Friday 3rd August, 2018 at 10:24am
Scottish Premier Division
22nd October 1977
Ayr United 1 Partick Thistle 2
Back in October 1977 Ayr United and Partick Thistle were proud members of the Scottish Premier Division. Now they are both in the Championship, having arrived there from different directions at the conclusion of season 2017/18. The two sets of fans have experienced vastly different emotions, but in a way both should be excited by a fresh challenge, and be prepared for a competitive contest now. Those words could certainly describe accurately today’s featured match.
Ayr kicked off defending the sea end and had the majority of the possession in a goal-less first half, without posing a serious threat to Alan Rough and his defensive team-mates. After the break Thistle took charge of proceedings and deservedly gained the lead on the hour mark thanks to captain Ian Gibson. However, Gordon Cramond fashioned an equaliser ten minutes later. With the sparring now over, which team would cut loose and go on to win the match? The answer was the visitors and the match winner was someone who very often produced a crucial match-winning strike – Alex O’Hara, who found the net with just five minutes to go. We all left Somerset Park in good spirits, ready for a good run back up the road. Having the TWO(yes this was well before the introduction of the current system) points tucked away always helps to make the Fenwick Moor a bit less daunting.
The full Thistle team was as follows:- Alan Rough, George Mackie, Brian Whittaker, John Marr, Andy Anderson, Ian Gibson, Bobby Houston, Doug Somner, Alex O’Hara, Jim Melrose, John Craig – an aggressively attacking formation by today’s standards, don’t you think? – anyway, the selection paid dividends on this occasion.
Have a good look at Somerset Park if/when you are down for the match. It must be one of the grounds which have undergone the fewest changes since 1977. Nor, as far as I know anyway, has it acquired a bizarre new name in recent times. I could be wrong about this.
Robert R
