In an eventful back and forth type of match Airdrieonians F.C. and Partick Thistle F.C. went toe to toe. Both sides scored twice, resulting in a 2-2 draw.
Airdrie gained an early 5th minute goal through the team’s top scorer Nikolay Todorov. The Diamonds caused most threats early in the game, with 6 shots towards goal and most of the possession in the first quarter of the game.
Thistle regained some composure after getting behind, resulting in an initial cracked shot on target by Ben Stanway. Not much later the threat was followed by a powerful long distance effort by defender Luke McBeth from outside the box that flew past Airdrie’s goalkeeper in the 29th minute, bringing the sides to 1-1.
Both sides went toe to toe after the equalizer. With both teams attempting to break through each other’s defences, while none gained the upper hand. A powerful shot on target by Thistle was quickly followed by a close range shot on the other end by Airdrie’s Nikolay Todorov, that flew only just over the target.
Just before half time Thistle’s Brian Graham saw a close range shot blocked by the goalkeeper. Only seconds later Scott Robinson made good on the missed chance by sliding a high ball into the box behind Airdrie’s goalkeeper, putting the Glaswegians ahead at 1-2.
The second half saw Partick Thistle taking the initiative with a blocked shot, followed by a rebound that flew a meter wide and over the goal. It was Airdrie that put things square again on the counter, as a low cross by Adam Frizzell found the net via the foot of Gaby McGill.
After the 2-2, a long distance attempt by Thistle’s Nielsen found the hands of the goalkeeper. A quick break Airdrie resulted in a close range one-on-one chance for Nikolay Todorov that got grabbed by Thistle’s David Mitchell.
The game flowed back and forth, with Airdrie posing the most convincing threat resulting in a dangerous high cross into the box by Kenayo Megwa that got cleared by Thistle.
The final quarter of the match saw Partick Thistle create a chance through a dangerous cross into the box by Harry Milne that found the foot of Brian Graham that got narrowly saved. In the rebound Ben Stanway found his shot towards goal blocked by the Airdrie defence.
A shot outside the box by substitute Arron Lyall only just curled over Thistle’s goal. The full time whistle blew without a winner. Leaving the teams level at 2-2 for Friday’s 2nd leg of the Premiership play-off quarter-final.
Both teams were good. But Megwa was near unstoppable, will be one to watch Friday.