Scottish play-off drama after keeper's loan cut short and seven-goal thriller
Jags will face St Mirren for place in Premiership
Partick Thistle booked their place in the Premiership play-off final after seeing off Dunfermline Athletic at Firhill.
With the semi-final tie finely poised at 1-1 from Tuesday’s first leg at East End Park, the Jags recovered from going a goal down to prevail 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate.
Partick will now face St Mirren over two legs for a place in the Premiership next season. The Buddies are already confirmed as the 11th-placed team in the top flight and will head to Firhill on Thursday, May 21 before the return leg at the SMiSA Stadium on Monday, May 25. Both matches kick off at 8pm and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
It was a sore end to the league campaign for Dunfermline, who were dealt a pre-match blow when on-loan goalkeeper Aston Oxborough was recalled by Motherwell at short notice to feature in their Premiership match against Hibs on Saturday. Manager Neil Lennon had to select 22-year-old reserve keeper Billy Terrell and the Bournemouth loanee was culpable for one of Thistle’s goals.
Dunfermline started well and took a lead into the break when Charlie Gilmour finished smartly from close range on 34 minutes. However, the hosts regrouped and Mark Wilson’s side moved level on 50 minutes.
There was an element of fortune for Joe Chalmers’ goal though, with Terrell’s clearance after making a smart save cannoning into the path of the Thistle player, who passed the ball into an empty net.
Partick’s winner came from one of their best players this season in striker Alex Samuel, who latched on to a long ball on 75 minutes and nodded it over a stranded Terrell.
While Dunfermline searched for a winner, it was in vain and they now have to dust themselves down for the Scottish Cup final against Celtic a week on Saturday.
In the League One play-off final, Hamilton Accies preserved their status as a third-tier club with a thrilling 4-3 second-leg win over Clyde (5-4 on aggregate).
The second leg of the Championship play-off takes place at Ochilview on Saturday, with hosts Stenhousemuir leading Alloa Athletic 3-1. In the Pyramid play-off final, Edinburgh City host Brora Rangers with the score tied at 1-1 from the first leg.
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