A Ronnie Kenneth header sent Thistle home frustrated and empty handed as the visitors tempers boiled over at The Canniepairt.

A Ferguson free kick from deep after 65 minutes was played back across goal by McNaughton and Kenneth showed typical predator instinct to net from close range with goalkeeper Wood stranded.

Boss Willie Garner, although surely pleased with the result, will be wondering why his side failed to win a, game they dominated from start to finish with more conviction.

Garner was handed some good news prior to kick off - Stuart Ferguson declared himself fit to play, and Adam O'Connor and Derek Wemyss both took a place on the bench after lengthy absences.

Tayport created the first chance of the game after 10 minutes, but despite rising well above his marker, Scott Hunter couldn't keep his header below the crossbar after Darren Scott's corner had picked him out.

Barry McNaughton was next to try his luck, again Scott the provider, but despite doing well to control his volley, Wood saved comfortably. Scott appeared to be enjoying the freedom Armadale were allowing him, and after breaking through the offside trap, he might feel he could have done better when his square ball found no red jerseys in the box.

Despite having the lion's share of possession, Tayport found their opponents resilient, and nearly paid the price for missed chances just before half time. Mauchline found himself with time and space 12 yards from goal, but Fitzpatrick was equal to his effort, parrying the ball to safety.

The game was turned on it's head on the hour mark when 'Dale's Johnstone was sent off after picking up two yellow cards - both being for dissent. The midfielder will no doubt be disappointed in himself after being spoken to by the referee numerous times in between the cautions re his persistent criticism of decisions.

Tayport continued to control the game without making too many clear cut chances, but that changed minutes after the red card when Kenneth grabbed his first goal of the season.

The majority of action however was saved for the final few minutes of the game. First Kenneth latched onto a Ferguson through ball and there were screams for a penalty when he was felled as he pulled the trigger. Referee Duncan however decided rightly the foul had taken place outside the area, and McNaughton's well placed free kick did not have enough power to beat the visiting 'keeper.

Armadale's frustration from chasing shadows was evident, and despite winning a foul in a promising position, Cunningham was then shown his second yellow card of the game for kicking out at Joe Pepper (who came on minutes earlier after fellow substitute Gray had to be carried off) and McCulloch followed him into the showers for protesting the decision too strongly.

A good win for Tayport; missing players such as Morris, Paterson, Nicoll, Elvin and Webster. A worry however will be the injuries sustained to Gray and Scott with only one of the aforementioned absentees set to return for next week's trip to Penicuik.