Match Report
Manager Ian McCall made three changes to his side for Thistle’s first visit to Central Park since 1991 and the first time on the league duty since 1933. Player-Assistant Manager Ian Maxwell, Iain Flannigan and Liam Buchanan, returning to his former club for the first time, all came in to start this match.
Thistle looked keen in the opening minutes and as early as the 4th minute Iain Flannigan was able to test David Hay in the home goal with a well struck shot from 35 yards after a free kick had been touched into his path.
Although Thistle, as they have done for most games this season, enjoyed the lion’s share of possession the home side still looked a threat when they came forward and in the 9th minute there was a hint of anxiety at the back for Thistle. The experienced Colin Cameron knocked a nice pass out wide to Scott Linton. Bryn Halliwell had to climb over a few players to reach Linton’s cross and he, initially, couldn’t quite grab hold of it.
Thistle though were in front in the 16th minute. Liam Buchanan was able to gather a misdirected pass before passing to Paul Cairney. Cairney had the vision to spot Kris Doolan to his left and rolled the ball to him with Doolan’s first time shot finding the bottom corner of the net.
It was a lead though that Thistle were to hold for barely 60 seconds and it would have been a major frustration to the manager that his team conceded so soon after taking the lead. It was a soft goal to lose as well. Thistle failing to defend a throw from left and Brian Fairbairn had two stabs at the ball before he thumped a shot high into the Thistle net.
It took Thistle a bit of time to get going again after the loss of that goal but were close in the 28th minute following a scramble in the box after a Flannigan corner from the right. There were shouts for handball but play restarted with a Cowdenbeath throw.
Thistle were close from another corner a minute later with this time a seemingly net bound shot from Ian Maxwell blocked by a Cowdenbeath defender.
It was far from one way traffic, however, with Cowdenbeath a constant menace when they broke. Twice it needed good clearances to snuff out any danger and John Armstrong also had space inside the box but couldn’t keep his shot down.
The last chance of the half though was Thistle’s. Liam Buchanan broke well down the right before squaring to Paddy Boyle who saw his shot tipped round the post by David Hay.
In the 52nd minute Cowdenbeath were close to taking the lead. Brian Fairbairn’s free kick from 25 yards was heading for the top corner only for Bryn Halliwell to get a hand to it and tip it over the bar. It was only a temporary reprieve, however, as John Armstrong was left unmarked at the corner that followed and he hooked the ball home.
Cowdenbeath were defending well while remaining a danger themselves on the break. Thistle, meantime, for all their efforts were letting themselves down with the final ball and a tendency to try and walk the ball into the net.
A more direct approach nearly brought an equaliser in the 74th minute. Martin Grehan’s knock down was met on the volley by Liam Buchanan and his shot was heading for the back of the net only for David Hay to get his foot to the ball and deflect it wide of goal.
A cross whizzed across the home goal as Thistle started to lay siege to the Cowdenbeath goal and in the 77th minute Paul Paton nearly uprooted a post with a thundering right footed drive from about 15 yards out.
The chances stopped coming after that although Thistle continued to push men forward. With just a minute remaining Liam Buchanan did turn well inside the box but his final shot was too straight to trouble Hay.
With the game in injury time Thistle had two final efforts at goal. Man of the Match David Hay saving with his feet from Chris Erskine before Martin Grehan knocked a shot over the bar.
