back towards the Airdrie goal by home player/ manager Rhys McCabe.
Half time – Airdrieonians 0 Partick Thistle 2
The hosts restarted and looked to launch an early attack however O’Reilly remained calm and regained possession before clearing.
The next five minutes passed with plenty of effort from both sides but little in the way of chances until Turner made a timely block 12 yards from his own goal with Frizzell denied when his shot from the loose ball hit a visiting leg and travelled past.
It was O’Reilly’s turn to deny Airdrie on 56 minutes as he stepped in to mop up as McCabe’s side threatened again.
A minute later Fitzpatrick almost turned Thistle’s first foray forward after the break into a goal as he ran onto a backward pass from Graham and thumped a shot goalward with his 22-yard effort whizzing inches past.
Rather than being three ahead Roberts had to race from his line seconds later to deny Lewis McGregor who had sneaked in-behind the visiting defensive line and threatened to pull a goal back.
Bannigan and Robinson combined in their own half to send Fitzpatrick scampering down the left wing with the number 21 running forty yards with the ball before cutting in and sending a low shot just past the far post.
Turner was the next to try and get on the scoresheet as he did the opposite of Fitzpatrick by haring down the right and cutting in before hitting a left foot shot that Wright was equal to.
Substitute Terry Ablade was given a route to goal by substitute Steven Lawless however an offside flag halted the striker’s run.
Roberts showed he was still alert on 86 minutes when he stretched high to push over a well-struck volley from Gavin Gallagher.
Full time – Airdrieonians 0 Partick Thistle 2
Teams
Partick Thistle – Myles Roberts, Kyle Turner, Daniel O’Reilly, Lee Ashcroft, Charlie Sayers, Stuart Bannigan, Logan Chalmers (Terry Ablade 82), Robbie Crawford (Luke McBeth 61), Aidan Fitzpatrick (Steven Lawless 74), Scott Robinson, Brian Graham (Ricco Diack 82)
Unused substitutes – David Mitchell (GK), Liam Smith, Kanayo Megwa, Matthew Falconer
Airdrieonians – Kieran Wright, Rhys McCabe (Cammy Cooper 70), Dean McMaster (Gavin Gallagher 59), Lewis McGregor (Terrell Agyemang 70), Adam Frizzell, Flynn Duffy, Craig Watson, Lewis McGrattan, Chris Mochrie (Ben Wilson 70), Sam Graham, Rhys Armstrong.
Unused substitutes – Murray Johnson (G/k), Dylan Williams, Cole Williams, Jamie White
Referee – Peter Stuart
