Fitzpatrick buries winner as Partick Thistle edge past Dunfermline

By Leah Johnston and Andy Sharp, reporting from the Wyre Stadium at Firhill

In a fiercely contested battle, Partick Thistle managed to snatch the three points against Dunfermline in the final minutes, with fans’ favourite Aidan Fitzpatrick scoring the winner. It was the only goal of the game, in an encounter which could have delivered much more.

In the first 45 minutes alone, Thistle could have found themselves at least 2-0 up, but they squandered every opportunity that came their way. It was a similar story in the second when they hit the crossbar, forced a few saves from Pars’ keeper Deniz Mehmet, and had a few howlers in front of goal. Despite having the referee against them for the majority of the game, Thistle dominated for a fair amount of the 90.

It wasn’t until around the second half that Dunfermline started to get into the game and look like they were going to score, but Thistle’s defence remained strong. The Pars created a good number of chances via the counterattack, and could easily have scored a few themselves, but it is safe to say that neither side had their shooting boots on. The game sadly had that feeling that it was always going to finish 1-0 or a 0-0 with no team particularly deserving of the three points.

Taking no credit away from the goal, Aiden Fitzpatrick won the game in style when “he picked the ball up on the left, cut inside, beat a couple of challenges and fired the shot into the net.” Credit to Partick Thistle on X for their enthusiastic summary of the goal.

Fitzpatrick’s goal saw Thistle move up one place in the Championship table, from 5^th to 4^th while Dunfermline drop from 7^th to 8^th. Hamilton Accies, who were in-between Thistle and Dunfermline on the table before the games kicked off today, drew 3-3 with Raith Rovers. Giving leeway for Thistle to sneak up the table, beginning their hope for a charge towards promotion come May.

Up next for Thistle, who are now undefeated in three in the league is a trip to New Douglas Park where they take on Hamilton with two points separating the pair. As for Dunfermline, they face Thistle’s derby rivals, Queen’s Park on their home turf at East End Park.