Ayr United 1
Partick Thistle 2
League (Second Division)

Match Report

A SECOND half fightback saw Thistle take the points as Ayr squandered another lead at Somerset Park.

Gareth Wardlaw’s tenth goal of the season had put United in half-time command but the Jags came roaring back and floored Ayr with a quick one-two after the break.

Robert Connor had stuck true to his word by fielding a strong side ahead of the crucial cup replay with Inverness on Monday night.

Only Jerome Vareille was rested while new signing Kieran McAnespie, who is ineligible to play against Caley, made his debut.

And there was no lack of commitment on show as both sides went for it in the early stages, with Ayr escaping an almighty scare in the ninth minute when Paul Ritchie headed wide from just five yards.

United were slow to get going but Wardlaw forced the pace with a turn and shot which stung the palms of Kenny Arthur, who had to gather at the second attempt.

Thistle carved open the home defence in the 17th minute when Gavin Strachan played in Willie Gibson and his cutback looked like an easy tap in for Stephen McConalogue, only for Martyn Campbell, back after a hamstring injury, to make a superb saving tackle.

Ayr came close to the opener soon after when a Campbell free-kick was nodded on by Wardlaw and Chris Robertson ghosted in at the backpost to send an effort just wide.

But they didn’t have to wait long for the net to bulge as Craig Conway produced his bag of tricks to make space for a cross on to the head of Wardlaw and the big striker stooped to head home from ten yards.

However, the lead was short-lived after the break as Thistle came out fighting with a switch which saw Roberts replace Strachan and a much more potent threat in attack.

The Jags were level within nine minutes of the restart when ex-Ayr man Scott McCulloch rifled home a trademark free-kick from 25 yards after United skipper Raymond Logan was adjudged to have handballed.

The momentum was with Thistle and they grabbed their winner midway through the second half when McConalogue set-up Ritchie whose shot was blocked but Roberts was on hand to slot home the rebound from eight yards.

From there the game remained open but chances were few and far between with neither keeper kept busy until the dying seconds when Thistle number one Arthur pulled off a stunning save to deny Robertson as his 25 yard effort fizzed towards goal.

Ayr couldn’t find the equaliser during a frantic six minute spell of stoppage time but their only bonus was coming through the game unscathed ahead of Monday’s live TV clash with Caley.

Match report written by Ayr United FC Official Website