Brian Graham became a Partick Thistle centurion in dramatic circumstances as the Jags overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Ayr United to seal a 2-1 aggregate win and progress to the Premiership play-off semi-final for the third year running.
The 37-year-old scored either side of half-time to complete an unlikely comeback for the Maryhill club, who now face Livingston in the next round.
There were two changes to the visitors’ starting XI. Centre-back Dan O’Reilly, who clashed heads with Nick McAllister during the first leg, was ruled out and Steven Lawless dropped to the bench, while Ben Stanway came into the midfield and 17-year-old Jamie Low was handed his professional debut at left wing-back.
This was a Thistle side that was very much down to its bare bones. Kanayo Megwa, who usually plays at right wing-back, featured in central defence and playmaker Kyle Turner was deployed on the right of defence as Thistle reverted to a 3-5-2 shape, and the subs’ bench was largely made up of untested academy players.
Ayr made just one change; Dylan Watret replacing the unavailable McAllister on the right-hand side of defence.
Both sets of supporters were in the mood for it, and it was hard to blame them as the sun shone down gloriously on the Somerset Park turf. The home side were leading, but this cup tie remained very much in the balance as the atmosphere built to a crescendo.
A peep from Nick Walsh’s whistle got the contest underway, and immediately Ayr went in search of a goal to build on their narrow advantage. Understandably, they tested Low early on by attacking down his flank, and they got some joy on a couple of occasions. One foray down the right resulted in a cut-back to Marco Rus 15 yards out, but the Ayr man’s shot was tame and easily held by David Mitchell in the visitors’ goal.
Thistle immediately charged up the other end on the counter, winning a corner kick. Up stepped Low, who floated a delightful cross to the back post where Graham was lurking. The striker used his strength to hold off his marker, stooping to steer the ball home from a few yards out with seven minutes played. It was his 20th goal of the season – and his 99th in red-and-yellow.
The quarter-final was level now, and Thistle’s tails were up. Ayr, for their part, looked nervous as unforced errors crept into their game. At one point, Aidan Fitzpatrick robbed Watret of the ball when the Ayr defender was the last man back, but home goalkeeper Josh Clarke did well to smother the winger’s pot-shot from 18 yards.
Ayr were enjoying most of the ball, but their attacking moves often broke down when they got within 20 yards at goal and the space dried up. Even a whiff of a chance wasn’t forthcoming.
Thistle could have taken the lead in the tie 10 minutes before the break. Robbie Crawford, back at his old stomping ground, showed neat footwork to drive into the left of the Ayr box and drill a teasing cross in that Stanway glanced wide of the far post.
The Jags’ squad depth was tested further five minutes before half-time when Turner pulled up, with 19-year-old Zander MacKenzie coming on to replace him.
Ayr came out rejuvenated for the second half, though, and soon started asking some awkward questions of the Jags’ backline. Some fine play down the right resulted in a dangerous-looking cross into the area, but Rus could only direct his header harmlessly over the bar. Moments later, Jay Henderson and Curtis Main were brought on as Scott Brown attempted to freshen things up in attack.
Thistle were soaking up the pressure, and looked at their most threatening when countering with pace. One move resulted in Fitzpatrick driving into the box and cutting the ball back to Stanway, but the midfielder’s shot whistled past the post as it went behind for a goal kick. A minute or two later the same man had a go from a narrow angle, only to drag his low shot wide of the far post. Up the other end, Henderson went close with a low drive that fizzed past the post.
Then, with 87 minutes on the clock, the big moment arrived. A long free-kick was hoofed forward, Graham nodded it to substitute Alex Jakubiak, who nudged it back to the veteran striker to slam home his 100th Thistle goal. It’s hard to think of a more meaningful one.
