Saturday 19th April, 2025 at 7:16pm
It was not a Titanic tussle at East End Park on Saturday as Partick Thistle and Dunfermline Athletic contested a goalless draw in the William Hill Scottish Championship.
Thistle came into the fixture still in the final play-offs spot, knowing a win could see them go five points clear of Raith Rovers going into our double header against the league’s top two sides.
Hamilton Accies’ 15 point deduction on Thursday meant that anything other than a win for Airdrie at home Morton today would ensure the Pars’ Championship status for another season.
David Mitchell came in for Kevin Budinauckas in goals, Sean Kelly replaced Kyle Turner and Stevie Lawless came in for Logan Chalmers, who had failed to shake off a slight knock, as The Jags reverted to a back three following the 2-1 loss to Hamilton at Firhill last Saturday.
It was Dunfermline who made the brighter start with Marty Todd heading narrowly wide as Neil Lennon’s side had the first real chance of the game on three minutes.
Despite travelling to East End Park on Wrestlemania weekend for a second consecutive year, the first half produced little in the way of blood and thunder as the teams settled into a groove with Dunfermline having the majority of the ball.
The Pars peppered Mitchell’s goal early on however they produced minimal threat while Thistle struggled to get up the park.
On the rare occasions where Thistle got themselves forward, it was Aidan Fitzpatrick who was the catalyst. Fitzy controlled the ball well, but the Jags were unable to create anything dangerous in the first half hour.
On 28 minutes, a Chris Hamilton cross saw a malfunction at the junction as Lee Ashcroft and Mitchell got caught in each other’s paths, but Mitchell was able to scoop up the ball and kill the threat.
The final fifteen minutes of the half saw Thistle finally gain control in the opposite half. Fitzpatrick found himself clean through on, but Pars keeper Toby Oluwayemi got himself to Fitzpatrick’s low shot with a nice block.
Oluwayemi would be called into action again just before halftime, after a Lawless free kick was headed to Kelly in space by a diving Luke McBeth. The Pars keeper pulled off a good save to ensure the sides went down the tunnel level.
Half Time: Dunfermline Athletic 0 Partick Thistle 0
When the game resumed, it was the Jags who went on the offensive. Eight minutes into the half, Megwa cut through the Dunfermline back line to launch a cross across the box. O’Reilly got himself to it but was not able to get a shot off in time.
On 63 minutes, carnage ensued in the Dunfermline box after Brian Graham’s rattled the bar. Despite multiple attempts to bundle the ball home, Thistle were unable to take the lead as Dunfermline survived a scare with Oluwayemi’s diving save from Lawless was biggest threat.
Ten minutes later, the home side found themselves in yet more danger. Oluwayemi came a long way out of his box to clear a ball, getting himself into trouble in the process. Despite the Dunfermline net being unmanned, the Jags could not get the ball goalwards.
The game fizzled out from although David Wotherspoon had two late chances to grab the points for the Fife side, but Mitchell was able to keep both efforts out as it ended goalless.
Full Time: Dunfermline Athletic 0 Partick Thistle 0
A late flurry of three goals in three minutes against Falkirk saw playoff rivals Raith Rovers draw level on points with two games to go and Thistle holding a superior goal difference.
Airdrie’s loss to Morton confirms the Pars will remain in the second tier next season. Thistle return to action on Friday night, when they host league leaders Falkirk under the lights at the Wyre Stadium at Firhill.
Dunfermline Athletic: Tobi Oluwayemi; Aaron Comrie (Victor Wanyama 78’), Kyle Benedictus, Chris Hamilton, Ewan Otoo; Matty Todd (David Wotherspoon 57’), Tommy Fogarty, Craig Clay (Josh Cooper 78’), Michael O’Halloran (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 78’); Chris Kane (Ephraim Yeboah 57’)
Unused Substitutes: Deniz Mehmet (GK), Andre Raymond, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Owen Hampson,
Partick Thistle: David Mitchell; Kanayo Megwa, Lee Ashcroft, Dan O’Reilly, Sean Kelly; Aidan Fitzpatrick, Luke McBeth, Robbie Crawford, Ben Stanway (Kyle Turner 65’), Stevie Lawless (Terry Ablade 75’); Brian Graham
Unused Substitutes: Lewis Budinauckas (GK), Luis Cameron {GK}, Josh Reid, Zander Mackenzie, Matthew Falconer, Nick Lockhart, Liam Rooney
Referee: Nick Walsh
Attendance: 5688
By David Forrest
