Saturday 7th December, 2024 at 6:34pm
A late penalty cooly taken by Kyle Turner was enough for Partick Thistle to defeat Ayr United 1-0 at The Wyre Stadium at Firhill.
Lee Ashcroft captained The Jags in the absence of Brian Graham who had picked up a knock with Scott Robinson leading the line and Luke McBeth in midfield with Terry Ablade and James Lyon also unavailable.
Zander MacKenzie was back on the bench after an injury absence as the visitors forced the first corner in three minutes however any danger was short-lived as referee Scott blew for a foul when the dead ball was crossed.
The hosts’ first opening came on six minutes when Logan Chalmers teed up Turner at the edge of the box with the full-back curling an effort over.
Turner was involved again six minutes later when he slipped a pass to Robinson on the 18 yard out with referee Scott surprising many by not awarding a free-kick to Thistle when The William Hill Player of the Month for November looked to be clattered into from behind.
Harry Milne, who netted against the Honest Men earlier in the season, charged down the left shortly afterwards with his low cross scooped up by Liam Russell in the Ayr goal.
Stuart Bannigan was perfectly placed on 17 minutes to mop up a potential Ayr attack and find Chalmers on the right with a pass that the former Ayr man crossed into the box looking for Robinson only for Russell to intervene.
McRea Financial Services Player of the Month Bannigan was then in the right spot to concede a corner as Jay Henderson threatened with Ashcroft likewise placed as George Oakley waited to pounce.
On 27 minutes McBeth, Chalmers and Robinson combined well to create space on the right with Chalmers crowded out before he could fire at goal.
Three minutes later Thistle came close as Aidan Fitzpatrick darted forward and rolled a pass left into the path of Robbie Crawford who fired across the face of the away goal with the ball just missing the far post.
Thistle threatened again sixty seconds later as Turner whipped in a free-kick that was met by the head of Robinson only for Russell to grab hold of the ball.
As Kris Doolan’s side continued to press Russell darted out of his box to kick away as Robinson looked to run clear.
Bannigan was penalised for a challenge 30 yards from the home goal with Myles Roberts moving sharply to the right to save Henderson’s curling free-kick.
Two minutes later it was Russell’s turn to scamper across his line to save from a free-kick with the shot-stopper keeping out Turner’s dead ball.
Fitzpatrick was the next to be denied by the visiting shot-stopper with the wide-man dancing his way off the left wing before warming Russell’s hands with a stinging shot.
Just before the break Bannigan showed his defensive prowess again with a perfectly timed penalty box sliding tackle to concede a corner that was cleared as the first 45 minutes finished goalless.
Half-Time – Partick Thistle 0 Ayr United 0
Thistle kicked the second half on and in the opening seconds Fitzpatrick fed Milne with his dangerous cross blocked for a corner.
On 48 minutes McBeth was caught by Charlie Musonda on the half-way line with the Ayr skipper, who was already on a booking fortunate that no further action was taken, a fact recognised by visiting manager Scott Brown who quickly substituted the defender.
McBeth returned to action and hit a firm shot that was saved by Russell before an injured Milne was replaced by Charlie Sayers.
On 57 minutes Roberts showed his class with a fine tip around the post after Henderson had wriggled clear and fired for goal.
Thistle were soon back on the attack and a Fitzpatrick cut back found McBeth but this time the midfielder was off target and just after the hour mark Turner drove forward to the 18-yard line and twisted and turned looking to get a shot away however he was crowded out.
On 68 minutes it looked like Fitzpatrick and Robinson were going to get free and run on the Ayr goal only for Russell to kick clear and for an offside flag to end the striker’s run.
Rus put in a crude challenge on Fitzpatrick on the half-way line on 71 minutes and was rightly booked with McBeth’s header from Dan O’Reilly’s free-kick not leading to any danger.
Robinson won a corner on the left six minutes later however no Thistle head could get on the end of the cross with substitute Steven Lawless getting his first touches as he tried to recycle the ball.
Charlie Sayers charged forward to win another corner on 82 minutes that Turner floated in with referee Scott pointing to the penalty spot after Ashcroft was pushed in the back by Ryan Howley.
TURNER stepped up and took an immaculate job from 12 yards with Russell going left and the ball right.
Ayr thought they had drawn level five minutes later when George Oakley drilled in however Scott’s whistle had long sounded after Turner had been flattened as looked to head a timely Ashcroft clearance away.
Thistle saw the five minutes of added time out with neither side making any chances of note.
Full-Time – Partick Thistle 1 Ayr United 0
Teams
Partick Thistle – Myles Roberts, Kyle Turner, Daniel O’Reilly, Lee Ashcroft, Harry Milne (Charlie Sayers 52), Stuart Bannigan, Logan Chalmers (Steven Lawless 74), Robbie Crawford, Luke McBeth (Ricco Diack 74), Aidan Fitzpatrick, Scott Robinson.
Unused substitutes – David Mitchell (GK), Liam Smith, Zander MacKenzie,
Ayr United – Liam Russell, Patrick Reading, Frankie Musonda (Ryan Howley 49), Michael Devlin (Alfie Bavidge 82), George Oakley, Connor McLennan, George Stanger, Jay Henderson (Nick McAllister 65), Marco Rus, Dylan Watret (Jamie Murphy 65), Scott McMann.
Unused substitutes – Jack McIntyre (G/k), Jake Hastie, Jamie Hislop, Roy Syla, David Craig.
Referee – Calum Scott
