LAST-MINUTE WINNER PUTS THISTLE IN DRIVING SEAT FOR FINAL PLAY-OFF PLACE

Terry Ablade celebrating last-minute winner. Image courtesy of Tommy Taylor via Official Partick Thistle X page.

Partick Thistle scored a last-minute winner which saw them come out as victors over league leaders Falkirk in last night’s Scottish Championship game at Firhill.

Terry Ablade’s 97^th minute goal gave Thistle a late 2-1 lead over their Championship rivals which now puts the Jags three points clear of fifth place Raith Rovers, putting them in control of that final Premiership play-off spot.

Both teams came into the game needing a win. Thistle needing the three points to increase their play-off hopes and Falkirk were looking to all but confirm their status as league champions with a win in Glasgow.

Partick took no time putting their stamp on the game and after six minutes the Jags took the lead through captain and interim manager, Brian Graham. Falkirk attempted to play the ball out from the back, but Thistle winger Aidan Fitzpatrick’s hounding press saw him win the ball off Bairns centre-back Tom Lang. The ball fell to Thistle’s talisman, Graham, who slotted it past Nicky Hogarth, putting the Jags one-nil up.

Brian Graham puts Thistle 1-0 up. Image courtesy of Official Partick Thistle X page.

Falkirk came back at the home side but failed to really test Thistle keeper David Mitchell. The Bairns best chance came in the 21^st minute of the game when Championship player of the year nominee, Calvin Miller, expertly beat the offside trap and latched on to a great ball over the top. However, Miller failed to test Mitchell and hit his shot wide.

In the 35^th minute, Thistle took a huge blow when Stuart Bannigan was given a second yellow after a complacent foul on Falkirk’s Dylan Tait. With the Jags down to ten men, Falkirk’s pressure on the home side increased and in the 39^th minute that pressure paid off for the visitors.

After some nice play from the Bairns, a dinked ball into the box was perfectly laid off by Ross MacIver to former Ranger’s star Scott Arfield who drilled the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, tying up the game just before the break.

The second half started off slow. Falkirk were dominating the ball but struggling to create any clear-cut chances. The visitors best chance came in the 65^th minute when after some nice play between Miller and Ethan Ross, Ross shot from distance, but his shot was narrowly wide of the post.

After a largely lacklustre second half, some much needed action occurred in the 83^rd minute when Falkirk substitute Alfie Agyeman saw red for a late challenge on Thistle midfielder Robbie Crawford. The harsh red card meant the teams were even once again going into the final ten minutes of the game, giving Thistle hope of seeing out the draw or even grabbing a winner.

The believe of the home side paid off deep into stoppage time. After Thistle wing-back, Kanayo Megwa, won a free-kick in a dangerous position, Kyle Turner swung the ball into the box which was headed down by Daniel O’Reilly. Thistle substitute Terry Ablade found himself free in the six-yard box and headed the ball past Hogarth. Firhill erupted and Ablade’s last-gasp goal saw Thistle take all three points against top of the league.

This much deserved win for the home side, puts Thistle into the driving seat for that final play-off place heading into the final game of the season. Defeat for Falkirk means they will now most likely have to wait until next weekend to discover whether they will be crowned as champions.

Thistle end their campaign next Friday away to second-place Livingston and a win in West Lothian will all but confirm Thistle’s participation in the play-offs for the fourth season in a row.

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