A second half goal from Josh McPake was not enough as Saints lost the top of the table clash with Partick Thistle 2-1 in Glasgow this afternoon.
The hosts took the lead on 6 minutes when Daniel O’Reilly slotted home Aidan Fitzpatrick’s low cross at the back post.
Tony Watt then double the Jags lead in first half stoppage time with a powerful low strike.
Jamie Gullan saw his strike cleared off the line by O’Reilly on 53 minutes as Saints pushed to get back in the game.
McPake pulled a goal back on 71 minutes as the winger slotted the ball into the net with the aid of a deflection.
Saints then got a great chance to level the match with 9 minutes remaining however, Liam Smith saw his volley drifted wide of the far post. Despite dominating the closing stages, Saints couldn’t carve out the elusive equaliser.
Next up for Saints is a Scottish Cup third round tie at home to Cove Rangers next Saturday, kick off 3pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints headed to Glasgow today for a top of the table clash against Partick Thistle at the Wyre Stadium at Firhill. Simo Valakari made three changes to the side which defeat Queen’s Park 4-3 at McDiarmid Park last weekend as Morgan Boyes, Sam Stanton and Kai Fotheringham all dropped to the bench. They were replaced by Matty Foulds, Jason Holt, who missed last week’s match due to suspension, and Adama Sidibeh, who have recovered from the head knock which saw him miss the win against the Spiders. A stoppage time goal from Oisin Smyth saw Partick Thistle draw 1-1 at Airdrieonians in their last match a fortnight ago. Head coach Mark Wilson made two changes to the side which started at the Albert Bartlett Stadium as Lee Ashcroft and Alex Samuel both came into the starting eleven and they replaced Luke McBeth and Kyle Turner, who both dropped to the bench.
Jamie Gullan got the match underway for Saints and the Perth side would create the first chance of the match on 4 minutes. Jason Holt’s ball into the box was gathered by Adama Sidibeh who unleashed a strike which was deflected onto the side netting by Jags captain Lee Ashcroft.
Play quickly switched to the other end as 2 minutes later the hosts were in front. Aidan Fitzpatrick did well to beat Josh McPake on the byeline before sending a low ball across the face of the Saints goal and it was met by Daniel O’Reilly at the back post who slotted the ball into the net to give the Jags an early lead.
That goal fired up the home support as they urged their side forward as on 13 minutes Logan Chalmers got a sight of goal however, he dragged his effort wide.
PHOTO: Liam Smith and Logan Chalmers
On 17 minutes Saints were awarded a free kick after Sidibeh was fouled by O’Reilly. Reece McAlear took the free kick as he floated the ball into the box and it was knocked down to Gullan however, his left-footed effort was gathered by Josh Clarke.
Saints went on to have a large amount of possession as the first half progressed but they couldn’t create any clear-cut chances against a well organised home defence.
Then in the second minute of first half stoppage time Partick Thistle doubled their lead. Just like the first goal for the hosts the danger came from Thistle’s right-hand side as Ben McPherson floated the ball forward which was gathered by Samuel and the Welshman picked out Watt who rifled a powerful low strike into the bottom corner of the net to give the Jags a comfortable half-time lead.
PHOTO: Reece McAlear takes on Patrick Reading
Saints made a double change before the second half could get underway as Morgan Boyes and Stevie Mallan came on to replace Jack Baird and Jonathan Svedberg.
Saints came close to pulling a goal back 3 minutes into the second half as McPake played in Gullan who flashed an effort just wide of the far post. The Saints forward came even closer on 53 minutes as he saw his strike cleared off the line by O’Reilly.
The hosts came close to extending their lead on 55 minutes however, Boyes made a good block as he turned a Chalmers effort behind for a corner. Then a minute later Steward made a good save getting down well to a Samuel effort.
PHOTO: Jamie Gullan’s shot is blocked by Ts’oanelo Lets’osa
The Maryhill side were having a good spell in the game and on 58 minutes Steward was called into action again, this time saving a Watt effort from 25 yards.
Just before the hour mark a McPake cross from the left was met by Sidibeh however, the Gambian couldn’t direct his header on target. That would prove to be the Saints forward last involvement in the match as he was replaced by Sam Stanton.
Saints pulled a goal back with 19 minutes remaining. Jason Holt picked out McPake and the winger unleashed a strike which took a deflection to take it beyond Clarke to set up an interesting end to the match.
PHOTO: Josh McPake scores for Saints
Simo Valakari’s side then agonisingly close to levelling the match on 81 minutes. Mallan floated a delightful ball to the unmarked Liam Smith and the defender unleashed a powerful volley which went narrowly wide of the far post as Stanton flung himself at the ball to try and turn it over the line.
The pressure from Saints continued as they searched for an equaliser as 3 minutes later McPake cut in from the left and curled an effort wide of the far post.
Valakari rolled the dice again and made another double change as Jannik Waner and Uche Ikpeazu came on to replace Matty Foulds and Jason Holt.
Ikpeazu very quickly got involved in the action as the forward saw his right-footed effort saved by Clarke. Saints piled on late pressure and in the first minute of stoppage time McPake’s effort from just outside the box didn’t trouble Clarke as the equaliser ultimately proved beyond their reach.
PHOTO: Uche Ikpeazu is denied by Patrick Reading
Partick Thistle: Clarke, Reading, Ashcroft, Smyth, Samuel (Lawless 81’), Chalmers, O’Reilly, Fitzpatrick (Crawford 72’), McPherson (Logan 90+4’), Watt (Turner 72’), Lets’osa (McBeth 81’)
Unused Substitutes: Budinauckas (GK), Martin, McArdle
Booked: O’Reilly
Scorers: O’Reilly (6’), Watt (45+2’)
Saints: Steward, Diabate, Boyes, Holt (Ikpeazu 89’), Svedberg (Mallan 45’), Sidibeh (Stanton 60’), Gullan, Foulds (Wanner 89’), Baird (Boyes 45’), McPake, Smith, McAlear
Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Fotheringham, Sprangler, Forrester
Booked: None
Scorer: McPake (71’)
Referee: Don Robertson
Attendance: 5,461
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Jonathan Svedberg and Patrick Reading
