Match Report
After all the pre match events it was almost with some relief that we got this game under way. Thistle started the game showing two changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Raith Rovers. One change was enforced with the suspended Liam Buchanan replaced by the goal scorer against Raith, Kris Doolan. The other change saw Bryan Hodge, impressive against Raith Rovers as a substitute, was drafted in to start this one with Mark Corcoran dropping to the bench.
It was too Thistle that the game's first chance fell to. Paul Cairney stumbled at the edge of the box but he still managed to find Simon Donnelly with his pass and Donnelly wasn't too far off target with his shot wasn't too far off target.
Cairney was heavily involved in Thistle's next chance in the 13th minute. After turning well at the edge of the box he tested Fleming in the Dunfermline goal with a low shot but the Dunfermline keeper gets down sharply and completed a fairly routine save.
Thistle had, for the most part, the better of a first half that really didn't take off but struggled to find a way through a well organised defence.
In the 21st minute a Chris Erskine pass nearly played in Kris Doolan and a few minutes later a cross from Bryan Hodge looked for a second as if it might deceive Fleming but eventually just drifted wide of goal. A Donnelly free kick and a Hodge effort were both off target and Thistle probed for but couldn't find any clear cut openings.
When Thistle did open the scoring in the 38th minute it owed much to a defensive error. Austin McCann was short with a pass back. When Paul Cairney collected that misdirected pass he still had a little to do but he showed great coolness to take the ball round Fleming before planting the ball into the back of the net.
After Thistle opened the scoring Dunfermline had their best spell in the match up till this point. In the 42nd minute they were very unfortunate not to equaliser. Sub Muirhead, brought on for the unfortunate Austin McCann, picked out Andy Kirk with a cross from the left and Kirk's effort struck the bar with Tuffey beaten.
With Dunfermline winning three corner in quick succession there was further moments of anxiety before referee Richmond brought the first half to a halt with Thistle value for their narrow lead.
If Dunfermline had finished the last few minutes of the first half they were too in the very early exchanges of the second 45 minutes . Graham Bayne was able to get his head to a cross from the left hand side but there was little power in his header and Tuffey was able to make an easy save.
At the other end a promising opportunity was wasted when Doonelly choose the wrong option of a pass rather than a shot before in Thistle's next attack he was beaten to a Hodge through ball by Dunfermline keeper Greg Fleming.
In the 57th minute Dunfermline were close to levelling the scores. Alex Burke seeing his effort from 25 yards out tipped over the bar by Jonny Tuffey.
On the hour mark Thistle made their first change with Mark Corcoran replacing Kris Doolan. Corcoran's first involvement in the game, just seconds after coming on, was to very nearly beat Fleming to a headed pass back.
The action was coming at a fair old rate at this point and in the 62nd minute Fleming grabbed hold of a Donnelly lob right on his line before in Thistle's next attack an excellent Alan Archibald cross was cleared for a corner. Bryan Hodge took that corner and the ball very nearly broke into the path of Ian Maxwell before Dunfermline were able to clear.
In the 69th minute Thistle took a big step towards securing three points. Mark Corcoran had been impressive since coming on and he played a big part in this goal. Corcoran got clear on the left before squaring the ball to Paul Cairney who looked set to score his second of the afternoon. Fleming though was able to save but Simon Donnelly was on hand to nod the ball home.
With 14 minutes remaining Thistle made their second change with Paddy Boyle coming on for Chris Erskine and 6 minutes later Simon Donnelly left the field to a tremendous ovation when he was replaced by Jim Hamilton.
Although Dunfermline didn't give up in their search for a way back into the match and exerted some late pressure Thistle were able to repel anything they had to offer and ultimately recorded a comfortable win.
