Match Report
On brilliant sun filled afternoon Thistle welcome Livingston to Firhill for a vital First Division fixture. Prior to the game manager Ian McCall had a few selection problems to contend with and while Gary Harkins started a two game suspension and joined the injured Stephen McKeown on the sidelines Simon Donnelly passed a late fitness test and was listed among the substitutes. Elsewhere there was a welcome return for Liam Buchanan who joined Donnelly on the bench.
Given the importance of this fixture it was perhaps a little surprising that the opening of this game was a little flat. Not until the 16th minute did either team look like posing a threat when Thistle nearly took the lead in bizarre fashion. A defensive clearance struck David Rowson with MacKenzie forced to tip the ball over the bar.
Thistle were close in more conventional fashion in their next attack when John Robertson saw a shot blocked at the edge of the six yard box.
Livi too showed some menace and Andy Halliday wasn't too far off target with a deflected shot from the edge of the Thistle box in the 18th minute.
In the 28th minute Thistle came close to opening the scoring. Marc Twaddle was able to get a free header at an Alan Archibald free kick but he was only able to glance the ball wide of goal. With chances at a premium at this point he may well have felt that he should have done a little better.
While Thistle remained the better team in terms of possession there were few chances and after 36 minutes David Rowson tried to change that with a shot from distance but although he scored a spectacular goal the last time the two teams met on this occasion he could only drag his shot wide of target.
After 43 minutes it took a quite magnificent save from Jonny Tuffey to keep the score tied at 0-0. Paul Paton conceded a free kick at the very edge of his own penalty area. McParland's effort from the subsequent free kick looked net bound until Tuffey was able to claw the ball over the bar.
After a goalless first half Thistle were close to an opening goal in the opening minute of the second half. Marc Twaddle skipped by the challenge of Cammy McDonald before sending a cross that Scott Chaplain headed wide.
There was further hope in Thistle's next attack. A David Rowson run took the Thistle midfielder deep into the Livingston box but he was unable to pick out a Thistle player with his final pass and MacKenzie was able to gather the ball.
In the 52nd minute Thistle made their first change with Liam Buchanan coming on for Lucas Akins.
Although Buchanan's introduction brought a lift to the Thistle fans it continues to be a frustrating experience as Thistle struggle to break down a well organised Livingston defence. Just past the hour mark Thistle forced a couple of corners in quick succession but on neither occasion were able to manage a clear glimpse of goal.
In the 63rd minute Ian McCall looked towards his substitutes for a second time with Simon Donnelly replacing Simon Storey.
Livingston hadn't been seen much as an attacking force since the start of the second half but in the 67th minute Cammy McDonald made Jonny Tuffey work with a low shot that bounced just in front of the Thistle keeper making the save that bit harder.
With little more than 20 minutes of the game remaining Thistle made their last permitted substitution with Kevin McKinlay coming on in the place of Kris Doolan.
Liam Buchanan had been fairly quiet since coming on but his first telling involvement in the game in the 72nd minute nearly produced a Thistle goal. Collecting a pass from Kevin McKinlay his driven cross just needed a touch at the back post to produce a Thistle goal.
In the 76th minute for the second time in the afternoon it took a excellent save from Jonny Tuffey to keep Thistle level. Armand One was able to head the ball into the path of Lei gh Griffiths and Griffiths was denied a goal only by a fine stop by the Thistle keeper.
There was further anxiety a minute later. John Robertson gifted the ball to Armand One who although some distance from goal was left with just Tuffey to beat. One's shot, however, was too high and went over the bar.
It was looking more and more unlikely to be Thistle's day but we were close to a Jags goal in the 87th minute. An Ian Maxwell long throw was flicked on and Scott Chaplain's hooked effort crept the wrong side of the post.
With a minute remaining a Liam Buchanan shot took a bounce right in front of MacKenzie who did well to claw the ball away.
That looked as if that would be it but deep into injury time Thistle snatched full points. A Simon Donnelly shot was blocked by the hand of a Livi defender and after consulting with his assistant referee MacDonald pointed to the spot. Liam Buchanan must have been the clamest man inside Firhill as he slotted the ball home.
