Quarter-final play-off on knife edge as Diamonds fight back in thriller
AIRDRIE and Partick Thistle served up an entertaining 2-2 first-leg draw to leave the cinch Premiership playoff quarter-final in the balance.
Nikolay Todorov gave Airdrie an early lead but Luke McBeth’s spectacular strike sparked a turnaround that was completed by Scott Robinson in the final minute of the first half.
The Diamonds scored again in the fifth minute of the second half through Gabby McGill and both sides had chances to take an advantage into Friday night’s second leg at Firhill.
Airdrie are going for a second playoff success in a row while Kris Doolan’s side aim to go one better than last year, when they hit 19 goals in the Premiership play-offs, only to be undone by three Ross County goals in the last 20 minutes of regulation time of the final and a penalty shoot-out.
Thistle’s 4-0 win over Airdrie last month proved the difference between the teams in the Championship table but the home side made by far the brighter start in Lanarkshire as they vie for a semifinal against Raith Rovers.
Todorov had already missed a half chance before rising above Harry Milne to head home Charlie Telfer’s cross at the far post.
Thistle allowed Airdrie two free headers from consecutive set-pieces and Cammy Ballantyne was frustrated to head over from the second chance.
The hosts continued to dominate and Thistle goalkeeper David Mitchell held Adam Frizzell’s powerful effort at the second attempt.
The visitors’ equaliser came from nowhere. McBeth dispossessed Todorov as Airdrie tried to play the ball out of their half and the centrehalf drove forward before unleashing a brilliant shot into the top corner from 30 yards.
It was the 24-year-old’s first goal in professional football having joined from Glenafton in January.
The chances continued at both ends. Mitchell stopped Telfer’s powerful strike with his foot, Robbie Hemfrey spilled Milne’s long-range effort but Brian Graham could not react quickly enough, and Todorov volleyed over from a tricky angle.
But the visitors were on top in the latter stages of the half and Hemfrey stopped Graham’s strike before failing to react to Jack McMillan’s lofted ball seconds later. Robinson ghosted in behind to stab the ball home as it landed three yards from goal.
Thistle winger Aidan Fitzpatrick missed a decent chance just after the restart and Airdrie were soon level. Mason Hancock got down the left wing and delivered a low cross that McGill turned home at the far post.
Mitchell soon saved well from
Telfer’s shot on the break before the game settled down.
It burst into life again as it entered the final 15 minutes when Hemfrey pulled off a stunning point-blank stop from Graham’s header. Ballantyne then made the latest in a string of impressive blocks to prevent the rebound from going in.
Elsewhere, Kevin O’Hara grabbed Hamilton’s equaliser at former club Alloa as they drew the first leg of their Scottish Championship play-off semi-final 2-2.
There was little to pick between the League One sides at the Indodrill Stadium as they fought for control of the tie which sprung to life in the second half.
The visitors held a narrow lead at the break, former Wasps loanee Euan Henderson squeezing home at the second attempt after Jackson Longridge’s cross just after the halfhour, but Alloa netted twice in the first nine minutes of the second half to make their move.
Taylor Steven produced a classy finish to level the score and Kurtis Roberts followed up with a decisive finish as Accies flagged under pressure.
Morgyn Neill had a good chance to make it safe for the hosts but while he missed, O’Hara gave the home fans a reminder of his finishing prowess as he headed home 15 minutes from time.
Montrose and Inverness CT will also go in to their second leg with it all to play for after a 0-0 draw.
Blair Henderson scored a late penalty as Spartans squeezed a slender 2-1 advantage from their cinch League 1 play-off semi-final first leg against Peterhead.
In the other semi-final, there was another late penalty as Tony Wallace gave hosts Dumbarton a 2-1 advantage over Stirling Albion.