Partick Thistle 0
Ayr United 1
League (First Division)

Match Report

On a bright and breezy day at Firhill there was a first Thistle start for striker Martin Grehan and a place in the starting eleven for Kris Doolan. On the bench there was a slot for Kieran Burns and a place for a fit again Martyn Corrigan. An Ayr United side desperate for points included in their starting eleven former Jags Billy Gibson and Mark Roberts, who was given a warm welcome from the Thistle fans when he name was read out before kick-off.

Thistle should have been in front after just 4 minutes of this game. Thistle broke quickly following an Ayr corner with Kris Doolan doing well to get the better of his Ayr marker. The Thistle striker then squared the ball to Paul Cairney but Cairney with just Samson to beat couldn't get any power behind his shot and the Ayr keeper had an easy save to make. Doolan was looking sharp for Thistle and in the 15th minute he was able to head a Ryan Conroy free kick back across goal but no Thistle player was able to provide an additional touch. Thistle continued to do the bulk of the pressing and in the 17th minute a well struck shot from Paul Cairney from fully 25 yards out went just the wrong side of Samson's right hand post. The best chance of the lot came in the 22nd minute. A magnificent ball from Bryan Hodge landed at the feet of Kris Doolan which left the striker with just Samson to beat but he sent his final shot wide of goal. In the 35th minute it was Martin Grehan's turn to miss an excellent chance when after good play involving Cairney and Doolan he could only stab the ball tamely wide of goal. At the other end even though Ayr were able to win a number of corner the only first half anxiety came when Ian Maxwell was shot with a pass back but even then Jonny Tuffey was alert to the situation and was able to clear.

Thistle were close again to a goal after just 6 minutes of the second half. Kris Doolan and Martin Grehan combined well with Greehan setting up Doolan for a shot that wasn't too far off target. Despite that early second half chance the second 45 minutes were a largely sterile affair. In a rare chance for either side Chris Erskine sent a shot wide of goal in the 75th minute. There was a better chance for Thistle a minute later. Kieran Burns was able to gather a lovely though ball. Kieran looked to do everything right but his shot crept round the wrong side of the post. In the 78th minute the game did finally have a goal and it was an Ayr goal. In a game of missed Thistle chances Daniel McKay showed how it should be done with a superb curling effort that left Tuffey without a chance. The same player could even have made it 2-0 with another shot that Tuffey was glad to see go wide of goal. Thistle were close to an equaliser in the 83rd minute. Simon Donnelly rolled the ball through to Kieran Burns but he could only hit the ball against the body of Samson. That proved to be Thistle's last chance as Firhill was plunged into misery once more.

Match report written by Partick Thistle Official Website