Partick Thistle 0 Airdrie Utd 1: Di Giacomo fires Airdrie into final

IT is a competition which offers a shot at glory to some of Scottish football's lesser lights and has, over the years, been won by the likes of Alloa, Stenhousemuir and Stranraer.

However, the name of Partick Thistle has never been engraved on the Challenge Cup trophy and the long wait goes on after Ian McCall's side took stage fright in front of the tournament sponsors BBC Alba's television cameras at Firhill yesterday. Instead, it is cup specialists Airdrie United who will have the chance to lift the trophy for a record fourth time when they take on Ross County in next month's final.

Paul Di Giacomo's early strike was enough to separate the sides and, despite frantic Thistle pressure, it was the Airdrie striker who should have made certain when he had a late penalty saved. Despite the victory, Diamonds manager Kenny Black insists his priorities remain elsewhere. "We'll enjoy the final when it comes, but the main thing is maintaining our First Division status and hopefully we can do that and push on in the league after this result.

"I thought we were the better side in the first half but Airdrie being Airdrie, we did things the hard way."

Meanwhile, Di Giacomo admitted to relief that his missed penalty had not proved costly.

"The penalty would have killed the game but that's football."

Airdrie had struck early when Simon Storey played the first of many wayward balls out of the Thistle defence and Joe Cardle took possession on halfway. The winger immediately fed Di Giacomo whose direct run had the Jags on the back foot. Di Giacomo, on loan at Firhill last season, cut inside John Roberston and fired a low shot towards the bottom right-hand corner of Craig Hinchcliffe's goal. Hinchcliffe appeared to have the effort covered, but could only help it on its way into the net.

A swirling wind appeared to be making life tough for the home defence but so was the movement and sharp exchanges between Di Giacomo and Simon Lynch. One such combination set up a shooting chance for Stephen McKenna but the effort flew over the bar. Hinchcliffe was almost embarrassed when David Nixon's through ball held up in the wind and the goalkeeper had to improvise a headed clearance from the edge of his box.

At the other end Thistle came to life when Chris Turner fed Mark Roberts whose instinctive overhead kick was cleared from the six-yard area by Darren Smith. Moments later, home supporters were given further cause for optimism when Turner's rasping shot could only be parried by Airdrie goalkeeper Stephen Robertson. However, Stephen McKeown was unable to get the rebound on target. Airdrie continued to look just as dangerous whenever they got within sight of Hinchcliffe's goal and they might have stretched their lead when Ian Maxwell was the latest Thistle player to look suspect under a high ball. His mis-control allowed Di Giacomo to pounce again but the striker's first-time shot was well saved by Hinchcliffe. John Roberston then produced a crucial tackle on Lynch who had been put through by Di Giacomo while Cardle's deflected effort was saved by Hinchcliffe.

However, the Jags looked revitalised on the restart and substitute Paul Paton almost set up an equaliser with his first touch – a probing cross which Simon Donnelly headed narrowly wide. Thistle went closer still when Kevin McKinlay fastened onto a loose ball at the edge of the box and saw his fierce shot rattle the crossbar. It was a sign of how things had changed that Di Giacomo was seen around his own box as an auxiliary defender, such was the pressure that Partick were now exerting.

McKenna produced a goal-saving tackle on Donnelly and Robertson tipped McKinlay's header over the bar as the Jags got closer to pulling level.

Dejected Jags manager McCall said: "I'm devastated for the whole club because this is a competition we wanted to win. I can't explain the first-half performance. We just didn't look up for it."

Partick: Hinchcliffe, Storey, Twaddle, Turner, Robertson, Maxwell, McKeown (Paton 46), Rowson (Chaplain 81), Donnelly, Roberts (Buchanan 61), McKinlay. Subs: Lennon, Murray.

Airdrie Utd: Robertson Donnelly, Nixon, Smith, Lovering, McKenna, McDougall (Brown 72), McLaughlin, Di Giacomo, Lynch (Noble 79), Cardle. Subs: Hazley, Watt, Hollis.