Partick Thistle 1 - 0 Cowdenbeath

Partick Thistle 1Buchanan 53Cowdenbeath 0

LIAM Buchanan's first goal of the season was enough to lift Partick Thistle off the foot of the table with a deserved win against his former club.

Ludovic Roy, deputising for suspended Cowdenbeath goalkeeper David Hay, clawed Martin Hardie's goal-bound shot on to his crossbar and had to make several other good saves.

But Thistle went ahead when Hardie's cross fell for Buchanan, who calmly beat Roy from close range. Then Paul Cairney curled an 18-yard shot towards the bottom left-hand corner only to be denied by Roy's diving save.

Thistle should have doubled their lead when Iain Flannigan's corner found Hardie unmarked, but the on-loan St Johnstone midfielder sent his header over.

At the other end, the visitors might have levelled when substitute Brian Fairbairn's long-range shot bobbled awkwardly. But goalkeeper Scott Fox, playing as a trialist for Thistle, did enough to turn it behind.

Buchanan squandered two late chances to give Thistle breathing space.