Archives | Dunfermline 1 Partick Thistle 1

William Hill Championship
Tuesday 20th October 2026
KDM Group East End Park

Andrew Tod`s stunning 41st-minute strike earned Dunfermline a point against Partick Thistle, cancelling out Tony Watt`s opener after a rare error from Dylan Lobban.

The match, sixth against third, had been rescheduled because the Pars had six players on international duty earlier this month. Although unbeaten at home this season, Neil Lennon`s side badly needed a win after three draws in their last five games. Thistle, meanwhile, arrived on a run of three successive league wins and the chance to go top with a fourth.

Neil Lennon was without the injured Sam Cleall-Harding, but Allan Oyirwoth returned after missing Saturday`s game against Livingston. Dundee loanee Aaron Donnelly came in at centre-back and Josh Cooper returned to the bench. Despite three successive wins, Mark Wilson made three changes: Gary Mackay-Steven, Ben Stanway and Aidan Fitzpatrick replaced Euan Henderson, Seb Drozd and Tsoanelo Letsosa.

Dunfermline looked well up for this match from the off. In just the third minute Dylan Lobban made a penetrating run to lay the ball off for Rory Macleod on the right to crash the ball through the Thistle box and out wide left. The visitors early threat three minutes later came from Aidan Fitzpatrick, his shot held by Aston Oxborough although it was going wide.

Immediately play swung to the other end with Macleod`s shot earning a corner. Lobban`s cross picked out Donnelly but his header was deflected over the bar. The subsequent corner picked out Nurudeen Abdulai at far post but when his attempt was defended out Andrew Tod unleashed a shot unfortunately wide left.

It continued to look good for the home side with Oyirwoth setting up Tod to send the ball across the face of goal. Olamilekan Adams` left footed effort from 30 yards also went high. Then came the sucker punch, a slack 13th minute pass by Lobban handed Tony WATT the chance to step in and smash the ball past the helpless Oxborough 0-1

Although Thistle keeper Lewis Budinauckas was required to hold an Adams shot from 18 yards, the Pars lost their momentum for a period as both Partick central defenders stopped play for physio`s attention. Keith Bray led renewed pressure in the final 15 minutes of the half. He set up Macleod for another delivery into the Thistle box before Alfons Amade found himself in space 30 yards out to fire a shot that also went over. Macleod launched another ball through opposition box and an Adams cross was headed clear by Lee Ashcroft.

Fans were beginning to think this was deja vu just as Andrew TOD completely changed the mood in the stadium. The 20 year old accepted a long sweeping pass from Adams to produce a peach of a goal in 41st minute. He controlled the ball with his right foot, took a couple of touches as he headed in on goal to release his shot into the top right from 25 yards out, his sixth goal of the season made it 1-1

In first-half stoppage time, Bray got on the end of a clever pass from Robbie Fraser, but Lewis Budinauckas saved his left-footed shot

Half Time: Dunfermline 1 Partick Thistle 1

Dunfermline had several good chances in the second half. The first just three minutes in saw Oyirwoth`s right footed shot from 25 yards kept out by the left goalpost. In 50 minutes Lobban supplied Macleod with the opportunity to advance and shoot but his left footed shot from the edge of the box was blocked and Oyirwoth`s follow up was blasted high.

Next chance came from a free kick after a foul on Bray. Macleod directed the free kick towards Donnelly at the far post but he could not make contact. A 65th minute Pars corner was taken short and failed to deliver the ball into the Thistle box. Substitutes were introduced - Josh Cooper and Olly Thomas replacing Macleod and Bray - but it was Partick subbed Seb Drozd`s break that created the next serious danger. Speeding towards the 622 Partick fans at the Vertu Community Stand end, the sub teed up Watt but Oxborough pulled off an excellent save at his near post to keep the score level.

Tod made a superb run to meet a fine ball into the box but his connection sent the bar over the bar from ten yards out. Both sides were pressing seriously for the three points by this stage. Sub Alex Samuel brought a fine save out of Oxborough, an Adams header was saved by his counterpart and then Lobban and Oyirwoth had efforts that were narrowly off target. The final good chance fell to the newly introduced sub Oli Shaw but his effort from a long Donnelly throw in was forced wide as he was brushed off the ball.

The Pars` sixth draw of the Championship campaign lifted them to fifth, but Thistle are now seven points ahead of them. Dunfermline do have a game in hand, away to league leaders Stenhousemuir.

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