Partick Thistle 2, Airdrie 1 (agg 4-3): Graham sinks Diamonds' dream

Airdrie's dream of back-to-back promotions ended at Firhill this evening as a Brian Graham-inspired Partick Thistle booked their semi-final slot against Raith Rovers next week.

It's an 11th straight defeat for the Diamonds in Maryhill, in a game that they looked lively in from the start.

However, Graham wasn't flagged offside for his first goal when he should have been in 18 minutes, and that took the wind out of Airdrie's sails, with the veteran striker making sure of the win just 90 seconds into the second half.

Arron Lyall pulled a goal back for Airdrie 10 minutes into the second half, but it proved to be consolation.

Airdrie had been the better side up until the opener, with plenty of possession and pressure, but not that much to show for it.

Graham is lethal in the penalty box, however, and the Diamonds defence stopped, expecting a flag that didn't come.

They were then caught napping early in the second half, as Thistle grabbed the game by the horns.

Lyall pulled a goal back for Airdrie, but it wasn't enough for the Lanarkshire side to force their way back in.

Thistle boss Kris Doolan kept faith with his line-up from Tuesday night.

His Airdrie counterpart Rhys McCabe made one change, to his side at New Broomfield on Tuesday night. Captain Adam Frizzell was replaced by Arron Lyall, with Cammy Ballantyne taking the armband.

Airdrie started well but it took until the sixth minute when Callum Fordyce blasted over from outside of the box before they made anything really happen.

Thistle were hemmed in during the opening stages, with Kanayo Megwa and Mason Hancock causing problems down either flank.

Ben Stanway had a go for Thistle from just outside the box, but it was well taken at the left post by Robbi Hemfrey in 17 minutes.

But Thistle took the lead in 18 minutes when Aidan Fitzpatrick's ball in from the right was smashed high into the net by Graham.

It took Airdrie a while to recover from the set-back of what looked like an offside goal, and Telfer slipped just before hitting his shot in 27, presenting an easy save for David Mitchell.

Thistle doubled their lead two minutes into the second half, effectively sealing their passage to the semi-finals.

Scott Robinson got the break of the ball down the left and Graham nipped in to cleverly tuck his cut-back behind Hemfrey and into the net.

But Airdrie halved the deficit when sub Lewis McGregor played a neat ball in from the left that found Lyall in the centre, and he buried the ball into the left corner.

Graham turned provider for Kerr McInroy in 71 minutes, but his tame effort was comfortably saved by Hemfrey.

Callum Fordyce hit the crossbar with three minutes left, but was flagged offside.

Thistle's Fitzpatrick was sent through on goal two minutes into six minutes of stoppage time, and dinked his shot over outrushing Hemfrey, but it drifted past the right post.

PARTICK THISTLE: Mitchell, McMillan (O'Reilly, 86), McBeth, Muirhead, Milne, Neilson, McInroy (Mackenzie, 80), Stanway (Bannigan, 80), Robinson (Alston, 90+4), Fitzpatrick (Ngwenya, 90+4), Graham

Subs (not used): Stewart (GK), Diack, Campbell, Loney

Booked: Graham (61), Muirhead (83)

AIRDRIE: Hemfrey, Watson (C. Gallagher, 75), Fordyce, Ballantyne, McMaster, Lyall (Donnell, 75), Megwa, Telfer (Aiken, 64), Hancock, McGill (McGregor, 46), Todorov

Subs (not used): Hutton (GK), Taylor-Sinclair, O'Connor, Dunlop, G. Gallagher

Booked: Telfer (44)

Referee: Colin Steven

Attendance: 6531

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