4th Sep 2010 Partick Thistle 2 Ayr United 1 (Challenge Cup Quarter Final)

matches:2010-11: ← 11game 1213 →

Match Information

45y, 11m, 5d			Ian McCall		Brian Reid
Jackie McNamara; John A. Robertson; Conrad Balatoni; Bryan Hodge; Stuart Bannigan
Iain Flannigan; Willie Kinniburgh; Ian Maxwell; Paul Cairney; Simon Donnelly
Kris Doolan (1-0, 2 mins); Kris Doolan (2-0, 33 mins)					Andy Rodgers (2-1, 36 mins)
Paul Paton					Billy Easton; Alan Trouten
John A. Robertson (Chris Erskine, HT); Stuart Bannigan (Iain Flannigan, 70 mins); Liam Buchanan (Simon Donnelly, 75 mins)					Jonathan Tiffoney (Danny McKay, 68 mins); Dean Keenan (Steven Reynolds, 68 mins)
29y, 11m, 3d			Bryn Halliwell		David Crawford future Jag
23y, 4m, 17d			Paul Paton		Jonathan Tiffoney
23y, 5m, 15d			Patrick Boyle		Chris Smith
36y, 10m, 11d			Jackie McNamara		Scott Taggart
34y, 5m, 7d			John A. Robertson		Martyn Campbell
19y, 7m, 8d			Conrad Balatoni		Dean Keenan
22y, 11m, 12d			Bryan Hodge		Alan Trouten
33y, 11m, 21d			David Rowson		Scott McLaughlin
25y, 5m, 8d			Liam Buchanan		Andy Rodgers
23y, 8m, 24d			Kris Doolan		Mark Roberts former Jag
17y, 11m, 18d			Stuart Bannigan		Billy Easton
26y, 6m, 8d
38y, 3m, 30d			Craig Hinchcliffe		Ryan McWilliams
35y, 9m, 3d			Simon Donnelly		Stephen McKeown former Jag
23y, 6m, 27d			Chris Erskine		Danny McKay
25y, 10m, 26d			Martin Grehan		Steven Reynolds
22y, 7m, 20d			Iain Flannigan		Ross Robertson

Match Report

TTA report

A powerful Doolan header gave Thistle the lead (2). Ayr made a few chances but Thistle had most of the play and Doolan nodded in a header at the back post (33) but slack defending (36) reduced the lead. Thistle were denied a penalty then a magnificent save by Halliwell denied ex-JAG Roberts late on.

Media report

04-Sep-2010, ptfc.co.uk

There was plenty to talk about in Ian McCall’s team selection for this match. After breaking his leg against Ayr in March of last season, Jackie McNamara’s return to competitive first team action came ironically against the same opposition. After impressing in a closed door match during the week, Stuart Bannigan was drafted in for his first ever first team start for Thistle. Elsewhere John Robertson returned from injury and there was also a starting place for Bryan Hodge.

It took Thistle just two minutes to take the lead. Paul Paton’s excellent cross from the right hand side as met by the head of Kris Doolan and his header back across goal flew into the corner of the net. Thistle’s passing and movement was excellent early on but Mark Roberts provided a timely reminder that Ayr too were a threat with a low shot that forced Halliwell into a save, albeit a fairly comfortable one. Andy Rodgers was a bit closer in the 15th minute but after finding himself in space inside the Thistle box he got his curling shout beyond the grasp of Bryn Halliwell. It was Thistle though that were doing the bulk of the pressing and in the 17th minute Bryan Hodge wasn’t too far off target with a well struck shot from the edge of the Ayr box. Paul Paton was prominent for Thistle down the right hand side in attacking sense but Thistle were grateful for his defensive abilities in the 20th minute with a great challenge to deny Ayr a genuine scoring chance inside the Thistle box. In the 28th minute a delightful Jackie McNamara pass picked out David Rowson inside the Ayr box but the Thistle midfielder had strayed fractionally offside. Thistle though were able to double their advantage after 33 minutes. As he had been at the first goal, Paul Paton was heavily involved with this one as well. His cut back was collected by Liam Buchanan who after feinting to shot chipped the ball to the back post for Kris Doolan to nod home his second goal of the afternoon. Having established a 2-0 lead it was more than a little frustrating that Ayr were able to half that deficit just three minutes later. A cross to the back post found an unmarked Andy Rodgers about a yard out and he duly scored the third headed goal of the afternoon. Thistle were close to restoring their two goal lead in the 38th minute. A Paul Paton corner from the left hand side was headed back across goal by Kris Doolan but Conrad Balatoni was just unable to force the ball home from about six yards out. The last chance of the half fell to Paddy Boyle but although he struck his 20 yard shot well it was always on the rise and Crawford in the Ayr goal wasn’t required to make a save.

Thistle made a change at the interval with Chris Erskine coming on for John Robertson and Erskine’s first involvement in the action was a perfectly weighted pass to Liam Buchanan who was unfortunately flagged for off side just as looked set to shoot. There was controversy in the 55th minute when Thistle were denied what looked a clear penalty. Thistle broke through a surging run from Paul Paton down the right and when Paton’s cross was collected by Liam Buchanan, Buchanan after initially holding off the attentions of Ayr’s Campbell looked to be hauled to the ground. Referee O’Reilly though wasn’t interested in Thistle’s appeals for a penalty. With both teams pushing hard for further goals this was always a game that held the attention, and with 16 minutes remaining Thistle were close to scoring the third goal that would have given them some much need breathing space. A free kick was worked into the path of Paddy Boyle and his deflected shot looked to be heading for the back of the net only to go just wide. With both teams pushing forward at every opportunity play was switching quickly from end to end and a minute after Boyle’s chance Mark Roberts saw a shot from the edge of the box only just clear the Thistle bar. As Ayr continued to mount pressure on the Thistle it took the combined efforts of Paddy Boyle and Jackie McNamara to deny Ayr sub McKay a chance deep inside the Thistle box. With two minutes remaining Bryn Halliwell made a fantastic save to deny Mark Roberts a goal. Roberts shot from a cut back looked destined for the net but Halliwell got just enough of a touch on the ball to save as the ball just crept wide of the post. A through ball from Iain Flannigan gave Simon Donnelly a chance to secure the win but Crawford was able to save and then, with the game getting even more open, a Chris Erskine ball across the six yard box was just missed by Kris Doolan. The full-time whistle sounded a short time later on what had been an entertaining 90 minutes.

Video Highlights

(credits: Camallain / Partick Thistle Television )

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Stats Watch

ongoing sequences:

● 23 consecutive competitive appearances for Simon Donnelly, 13th Feb 2010 to date. (Longest run since: John A. Robertson - 36 games, 10th Oct 2009 to 24th Aug 2010. Club-record: Johnny Jackson - 313 games, 28th Aug 1926 to 25th Mar 1933.)

Stats Watch adheres to our stated definitions of League, League Max, Major Competitive, Competitive or All Games. Where there is no written qualification, you should presume that the Stat in question is compiled from the All Games criteria.

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