Archives | Partick Thistle 2 Dunfermline 0

Dunfermline made the trip to the Wyre Stadium at Firhill to face Partick Thistle in what promised to be a fascinating William Hill Championship encounter, with both sides carrying contrasting but equally compelling motivations into the contest.

For the Pars, the afternoon arrived with one eye already drifting toward next weekend. Sitting seven points clear of fifth-placed Queen`s Park with four fixtures remaining, Dunfermline`s play-off place looked secure, and the prospect of a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup tie just seven days away unavoidably cast a shadow over proceedings in Maryhill.

Partick Thistle, meanwhile, had far more immediate concerns to attend to. Five points adrift of St Johnstone in the automatic promotion place, the Jags knew that anything less than victory would leave their top-flight dreams hanging by a thread. With the clock ticking on the season, Firhill was desperate for a result.

Yet there was an intriguing subplot threading through the occasion. Dunfermline are due to host St Johnstone at KDM Group East End Park in ten days` time, meaning the Pars retain a pivotal say in who ultimately lifts the Championship title `“ a role that adds no shortage of intrigue to their remaining campaign, regardless of where their own priorities may lie this afternoon.

Thistle manager Mark Wilson made two changes from the side that drew away to Ayr United, Lee Ashcroft was suspended and Robbie Crawford was on the bench as Luke McBeth and Ts`oanelo Lets`osa started.

As promised Dunfermline boss, Neil Lennon rested some players meaning Charlie Gilmour was on the bench , Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Nurudeen Abdulai and Andrew Tod were not in the squad. That meant a return to first team action for John Tod for his first match since 6th December and he was joined in the Pars side by Chris Hamilton, Freddie Turley and Tashan Oakley-Boothe.

It was a cold wind that chilled Firhill but the sun emerged as the teams made their way out through the red and yellow checkered flags. Skipper Chris Hamilton kicked off for Dunfermline attacking the goal at the open end. The Fifers started confidently but a long McBeth ball up the right wing created a threat with Alex Samuel racing forward. Fortunately Tod was able to dispossess him but then in fifth minute a Ben McPherson cross from the right sat up for Samuel and there was relief as he shot narrowly wide left.

Thistle stepped up the pressure and made their visitors defend robustly. Kieran Ngwenya latched on to Aston Oxborough`s defended free kick, advanced through several challenges to send Matty Todd into the Jags box but Ethan Ingram brushed him off. Todd was quickly involved again though and won a 15th minute corner on the right, the second phase of which allowed Todd to direct the ball to the far post where Tod just failed to connect.

The home fans made loud appeals for a penalty when the ball looked as though it had made contact with Turley`s hand. Their disappointment was quickly forgotten with two goals in four minutes. SAMUEL was able to drill home the 18th minute opener from the edge of the Pars box as clearing the ball proved impossible. Four minutes later Aidan Fitzpatrick used his pace to create the cross that SAMUEL converted for a 2-0 lead.

Play halted in 29 minutes as Turley required the physios to come on. He soon resumed showing signs of a good recovery. Indeed it was his cross that earned the 32nd minute corner that Tod met with a looping effort that dropped wide right.

Oxborough held a Stanway shot before John Tod started a move that saw him narrowly fail to connect in front of goal after Todd had laced an inviting ball into the danger area. Back at the other end the Pars keeper held another Samuel shot before Hamilton took the brunt of a clearance and the physios were back on the park again.

It was a first half in which Partick took their chances and Dunfermline didn`t. Fitzpatrick and Samuel had caused no end of problems and some way had to be found to halt them.

Half Time: Partick Thistle 2 Dunfermline 0

Substitution for Dunfermline before resumption in play `“ Keith Bray on for Freddie Turley with Shea Kearney dropping back to right back.

Ngwenya`s 51st minute shot from 30 yards out was the Pars first of the match but it went wide left. Next keeper Josh Clarke`s slip almost conceded the ball to the challenge of Oakley-Boothe but the Fifers certainly started the half looking more dangerous.

In 58 minutes Neil Lennon made a triple substitution, Charlie Gilmour, Callumn Morrison and Chris Kane replacing Alfons Amade, Matty Todd and Josh Cooper.

The tactical move certainly quietened the home crowd as Dunfermline began to play the game much further up the park and looked decidedly stronger. There was a big let off however in 69th minute when Fitzpatrick whizzed another ball through the Dunfermline six yard box.

A Kane `“ Hamilton `“ Kearney move ended when the young Irishman`s cross was cut out. Dunfermline never gave up, Benedictus had a couple of shots, Kane headed a Morrison cross wide left. It had been a much improved second half from the Fifers but despite a final push and a couple of Bray deliveries into the box, there proved no way through the Thistle defence.

Elsewhere a win for Raith Rovers over Morton and Ayr United over Arbroath, meant that the Red Lichties remain a point better off than Dunfermline`s 46 points. The gap to fifth remained seven points.

PARTICK THISTLE: Josh Clarke: Ethan Ingram (Gary MacKay-Stevens 59), Luke McBeth, Dan O`Reilly (c), Paddy Reading: Ben McPherson, Ts`oanelo Lets`osa, Ben Stanway, Fraser Taylor (Oisin Smyth 59), Alex Samuel (Tony Watt 72), (Robbie Crawford 72), Aidan Fitzpatrick (Logan Chalmers 81)
SUBS NOT USED: Cale Loughrey, Kyle Turner, Ricco Diack, Lewis Budinauckas (GK)
SCORER: Samuel (18, 22)

DUNFERMLINE: Aston Oxborough: Freddie Turley (Keith Bray HT), Kieran Ngwenya: Shea Kearney, Chris Hamilton (c), Alfons Amade (Charlie Gilmour 58), Robbie Fraser (Kyle Benedictus 72): Matthew Todd (Callumn Morrison 58): Josh Cooper (Chris Kane 58), Tashan Oakley-Boothe
SUBS NOT USED: Ewan McLeod, Alasdair Davidson, Lucas Fyfe, Billy Terrell (GK)

REFEREE: Kevin Clancy
ATTENDANCE: 4017 (inc 647 Pars fans)
WEATHER: Fine 8°C

NEXT MATCH: William Hill Championship (away) v Airdrieonians, Tuesday 14th April 2026, kick off 7.45pm at the Albert Bartlett Stadium