Match Report
For the first competitive fixture of the new season manager Ian McCall fielded a starting eleven that in Patrick Boyle and Bryan Hodge included two debutantes. There were a further four new faces on the bench where sub keeper Craig Hinchcliffe was joined by Jim Hamilton, Paul Cairney, Chris Erskine and Martyn Corrigan.
A decent sized Thistle support, which most have outnumbered the home support, saw the game's first half chance come Airdrie's way in the third minute. A Baird Cross was able to find David Nixon at the back post but Nixon was always stretching to reach the ball with the result that has header went harmlessly over the bar.
Thistle threatened for the first time themselves in the 9th minute. A Patrick Boyle long throw was cleared for a Thistle corner and from Paton's corner that followed Kris Doolan was able to stretch for the ball but couldn't quite direct his shot on target.
In a game that was taking a little time to warm up there was frustration when after turning an Airdrie United defender at the edge of the box Liam Buchanan didn't win Thistle a free kick in what would have been a highly promising position.
Paul Paton was a feature of most of Thistle's promising moves and in the 24th minute his through ball picked out Liam Buchanan. Buchanan was able to get to the ball in front of Robertson in the Airdrie goal but he found the angle just a little too tight to squeeze the ball home. He was, however, able to win Thistle a corner kick but Maxwell's header from Paton's corner didn't threaten the Airdrie United goal.
In the 39th minute we came the closest yet to seeing a goal. Bryan Hodge was able to thread through a pass to Liam Buchanan but Buchanan, from an angle, was only able to drag his shot wide of the far post albeit by no more than a matter of inches.
With half-time nearing Thistle were beginning to dominate and when a Paul Paton cross took a deflection Robertson in the Airdrie United goal was forced to tip the ball over the bar for an unproductive Thistle corner kick.
A first half in which Thistle had rarely looked like either scoring or conceding ended a few minutes later with the hope that the second 45 minutes would show a marked improvement.
Ian McCall made his first change of the game at the interval with Chris Erskine coming on in place of Kris Doolan.
As it had in the first half the first half chance of the second half came the way of the home side. John Baird spotted that Jonny Tuffey had strayed from his line a little but his long range effort cleared the Thistle crossbar with some comfort.
In the 51st minute Thistle opened their account for the season with a simple yet well constructed goal. An excellent David Rowson through ball spotted Liam Buchanan who found the corner of the net with a cool finish.
Thistle were playing with confidence and purpose at this point but Paul Keegan was able to turn at the edge of the Thistle box but his shot was straight at Jonny Tuffey.
Play quickly moved to the other end and Liam Buchanan burst into the Airdrie box only to smack a shot off the legs of Airdrie keeper Robertson.
In the 61st minute Thistle were close to a second goal. Chris Erskine had impressed since coming on at the break and further enterprising play from the Thistle new boy gave Stephen McKeown a chance. McKeown, however, was unable to get any real power behind his shot with the result that Robertson was able to get down and complete a save.
The scores were almost tied at 1-1 in the 67th minute when Airdrie, almost out of the blue, were a whisker away from an equalising goal. Frank Lagana twisted and turned at the edge of the Thistle box before seeing his shot clip the outside of Jonny Tuffey's right hand post.
In the 70th minute Thistle made their second change of the game with Paul Cairney replacing Bryan Hodge.
Lagana wa s prominent for Airdrie again in the 72nd minute. His well placed pass looked like providing McLaughlin a scoring chance only for a well times Paul Paton tackle to deny him the opportunity.
With 15 minutes remaining Jim Hamilton became the fifth player to make his Thistle debut when he came on for Stephen McKeown.
It was Airdrie that were pressing at this stage and in the 78th minute there was anxiety in the Thistle ranks when Mclaughlin was able to pick out the run of substitute Gemmill. Gemmill though when left with just Tuffey to beat sent his shot over the bar.
With 8 minutes remaining of what was becoming a nervy game Paul Cairney sent a shot wide of goal following neat play involving Liam Buchanan and Chris Erskine.
Anxiety levels in the Thistle ranks rose again in the 88th minute. It took a great defensive header from David Rowson to clear a cross for a corner that Thistle eventually manage to scramble clear.
