McBookie Super League First Division

TROON 0

LARGS THISTLE 2

By Calum Corral

IT was fourth versus fifth in the Super First Division as visitors Largs secured a convincing win on a bitterly cold afternoon at Portland Park.

Two first half goals put Largs into the ascendancy, and they were unfortunate not to win by a bigger margin.

Troon never really got going until late in the game, but it was Thistle who impressed from the off.

The match started at a frenetic pace with Alex McWaters and Kevin Struthers going close with early openings for the visitors, while Troon defender Dean Keenan put his own keeper in trouble with a long range back pass in the wind but Ally McInnes managed to clear the ball.

The home side had a good opening with Danny McKay's dangerous run and cross from the right flashing across the face of the Largs goal with no takers.

However it was Largs who took the lead on 15 minutes and following a good ball through, it was terrific pace and guile from recent signing John Carter who challenged the keeper in an aerial duel and won the header. The big striker had the simple job of tapping the ball into an empty net.

The second goal for Largs followed in 22 minutes and it came about after a great run by former Morton man Alex McWaters down the left wing, cutting into the box, and slotted a diagonal shot into the bottom right hand corner.

Thistle keeper Blair Cousar made some comfortable saves from Ross Barbour and Dylan Pooler, while at the other end, the industrious Ryan McKie had a good effort on goal which was blocked.

At the start of the second half, Carter had another good chance and his effort was straight at McInnes.

With McWaters and Carter's pace down both channels, it was causing Troon all sorts of problems, and Largs went close again with Graham Muir narrowly missing contact after some heading tennis in the box.

Thistle's Nicky Jamieson had a free header from a corner which he launched over the bar on 63 minutes.

Troon were trying to get back into the game and were starting to engineer some good chances in the final 25 minutes with sub Mark Curragh bringing out the best in Largs keeper Blair Cousar with a snapshot from five yards out on the right which was acrobatically palmed clear.

Cousar then kicked the ball away from McKay as he attempted to venture forward to a high ball in the box as the home side kept the pressure up, but the Largs defence were working their socks off to restrict Troon at all costs.

An inswinging corner saw Andy Strachan's header from eight yards out come thumping off the Largs crossbar, and with time running out for the home side, Evan Maley curled an effort around Thistle's left post.

In stoppage time. Troon's Steven McCreadie lost the plot after a challenge from Thistle forward Kevin Struthers, leading to the Troon player lashing out and having to be restrained by his own players as he saw a straight red card.

It was an unsavoury end for Troon but for Largs it was a thoroughly accomplished performance from start to finish. It was too little too late from Troon who didn't start causing the visitors problems until the final stages of this encounter.

TROON: McInnes, Barbour, Sherrie, Stratchan, Collins, McCreadie, Maley, Keenan, McKay, Chatham, Pooler. Subs: Syme, Curragh, Murphy. Clark, McCrea

LARGS THISTLE: Cousar; Orr, McVey, Little, Jamieson, McWaters, Muir, Struthers, Carter, McKie. Subs: Fisher, Trialist, Grayston, Gilbride, Davidson.

Calum Corral

Reporter

Largs Weekly News

Clyde and Forth Press