Arbroath 1 – 1 Partick Thistle

Arbroath 1 – 1 Partick Thistle

Arbroath extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Championship by a point tonight at Gayfield with only 9 games remaining.

It was the proverbial game of two halves with Arbroath on top for the first half with Partick Thistle dominating the second half.

Bobby Linn came in for Jason Thomson with Scott Stewart dropping to right back after Thomson missed out due to a knock.

It didn’t take long for Arbroath to take the lead with Colin Hamilton scoring a magnificent goal in the 6th minute after playing the ball over the defender before showing a great touch to fire the ball into the back of the net.

Bobby Linn was desperately unlucky as his 30 yard free kick was pushed onto the post by Jamie Sneddon.

Arbroath were well on top for the first 40 minutes but Partick Thistle did start to press in the final minutes of the first half.

A double change for Thistle at the break put them in the driving seat as Richard Foster and Juan Alegria came as Thistle pushed two up front.

Although it was Arbroath who almost doubled their lead, Bobby Linn again denied by another stop from Jamie Sneddon.

Partick equalised in the 60th minute when an angled shot from Ciaran McKenna flew through a box of crowded bodies and into the back of the net.

Chris Hamilton had a good shout for a penalty seconds later as he was bundled into the ground by two Partick defenders.

Partick were going for it and Arbroath had to rely on Thomas O’Brien and Scott Stewart to clear off the line.

Dale Hilson and Luke Donnelly came on for Bobby Linn and Craig Wighton and Dale really had a positive effect on the final 24 minutes and looked like Arbroath’s best chance to get the equaliser.

Luke Donnelly had a header just flash by the post as Arbroath came agonisingly close.

Thistle had chances to win it, but in the final minutes a Dale Hilson cross come shot had to be tipped over the bar by Sneddon as it was going in.

It was another draw for the Lichties, but another vital point. With the final quarter to play for, the Lichties have 9 cup finals to play!

C’mon the Lichties

Attendance – 1648 (299 Thistle)

Arbroath

1 – Derek Gaston
12 – Scott Stewart
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Ricky Little
5 – Thomas O’Brien (c)
22 – Liam Henderson
8 – Michael McKenna (Craigen 77)
18 – Chris Hamilton
19 – Craig Wighton (Donnelly 66)
20 – Jack Hamilton (Ford 82)
11 – Bobby Linn (Hilson 66)

Substitutes
2 – Jason Thomson
7 – David Gold
9 – Dale Hilson – 11; 66th
15 – Luke Donnelly – 19; 66th
16 – Sam Ford – 20; 82nd
17 – Michael Bakare
28 – James Craigen – 8;77th
21 – Calum Antell (GK)

Goal – Colin Hamilton 6

Yellow Cards – Henderson 54, Chris Hamilton 65, McKenna 75

Partick Thistle
1 – Jamie Sneddon
3 – Kevin Holt
4 – Lewis Mayo
6 – Kyle Turner (Foster 45)
7 – Scott Tiffoney (Crawford 11)
8 – Stuart Brannigan
9 – Brian Graham
11 – Cammy Smith (Murray 82)
16 – Ciaran McKenna
18 – Tunji Akinola (Alegria 45)
23 – Ross Docherty (c)

Substitutes
2 – Richard Foster – 6; 45th
10 – Alex Jakubiak
15 – Steven Bell
17 – Connor Murray – 11; 82nd
22 – Robbie Crawford – 7; 11th
25 – Juan Alegria Arango – 18; 45th
33 – Stephen Hendrie
37 – Kyle McAllister
13 – Andy Firth (GK)

Goal – McKenna 60

Yellow Cards – Graham 61, Docherty 67

Officials;

Referee; Peter Stuart
Assistant Referee 1: Drew Kirkland
Assistant Referee 2: David McKniff