Larkhall Thistle v Dukla Pumpherston

Thistle lost an entertaining game against Dukla Pumpherston 5-4, the winner coming with the last kick of the ball.

 

The Jags team had old favourites like Davy McEwan in goals, Stewart Thomson and Alan “Cheesy” Watson as well as a last 20 minutes cameo appearance from true Thistle scoring legend, 68 year old Alastair Duff who unfortunately didn’t get the goal he was hoping for.

 

Dukla’s team was made up of ex-pros and celebrities like Peter Martin from Peter and Roughie’s football phone in who showed a deft touch and looked like he had been a bit of a player.

 

The Edwina McPhee memorial trophy was presented to Dukla by Levi’s daughter Chloe, Dukla will retain it for a year then it will be played for annually by the local primary schools.

 

 

Electric Bar 2 Larkhall Thistle 3, Saturday 25th July 2015

Conditions for this game were horrendous, heavy and sometimes monsoon-like rain from start to finish very much affected the play. The final score was 3-2 to Thistle with goals from David Reid and two from Graham Gracie, his second an exquisite chip from the edge of the box.

Credit to both sets of players for what turned out to be an entertaining game.

Thistle v Bellshill – Match off

Thistle’s game with league leaders Bellshill has been called off due to the weather.

The friendly with Pollok which was pencilled in as a possible replacement has also been postponed.

Next fixture is Wishaw away on Saturday, kick off 2:00pm.

 

Friendly result – Larkhall Thistle 4 Petershill 3

The Jags got a great result yesterday with a win in the friendly against the highest placed Central team in the juniors at the moment.

Graham Gracie opened the scoring in the first minute with a great goal but Petershill pulled a goal back to send the teams in level at the interval. Second half goals for Neil Schoneville, David Reid and Matty Clarke tied the game up for Thistle.

 

Saturday’s game

Should Saturday’s home game against Vale of Clyde be cancelled due to the weather, the club have arranged a friendly against Petershill on the 3G pitch at Braidhurst High School, Dalriada Crescent, Motherwell, kick off 3:00pm.
Directions to the school: Go past Motherwell train station heading towards Forgewood/Bellshill, the school is on the right hand side after the level crossing.

 

Friendly – Larkhall Thistle 3 Thorniewood 2

Thistle got a bit of practice in with this friendly at Dalziel Park against Thorniewood and more than matched their higher league opponents with a good win. Graham Gracie and Alan Colquhoun were fit to play and David McPhee slotted in well in the right back position, getting the third and decisive goal as it turned out.

Ex-Thistle players Alan Fleming and Joe Doyle were the centre half pairing for Thorniewood.

Next game is on Saturday at home to Lesmahagow, weather permitting of course.

 

Larkhall Thistle 5 Partick Thistle Select 1

Thistle had a bye in the New Coins Cup so they took on the young lads of Partick in a friendly and ran out convincing winners. The visitors had a couple of highly promising looking players but Larkhall’s physical presence played a big part in the end. Thistle took an early lead when Mark McKeever was presented with the ball right in front of goal and picked his spot then Ryan Innes made it 2-0 at half time when he swept in a knock down from Mark Canning.

After the break Canning got on the score sheet himself with a pot shot when the ball dropped to him at the edge of the box and he stuck it in the top corner. Graham Gracie set up Scott Nichol for the fourth with an unselfish ball after a great run down the left before wrapping up the scoring himself with a side foot across the keeper into the bottom corner.

Partick to their great credit never stopped plugging away and got a consolation with almost the last kick of the ball with a tidy finish round Jags keeper McAlpine after a good through ball.

Larkhall Thistle starting team:
McAlpine; Reynolds, Brown, Marshall, McPhee; Innes, Pirlo, Canning, Cooke; McKeever, McGeachie. Subs (all used at half-time): Gracie, Reid, Jack, Reynolds

(No photos this week due to the censors banning the shocking Partick Thistle strip)

Electric Bar 2 Larkhall Thistle 2

Thistle drew with a good well organised Electric Bar side who play in the Central Amateur League on the plastic at Dalziel Park. It was a chance to look at some players and try out formations but the Jags had to come from 2-0 down to grab a draw, Mark Canning (penalty) and Matty Clarke with a mazy dribble getting the goals.

 

Darvel v Larkhall Thistle Wed. 30th.July

Thistle looked like they were going to be blown away on their return to Darvel, with the Ayrshire side well in command in the early stages. The Jags fought back well though, click below to read Hugh’s full report of the game.

See full match report of Darvel v Larkhall Thistle here