The game kicked off with Airdrie taking control of the match early on and creating a few clear cut chances but failing to capitalise. The heavy conditions made it hard for Sparta's neat passing game, on the other hand suited the long ball approach from Airdrie. This long ball tactic finally paid off when a cross was whipped in from the left hand side and the tall striker rose to beat Sparta's defender Peter Condron to nod the ball home from six yards to give Airdrie the lead. The first half ended with Sparta enjoying more of the possession and nearly drawing level when Sparta midfielder Ross Ferguson played an inch perfect pass through the heart of the Airdrie defence which striker David Anderson latched onto but failed to level the tie.

The second half started as brightly as the first half ended, but Airdrie started to take control of the game and didn't take long to add to their 1-0 lead with a carbon copy of the 1st goal. This time it was a long throw in from the touch line which was flicked on at the near post and headed into a gaping net to make it 2-0 Airdrie.

Thistle looked dead and buried and Airdrie looked as if they had wrapped up the tie with another headed goal. Their number 9 found space in the penalty area and headed a corner past the helpless Sparta keeper Nicky. This woke Thistle up and they started to get a grip back on the game. They had worked out a remedy for the long ball, and Stevie Walker ate up the aerial threat like a packet of Doritos.

Shortly after Airdrie had extended their lead to three, Thistle got what looked like a consolation when Ruairidh knocked in a scramble in a packed Airdrie penalty area. It was "game on" a few minutes later, when a mazy run from Ruairidh resulted in a great crossfield ball to on-form David Anderson who converted the chance from an acute angle, to make his goal tally 12 goals from 5 games.

In the last ten minutes Airdrie were hanging on and trying desperately to hold on to the one goal lead. Thistle were then awarded a penalty when Ruairidh put through substitute debutant Kevin. He raced clear of the Airdrie defence and as he rounded the keeper he was brought down inside the penalty area. With no hesitation the referee awarded a penalty. On-form striker David Anderson had the chance to level the tie, full of confidence he started his run up to the ball and to the disappointment of the Sparta team, his spot kick was brilliantly saved by the Airdrie stopper and the score remained 3-2. The referee had seen enough and drew the match to a close. Thistle felt hard done by as they thought a share of the spoils was a fairer reflection on the game, but that is the way football goes.