Friday 28th February, 2025 at 10:43pm
Partick Thistle led at half-time after dominating against a visiting Livingston side before having to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Two changes to the starting XI from the line-up which faced Airdrieonians last week, as Kyle Turner and Ben Stanway moved to the bench to be replaced by Scott Martin and Luke McBeth. Alex Jakubiak was named on the bench following his joining of the Jags for a second spell, while brand new name Sean Kelly sat alongside him. Aaron Muirhead was absent, after joining League One side Arbroath on loan earlier in the week.
This Friday evening match kicked off in front of the TV cameras with opponents Livingston knowing a win would put them – until at least tomorrow – atop the league table.
The John Lambie Stand was loud, and the game started with intensity, with Thistle playing the first few minutes with a point to prove as they bombed down the wings, but the Livi box was defended strongly.
A physical battle between Logan Chalmers and Cristian Montano got a little heated when some rather aggressive shielding led to the flattening of an assistant referee, but nothing more than a throw in was the result.
Lewis Budinauckas’ footwork was put to the test when a sliced clearance by Luke McBeth thundered back towards the ‘keeper with height and speed – he cushioned it out the sky and sent it to the opposite box before attackers could threaten him.
A Chalmers free-kick from deep was delivered to the back post where the raised left foot of Dan O’Reilly couldn’t get the desired contact to turn it home as it went wide of the post.
McBeth spun free of Stevie May under pressure to rapturous applause and zinged the ball to the opposite wing, but a defender closed down the receiver and the ball went out for a shy.
Brian Graham felt he was fouled near the middle of the park to no avail, but Chalmers broke through the middle with the ball regardless. Cutting to face through the gap of the centre backs with nowhere to go, he had a pop from the edge on his left which curled just beyond the sticks.
After a riveting first 25 minutes of attacking football the deadlock was broken, as yet another left-footed Chalmers cross was delivered to be met by GRAHAM who stroked it home with his right foot.
A number of long balls were falling into the visitors’ box from crosses and clearances but with a dense sea of bodies to contest with Thistle were finding it difficult to find the space to get the shot away.
Brave stepping out to fling in blocks from Lee Ashcroft saw the ball break to Brian Graham who moved left and right to leave his marker behind and slip the ball wide to Kanayo Megwa. The right-back knocked the ball around his man and ran around the other side of him to meet it, but another defender laid in wait to stop the break.
Two added minutes of the first half saw Livi look their most dangerous with shots being taken on in succession, but none made Budinauckas sweat.
Half time – Partick Thistle 1 Livingston 0
Livingston were sent out early for the second half and with their substitutes still keeping warm, Thistle came out to join them soon to restart the evening’s entertainment.
Stevie May went in the referee’s book when he had to clatter Chalmers after he swam free of black shirt after black shirt just behind the halfway line.
Another Chalmers cross found Graham who used his head this time, the power was there towards the near post, but it cracked the woodwork and spun away.
Graham squared the ball across the face from the right, but nobody could meet it in the middle – Jerome Prior in goals scrambled and missed it on the ground and a defensive mix-up almost led to a chance at a tap-in but it was cleared.
Scott Martin saw space in front of him a little outside the box and decided to have a pop, but it rocketed wide.
Once more Chalmers cross met Graham head at the back post with sweet connection. Prior palmed it down and Graham had a second go at it from a tight angle, but it was blocked and held.
The ball broke beyond any outfield player towards the Thistle net leading to a footrace between McBeth and Robbie Muirhead, which ended with a great sliding challenge to take the ball out of play by the Thistle man.
Twice in a row it looked as though a corner was awarded for a missed Livingston shot putting Thistle under pressure for a sustained period until it could be launched away.
A ball in from deep net the head of Robbie Muirhead at close proximity to the Thistle net which gave the ball just enough loft to go over Budinauckas and level the scoring with a little over ten minutes to play.
As Thistle looked to get back in front a Graham header saw the ball drop just beyond six yards to Ben Stanway who lined up the volley but couldn’t make the connection.
Thistle looked to be breaking when the referee blew his whistle to signify full-time.
Full time – Partick Thistle 1 Livingston 1
Teams
Partick Thistle – Lewis Budinauckas, Kanayo Megwa, Lee Ashcroft, Dan O’Reilly, Josh Reid, Scott Martin (Kyle Turner 90’), Stuart Bannigan (Zander Mackenzie 90’), Luke McBeth, Robbie Crawford (Ben Stanway 70’), Logan Chalmers, Brian Graham.
Unused substitutes – David Mitchell (G/k), Sean Kelly, Alex Jakubiak, Terry Ablade, Aidan Fitzpatrick, Matthew Falconer.
Livingston – Jerome Prior, Ryan McGowan, Scott Pittman, Tete Yengi (Andrew Shinnie 58’), Jamie Brandon (Stephen Kelly 66’), Stevie May (Reece McAlear 66’), Michael Nottingham, Robbie Muirhead, Macaulay Tait (Daniel Finlayson 46’), Christian Montano (Robbie Fraser 58’), Danny Wison.
Unused substitutes – Jack Hamilton (G/k), Matthew Clarke, Lewis Smith, Meshack Ubochioma.
Referee – Ryan Lee
Crowd – 2,946
By Connor Steel
50/ 50 Winning Tickets:
First Prize (£390) – 239869
Second Prize (Chance to take part in cross bar challenge) – 240085
