East Kilbride Thistle picked up an important three points in their fight to avoid relegation with a 1-0 win at home to Shotts Bon Accord.
Substitute Martin McVey’s late goal gave Thistle the victory and keeps them in contention to stay up with only a few games left in the season.
The opening stages saw a lot of midfield play, mainly from Shotts however the final ball was poor from both sides.
After thirty two minutes Shotts created the best chance of the game so far. Ex East Kilbride Thistle player Colin Williamson jinked around his marker and his left footed cross found unmarked Mark Sideserf unmarked in the box however his glancing header was just wide.
Thistle’s best chance of the first half came after thirty eight minutes when Graeme Dempsey’s cross found Steven Chaplain however his header under pressure looped over the bar.
Thistle started the second half the better side and Dempsey’s dangerous in-swinging corner found Liam Sloan sliding in at the back post however his show was just wide. Shotts thought they had a claim for a penalty after a melee in the Thistle area. The referee waved away protests as Stefan McCluskey fired his shot into the crowd.
Gary McStay missed a chance to put Shotts ahead when he screwed his effort wide from a Brian Jack corner.
Shotts turned up the pressure looking for the opening goal and created some dangerous chances. Substitute Paul Finnegan’s shot from the edge of the box looked to be in however it flew just wide of the post. McCluskey’s powerful shot could only be palmed by Ryan Mailey in the Thistle goal however he managed to collect the ball at the second attempt.
Thistle nearly made Shotts pay for their missed chances as Michael Smith’s chip after a Dempsey corner found Anton Conway in the middle however his downward header was not powerful enough to trouble the keeper.
With fifteen minutes to go Thistle found the breakthrough.
Ally Morgan intercepted the ball on the halfway line, broke down the left wing and found substitute Martin McVey in the middle with his cross who made no mistake from four yards out to make it 1-0 Thistle.
Tony Fleming had a chance to equalise for Shotts after he managed to meet a long throw with a header however his effort was just wide.
Thistle thought they had made it 2-0 when a long ball from midfield was nodded on by Morgan onto Dallas who thought he had scored however the keeper did well to tip the ball wide to keep the score at 1-0. Thistle managed to hold on and pick an important three points in their battle for survival in the Stagecoach Super League first division.
Team - Mailey, Sloan, Morgan, Conway, Daly, Smith (McLaughlin 85), McDonald, Bain (Kelly 61), Dallas, Dempsey, Chaplain (McVey 65).
Subs not used: Gorman, Bonnar, McMillan, Harkin
Goals: McVey (75)
Yellow Cards: Daly, Dempsey
