Partick Thistle 2 - 1 Ayr United: Jags survive onslaught

Published on Friday 3 September 2010 17:34

A BRACE from Kris Doolan eventually proved sufficient to take Partick Thistle into the semi-finals of the Alba Challenge Cup but their failure to capitalise on early dominance almost came back to bite them at the death.

It was a Jekyll and Hyde performance from the Jags, which didn't escape the attention of manager Ian McCall. "First half we were terrific and we should have been two or three goals up," he said. "However, Ayr went gung ho after the break and they have quality forwards."

Thistle took the lead in the second minute when Doolan stole in at the far post to head home an inviting delivery from full-back Paul Paton.

Paton then made an equally valuable contribution at the other end, blocking William Easton's netbound drive after Andy Rogers had engineered the opening.

Unsurprisingly, he was also involved when Thistle extended their lead in the 32nd minute. He played in Liam Buchanan, who crossed for Doolan to head home his second when he could justifiably have gone for glory himself.

Ayr, to their credit, refused to buckle and clawed their way back into the match almost immediately when Scott McLaughlin's excellent deep cross was nodded home from a yard out by Andy Rogers.

Thistle should have had a penalty kick in the 56th minute when Buchanan, picked out once again by the impressive Paton, was manhandled to the ground by Martyn Campbell.

Astonishingly, though, neither referee Stevie O'Reilly nor his assistant, Graham Chambers, considered the challenge illegal.

"I thought it was a stonewall penalty," said McCall. "Some you win and some you lose, although you might have had a different response if it had finished 2-2."

The official did take action against Paton and Easton, however, cautioning both players following an off-the-ball altercation and Alan Trouten was shown a yellow card for a foul on Buchanan.

Thistle's second-half performance was poor and they ended up holding on for the victory as United put them under constant pressure.

Unfortunately for the underdogs, they lacked a cutting edge and all their half-chances went begging. Mark Roberts thought he'd equalised in the 88th minute but Bryn Halliwell produced a stunning fingertip save to turn his low drive wide.

Then Jackie McNamara, playing his first game for six months after breaking his leg against the same opponents six months ago, managed to block a Rogers volley with his groin, to his obvious discomfort.

Simon Donnelly could have put the outcome beyond doubt but the striker was denied by a fine reflex save from David Crawford.

"We can't keep shooting ourselves in the foot," said Ayr manager Brian Reid."The two goals we lost were shocking: it was all about a lack of communication and not stopping crosses coming in. They won't score easier goals all season.

"I'm disappointed by the result because we camped in their half for the last 20-25 minutes and I don't know how their keeper kept out that shot from Roberts. I was off my feet as soon as he hit it."