Reunion’s a four gone conclusion
Jags storm dress rehearsal as playoff fixture sealed
RAGING Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe accused his side of “throwing in the towel” as they suffered a painful defeat to their play-off rivals.
An even first half saw the sides goalless at the interval but Thistle bagged the opener seven minutes into the second period and the Diamonds collapsed.
Aidan Fitzpatrick scored the first and had a hand in the second, with his strike parried into the path of Brian Graham.
The veteran striker then notched a second in 68 minutes, with sub Ricco Diack putting gloss on the day for Thistle.
With two games left to play, it means fourth-placed Diamonds are seven points clear of fifth-placed Morton and eight ahead of Dunfermline. But they’re also three behind their third-placed hosts.
These sides will have it all to do in the Premiership play-offs over two legs and McCabe will be looking for a marked improvement, even if it was a first defeat after four straight wins.
He fumed: “In the first half we were the better team, played good stuff and started the second half really well.
“Once we conceded there was lots of time and plenty of football to be played but I thought some of the boys threw the towel in.
“You’ve got to take the emotion out of it. We’ve got to the play- offs over a 36-game season and the boys have been excellent.
“But this is something I won’t stand for. It’s a team you’re potentially going to come up against in the play-offs and you’re going to have to beat them. The boys in the second half let themselves down.
“You’re scratching your head wondering why but I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to work out the boys threw in the towel.”
Thistle threatened first in 13 minutes when Harry Milne let fly with a rocket that keeper Robbie Hemfrey did well to parry.
Soon after Aaron Lyall zipped a shot from distance that fizzed past Jags keeper David Mitchell’s far post.
Thistle’s Kerr McInroy’s corner from the right was then headed over by Milne in 23 minutes.
Lewis McGregor should have broken the deadlock when sent clear on goal in 33 minutes but Mitchell got down low to deny him.
Airdrie went close through Charlie Telfer and Dean McMaster but were denied by an alert Mitchell.
Diamonds paid the price in 52 minutes when Kerr McInroy’s pass sliced open the defence and Fitzpatrick rounded Hemfrey to score.
Graham added a second in 61 minutes, tucking in after Ben Stanway saw an effort saved, and added a quick second seven minutes later. Diack added further shine to the win.