Match Report
In our previous fixture against Stirling Albion the non-availability of so many players gave manager Ian McCall a serious selection headache. For this fixture against Airdrie United it was a different type of selection altogether for the Thistle manager. Simon Storey and Willie Kinniburgh, both absentees against Stirling, were drafted back into the team with Alan Archibald, not yet quite 100% match fit dropping to the bench. One player that was unavailable was Stephen McKeown and Chris Turner was the man chosen to fill his midfield berth. Up front Liam Buchanan was partnered by Mark Roberts.
Thistle were the first of the two teams to have a shot on target. A well worked free kick some 35 yards from goal ended with Gary Harkins testing Robertson in the Airdrie United goal with well struck shot.
Thistle's pre-match plans were upset as early as the 6th minute when Ian Maxwell retired early through injury with Alan Archibald coming on in his place.
In the 13th minute Airdrie United took the lead. Simon Lynch displayed great opportunism to seize upon a loose ball inside the Thistle box and fire into the far corner of the net but the opportunity only arose as the direct result of poor defending from Willie Kinniburgh.
It took Thistle just five minutes to level the scores and it was a quite delightful strike from Gary Harkins. A superb through ball from Mark Roberts picked out a run from Gary Harkins and Harkins, scorer of six goals already this season, lifted the ball over the head of Robertson and into the net.
That goal seemed to instil some confidence into the Thistle ranks and Liam Buchanan just failed to direct a Paul Paton cross towards goal.
There was anxiety though in the Thistle ranks in the 28th minute when hesitation inside the box nearly provided Lynch with another opportunity but Tuffey was off his line to block.
It took until the 37th minute for either team to win a corner and from that corner Liam Buchanan had a half chance at the near post but his shot from Paton's corner went just the wrong side of the post.
Buchanan was the creator of a chance two minutes later with Gary Harkins sending a header wide of goal following Buchanan's cross from Thistle's right hand side.
Thistle made a change at the break with Marc Twaddle coming on to replace Chris Turner.
A miskick from Airdrie United keeper Robertson at the start of the second half presented Mark Roberts with a glimpse of goal but he was never able to get the ball under control and as a result when he did shoot his shot was always drifting wide of target.
A run a from Kevin McKinlay followed by a dangerous cross was cleared at the expense of a Thistle corner and from that corner Buchanan was able to peal away from his marker before glancing a header wide of goal.
Thistle's impressive start to the second half continued and in the 51st minute A David Rowson cross was scrambled clear for another Thistle corner.
Thistle were within inches of taking the lead in the 58th minute. Liam Buchanan drilled a cross right across the six yard box with the danger cleared for a corner kick.
In the 62nd minute Thistle took the lead albeit it was an Airdrie United player that applied the finish. Marc Twaddle swung the ball over from the left hand side and Scott McLaughlin sent the ball flying past his own goalkeeper.
With 19 minutes of the game remaining Thistle made their third and final change with Mark Roberts being replaced by Simon Donnelly.
Donnelly's first involvement was to nod the ball wide of goal as Airdrie United struggled to clear the ball inside their own penalty box.
Thistle had been the better team in the second half but Airdrie United still look dangerous and a Scott McLaughlin shot from the edge of the box went wide with Jonny Tuffey left standing.
In the 75th minute McLau ghlin again came close with another shot from the edge of the box.
As Thistle looked for the third goal that would all but secure the points Simon Donnelly curled a shot wide of goal in the 82nd minute after Airdrie hadn't effectively cleared a Paul Paton corner kick.
In the 86th minute any doubt over the destiny of the points were nearly removed butb Robertson produced an excellent save low down to his right to deny Kevin McKinlay a goal.
Simon Donnelly too was denied by a fine save from the Airdrie United keeper as the game neared a conclusion.
There were almost three full minutes of injury time before referee McCurry blew his whistle on Thistle's fourth consecutive home win.
