Partick Thistle Football Club

PARTICK THISTLE 2, AYR UNITED 1

FULL-TIME

90 mins+: A Scott McLaughlin shot is just too high.

90 mins+: Chris Erskine's ball across the 6 yard box is just missed by Kris Doolan.

90 mins+: Into injury time now.

90 mins: After being sent clear by Flannigan, Simon Donnelly nearly makes sure of the win but Crawford pushes his shot away.

89 mins: Jackie McNamara makes an important block inside the box.

88 mins: Magnificent save from Halliwell who some how keeps out a Mark Roberts shot. Thistle get the corner clear but when the ball is played forward to Simon Donnelly up goes the flag.

81 mins: Ayr corner on the left. Bryn Hallowell gets just enough of a touch on the ball to get it clear. The ball is played back into the box but McKay is offside.

78 mins: Ayr corner as pressure on the Thistle goal mounts. Halliwell gets a fist to the ball and Ayr have a throw.

77 mins: More Ayr pressure and it takes a great block to prevent McKay shooting from 8 yards out.

76 mins: Ayr almost catch Thistle on the break and Mark Roberts watches his shot clear the bar by no more than an inch or so.

75 mins: Simon Donnelly on for Liam Buchanan.

74 mins: Thistle work a nice free kick and Paddy Boyle's 30 yard shot is deflected for a corner. Paul Paton's corner is missed by everyone.

70 mins: Warm applause for Stuart Bannigan as he is replaced by Iain Flannigan.

66 mins: The game is be played at a fast pace with both teams pushing hard for more goals. Thistle break quickly but Doolan is offside.

65 mins: Kris Doolan's shot from the edge of the box is at a nice height for and straight at Crawford.

57 mins: Paddy Boyle and Ayr's Easton are both booked.

55 mins: Thistle denied what looked a certain penalty. A great ball from Paul Paton finds Liam Buchanan who looks to be hauled to the ground by Maryn Campbell.

Crowd: 1,831

48 mins: Chris Erskine plays a lovely ball through to Liam Buchanan but the flag goes up.

Half -time change for Thistle. Chris Erskine on for John Robertson.

It's been a good game of football so far. Thistle have played some good football and scored two well worked goals. The Ayr front two though have posed a threat and the feeling is that a third Jags goal may well be required.

HALF-TIME

45 mins: Into first half injury time.

40 mins: A Paddy Boyle shot from a couple of yards outside the box is a foot or so too high.

38 mins: Thistle have a corner on the left. Paul Paton goes across to take it. Kris Doolan heads back across goal but Balatoni can't force the ball home.

36 mins: GOAL AYR. A cross from the right is met by the head of Andy Rodgers at the back post and Ayr are right back in the game.

33 mins: GOAL THISTLE. Following good play from Paul Paton, Liam Buchanan chips the ball to the back post where Kris Doolan heads home his second goal of the afternoon.

32 mins: Ayr corner on the right hand side. Thistle clear and break down the right.

28 mins: A delightful pass from Jackie McNamara picks out David Rowson inside the Ayr box but Rowson is flagged for off side.

20 mins: A great challenge from Paul paton denies Ayr a clear scoring chance inside the Thistle box. They win a corner though which is headed wide by Chris Smith.

17 mins: Paul Paton's 25 yard shot is deflected and Thistle have the game's first corner. Paul Paton takes it but it is headed clear. Thistle keep the pressure on though and Bryan Hodge isn't too far off target with a shot from the edge of the box.

15 mins: First real chance for Ayr and Andy Rodgers gets room inside the Thistle box but he can't get his curling shot beyond the reach of Bryn Halliwell.

13 mins: Neat build up from Thistle but David Rowson's shot from 30 yards out is well over the bar.

12 mins: Kris Doolan nips in between two Ayr defenders but his snap shot is off target.

10 mins: The goal aside it has been a bright opening 10 minutes. Thistle's passing is an improvement on last week's.

6 mins: Mark Roberts' low shot is easily saved by Bryn Halliwell.

2 mins: GOAL THISTLE. Great start for Thistle. Paul Paton's cross to the back post is met by the head of Kris Doolan and Thistle are in front.

1 mins: Jackie McNamara looks to be sweeping behind Robertson and Balatoni.

0 mins: Ayr kick the game off. Thistle will be shooting towards the north stand in the first half.

PRE-MATCH NEWS: There are plenty of talking points in the Thistle team for this match. After breaking his leg against Ayr in March of last season, Jackie McNamara makes his return against the same opposition. There is a first start for Stuart Bannigan who made his Thistle debut as a sub against Clyde in an earlier round of the Challenge Cup. John Robertson returns from injury while their is also a return to the starting eleven for Bryan Hodge.

There is a small but vocal band of Ayr fans in the ground and with the sun shining and the pitch in excellent condition all is eet for a fine afternoon of football.