The Thistle Archive

Media report

02-May-2009, ptfc.co.uk

Thistle went into the final home game of the season still with a chance of winning the First Division Championship. Thistle's chances of overhauling St Johnstone at the top of the league were boosted by the inclusion of Liam Buchanan in the starting line-up for the first time since the 4-2 win at Livingston back in February. There was also a start for Simon Donnelly a sub last week against Livingston.

The game's first shot came from Airdrie United's Paul Di Giacomo but there was no power in his shot and Jonny Tuffey was able to make a comfortable save. Thistle were close to a goal in the 5th minute. An Ian Maxwell long throw was knocked on by Kris Doolan and an Airdrie United defender was only just able to clear the ball at the expense of Thistle's first corner of the game. Thistle were close again 4 minutes later. Marc Twaddle was able to evade a challenge wide on the Thistle left and Stephen Robertson did well to push Twaddle's cross away. It was all Thistle at this stage and Liam Buchanan was nearly able to latch onto a ball knocked into the box in the 10th minute only for Airdrie United to once again scramble the ball away for a corner kick. In the 20th minute the game had its first booking. Airdrie United's Stephen McKenna picking up a deserved yellow card following a late lunge on Scott Chaplain. While Thistle had been the better side up to this point Airdrie United were close to opening the scoring in the 21st minute. Darren Smith initially did well down the Thistle left and when his cross was only partially cleared Kevin McDonald should have done better than shot tamely over the bar from the edge of the box. Thistle were forced into a change in the 23rd minute. Scott Chaplain who had clearly not recovered from McKenna's late tackle having to be replaced by Paul Paton. In the 30th minute a frantic scramble in the Airdrie United box ended with the ball rolling in the path of Stephen Robertson. With half-time just three minutes away Thistle came the closest yet to opening the scoring. Whether Liam Buchanan was intending a shot or a cross wasn't clear but Stephen Robertson only just clawed the ball away, from right underneath the crossbar, away with his fingertips.

The first incident of note of the second half saw a Marc Twaddle cross cleared at the expense of a corner as Twaddle continued to get some joy on the left hand side. From Simon Donnelly's corner that followed Twaddle was able to get his head to the ball but his header was always on the rise and Robertson wasn't pressed into making a save. Thistle made their second change a short time later with Kevin McKinlay coming on for Kris Doolan. In the 57th minute David Rowson was unfortunate not to break the deadlock. His powerful drive front he edge of the box being beaten out by Robertson who had to get down low to save. Thistle made their final change with 18 minutes of the game remaining. Willie Kinniburgh coming on for Liam Buchanan with the normal centre back immediately assuming an unaccustomed role up front. Before he had any chance to make an impact Airdrie United had appeals for a penalty turned aside after a fierce struck Simon Storey. Play quickly moved to the other end with Willie Kinniburgh winning Thistle a corner. The corner was cleared only as far as David Rowson who saw his volley just clear the bar. One goal was looking more and more likely to win this game and in the 83rd minute Paul Lovering had a half chance to do just that but he snatched at his shot with the result that the ball went harmlessly over the bar. Right at the death Airdrie United snatched the points in controversial circumstances. There was no flag for what looked like an obvious offside and when the cross came over from the left Simon Lynch had the simplest task of knocking the ball home from about a yar d out. It was a cruel way for the final home game of the season to finish but the Thistle players still received a well-deserved ovation from the Thistle fans for their efforts across the season.

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