17th Sep 2011 Partick Thistle 4 Ayr United 0 (SFL First Division - game 6)

matches:2011-12: ← 12game 1314 →

37y, 10m, 24d	Jackie McNamara	Brian Reid

Chris Erskine
Tommy Stewart

David Rowson (1-0, 49 mins); Paul Cairney (2-0, 65 mins); Chris Erskine (3-0, 72 mins); Kris Doolan (4-0, pen 90 mins)
Paul Cairney		Martyn Campbell; Stuart Duff

Scott Robertson (Conrad Balatoni, 17 mins); Alan Archibald (Stephen O'Donnell, 66 mins); Paul Cairney (Iain Flannigan, 82 mins)		Ryan Connolly (Alan Trouten, 57 mins); Stuart Duff (Gareth Wardlaw, 69 mins); Mark Roberts (Jonathan Tiffoney, 76 mins)

24y, 2m, 20d	Scott Fox	Kevin Cuthbert
24y, 4m, 30d	Paul Paton	Stuart Duff
20y, 5m, 9d	Aaron Taylor-Sinclair	Eddie Malone
20y, 7m, 12d	Kyle Hutton	John A. Robertson former Jag
23y, 9m, 22d	Scott Robertson	Martyn Campbell
33y, 9m, 4d	Alan Archibald	Andy Geggan future Jag
24y, 0m, 19d	Paul Cairney	Michael McGowan
35y, 0m, 3d	David Rowson	Jamie McKernon
24y, 9m, 6d	Kris Doolan	Michael Moffat
20y, 3m, 22d	Christie Elliott	Mark Roberts former Jag
24y, 7m, 9d	Chris Erskine	Ryan Connolly

25y, 1m, 1d

18y, 10m, 19d	Ryan Scully	Ryan McWilliams
19y, 4m, 6d	Stephen O'Donnell	Alan Trouten
20y, 7m, 21d	Conrad Balatoni	Gareth Wardlaw
23y, 8m, 2d	Iain Flannigan	Jonathan Tiffoney
19y, 0m, 0d	Stuart Bannigan	Chris Smith

TTA report

A cagey first half saw few chances. The best fell to Ayr but they hit the post. Rowson broke the deadlock (a deflected shot, 49) then Cairney scored from the edge of the box (65). Thistle dominated after that and Erskine got No 3 (72) and a Doolan penalty in the last min put the icing on the 3-point cake.

Media report

17-Sep-2011, ptfc.co.uk

Thistle this afternoon stretched an unbeaten run to a fourth game with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Ayr United. Jackie McNamara’s team selection showed just the one change to the side that had drawn 2-2 with Ross County. Injury ruled out Tommy Stewart and his place in the team went to Chris Erskine who had made such a big impact when coming off the bench against County.

The opening exchanges of this game were fairly even with the first real incident of a note the early departure through injury of Thistle centre back Scott Robertson. Without an Ayr player in close proximity to him, Robertson went to ground when attempting to clear the ball and gave an immediate signal that he was in pain and unable to continue. After several minutes treatment on the pitch the unlucky Robertson left the field on a stretcher, never a nice thing to see, and was replaced by Conrad Balatoni. Once play restarted it was Thistle that came close to opening the scoring in the 20th minute. Paul Cairney’s run across the Ayr box allowed him some space to shoot and he saw his effort well saved by Cuthbert in the Ayr goal. Ayr though were causing Thistle some problems with their slick passing and counter attacking game and were desperately unlucky not to score in the 22nd minute. Mark Roberts had far too much space to connect with a cross from the right and with Scott Fox beaten his header struck the post. The game was just starting to open up at this point and Kyle Hutton, making his home debut, wasn’t too far off target with a shot from 20 yards out. An opening goal nearly arrived in unexpected fashion in the 30th minute. Aaron Sinclair was unquestionably attempting a cross from the left but it nearly snuck in over the head of Cuthbert who was glad to be able to palm the ball clear to safety. Thistle were in control for the remainder of the first half but despite playing some good football and creating plenty of width, Paul Paton in particular a threat down the right hand side, they were unable to force Kevin Cuthbert into a save.

Thistle were in front just four into the second half. Kris Doolan did well to win the ball before feeding Paul Cairney with a pass. Cairney’s route to goal was blocked by a defender but David Rowson collected the loose ball with his shot, with the final touch coming off an Ayr defender, finding the net. Ayr were certainly still very much in this game and in the 56th minute Scott Fox just about clawed away a Martyn Campbell header. On the hour mark Paul Cairney, again impressing in midfield for Thistle, was close to giving Thistle a two goal advantage but he was, as he was in the first half, denied by a Kevin Cuthbert save. Thistle did have a second goal in the 65th minute and it was Paul Cairney that scored it. Christie Elliott had been desperately unlucky not to score for the third home game in a row when his effort was cleared off the line. The ball though was only cleared as far as Cairney lurking at the edge of the box and his well struck effort found the net despite the best efforts on the line by the same Ayr defender who had cleared Elliot’s shot. With Alan Archibald now off injured, replaced by Stephen O’Donnell making his debut, and Thistle deploying an untried central defensive partnership, this game wasn’t yet won and Thistle were constantly pushing for a third goal. Aaron Sinclair was close to that third goal in the 73rd minute. After winning the ball from Ayr sub Alan Trouten, Sinclair’s low drive was wide of Cuthbert’s left hand post. The third Thistle goal though was delayed just a further two minutes. David Rowson and Christie Elliott combined with the latter setting up Chris Erskine who finished with some confidence to make it 3-0. It could even have been 4-0 just a short time later. Kyle Hutton nearly marking his home debut with a goal only for Cuthbert to make an excellent stop to keep out Hutton’s deflected effort. With Thistle now in total control it was just a case of playing out the remaining time but sub Iain Flannigan, who replaced Man of the Match Paul Cairney, nearly got in on the act with Cuthbert again all the stood between Thistle and a goal. Thistle though were not to be denied a fourth goal. With the game in injury time Chris Erskine was fouled in the box and with the last kick of the ball Kris Doolan tucked the penalty away.

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