The sending-off was all the more serious for Thistle because, from his deep-lying striker’s position, Ure had given several one-touch layoffs that triggered dangerous attacks from which his teammates could have scored.
Taradale were a well-balanced side whose short-passing game was impressive. Even when both teams had 11 on the field, they enjoyed periods of dominance.
But Thistle’s defence is outstanding for this league. Centreback George Andrew is a class act and goalkeeper Mark Baple is probably the best in the division. Baple’s willingness to spread himself at the feet of onrushing attackers is worth goals a game to Thistle.
Centreback Ander Batarrita steadies any defence he plays in, rightback Jay Matthews shows a football maturity beyond his years, and Czech holidaymaker Kuba Jerabek, here until the end of the season, had a promising premiership debut at leftback.
Sitting just in front of them was central midfielder Max Logan, who was one of Thistle’s best on Saturday.
His speed to the loose ball and his contesting of it, along with his composure on the ball and passing, were invaluable.
Brandon Josling, wide on the left in the first half and on the right in the second, also did good work chasing back to help relieve pressure when Thistle were under the cosh.
McMenamy led the attack well. Hard to shake off the ball, he is also a tiger to get on the end of a pass. Taradale’s defence could never relax when he was around.
That McMenamy was restricted to one goal was largely due to the partnership of double centrebacks Regan Cameron and Sam Skilton. Cameron has the wise old head and Skilton has the wheels. But wise as he is, Cameron still sat out the last five minutes after referee Chris Niven yellow-carded and sinbinned him for dissent.
Goalkeeper Graham Healey has been coming to Gisborne for years and seldom puts a foot wrong. He punched clear when under pressure and spread himself well in one-on-one contests.
In the middle of the pitch, Rudi Bauerfeind ran himself ragged in the Taradale cause and was one of their best. Alongside him, Stephen Flude — a hat-trick scorer last time out — managed to get into the penalty area to send a couple of shots just wide.
Dan Ball was a willing and able target man who could have backed himself more when the opportunity to shoot arose, although he brought an excellent save from Baple, down low to his left, in the 79th minute. Strike partner Matt Single worked hard in the old inside-forward role, and made no mistake when Ball cut the ball back from the right for him to score with a side-foot finish in the 67th.
Thistle coach Garrett Blair was proud of the way his side knuckled down and defended their lead after they went a man down.
Thistle midfielder Matt McVey started the game on the bench as he had been battling illness for a fortnight, but after half an hour Blair brought him on to calm things down in midfield.
“It was a little frantic to begin with,” Blair said.
“With his first few touches, Matt slowed things down, neutralised the threat and helped put us back in the game.”
Taradale coach Ricky Foote said two key players were missing from his side.
Midfielder (and nephew) Baylee Foote and centreback Chris Bruin had late calls to work, but the coach was happy with his side’s effort.
“We create a lot of chances,” he said.
“We try to work the percentages and not rush things. We work hard on the short-passing game and pride ourselves on our football.
“A couple of calls didn’t go our way, and the ball didn’t fall kindly for us today.”
Referee Chris Niven controlled the game well but was hampered by having only one qualified linesman, a situation that would probably not arise if only one Gisborne team were at home each week.
