Betfred Cup
Saturday 13th July 2019
Well that was definitely a couple of hours of my life which I’ll never get back!
The last time I saw a game at Firhill Stadium was in April 2013. It was a red hot and something of a red-letter day for Partick as they came back from two goals down in the dying minutes to snatch a 3-3 draw with struggling Dunfermline Athletic.
Memorably, however, it was the day they were presented with the Scottish Championship trophy and over 5,000 fans packed into the sun-soaked stadium to see it.
I left at 3-1 to Dunfermline with about 10 minutes remaining (maybe even less) as train times and connecting services didn’t work out very favourably. Surprised to see the end result later that night on the way home, I’ve always been keen to return to Firhill since and see/endure a full game.
Whilst I’ve now fulfilled that ambition, I very much doubt there have been many games in the intervening years in this corner of Glasgow which have been as dire and turgid as this afternoon’s Betfred Cup tie against Airdrieonians.
In some ways, perspective is needed as Gary Caldwell did say in his pre-match interview that Thistle wouldn’t be firing on all cylinders given they’ve only just returned to pre-season training.
Nevertheless, for 45 minutes, the sun shone brightly and not a lot actually happened on the pitch.
In the second half, Thistle did at least force a spell of sustained pressure during which Sean McGinty and Cammy Palmer forced fingertip saves from the visiting goalkeeper.
Palmer, a recent signing, also went close with an effort whilst the evergreen Kenny Miller hit a wayward shot that nearly ended up in the concourse of the stand behind the goal.
Eventually, Tam O’Ware bundled home what turned out to be the winner, via a deflection, as despite a late flurry, Airdrieonians were utterly wasteless and too slow going forward - even though they did manage to hit the upright.
You can’t ‘polish a turd’ though, as the saying goes, and this game was a turd.
Arguably the most disappointing thing of the day was the absence of Kingsley - Partick’s notorious mascot who looks like a scruffier, cartoon-imitation of Boris Johnson on crack cocaine.
I don’t know why he wasn’t there. Maybe he knew what was coming?
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