Month: May 2018

Larkhall Thistle 0 Troon 7 – 27th May 2018

On: By: ian

Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Troon
McBookie.com Super First Division

 

Thistle’s last game of the season was also the last game for the management team of Dunky Sinclair, Tam McLaughlin and Jamie Sandilands. In marked contrast to last season’s epic encounter with St Roch’s there was nothing to play for today for the Jags although Troon were still chasing a promotion place via the playoffs.

 

Thistle got off to a good start attacking the old club end and nearly took the lead after just five minutes, Gary McStay rolled the ball from a corner to Billy Robb and his first-time shot brought out a great save from the Troon keeper. Mark Canning had featured prominently in the opening stages and sent a good effort wide of the post three minutes later.

 

 

It looked like the old stagers of Canning, McKeever and Gary McStay might have a final fling, they were all playing well but after 16 minutes it all turned sour as Troon took the lead with their first real attacking move of the game. Good play down the right then a ball into the box that the No.10 slid in unchallenged to meet and send high into the net.

 

Three more quickfire goals before the break put the game beyond doubt. Declan Doyle was outmanouevered on the left and the cross left an easy tap in from two yards for the second. The third came from the same position but the Troon No.11 in fairness did brillianly to twist and turn and get his cross in that left a free header right in front of goal.

 

The fourth came down the right, again a shot in that Johnny Duncan could only block and the follow up was slammed into the roof of the net.

 

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Troon 4

 

Dunky made his final throw of the dice as manager with a triple half time substitution; Johnny McStay, Ryan Innes and Josh Payne for McKeever, Robb and Doyle but any thoughts that Thistle could get back into the game disappeared as early as the second minute of the half when Troon got their fifth from an unchallenged shot inside the box.

 

The only time Thistle threatened the visitors goal came 10 minutes into the second half, Gary McStay did well down the right wing, beating the left back and getting a cross in to Johnny McStay who hit a good volley just past the post.

 

Troon made it 6-0 with 20 minutes still left to go and thoughts of double figures must have crossed minds of players and supporters of both sides. As it was they settled for just one more three minutes from time to complete what was the most embarrassing result in many people’s memory.

 

Good luck to Sinky, Tam and Jamie and thanks for all your efforts, nobody will forget the double header with St Roch’s last season. Good luck also to those players who played their last games today and again thanks for all the good work.

 

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Troon 7

 

Larkhall Thistle:
Duncan; Doyle (Payne 45), Brown, Mushett, Reynolds; McKeever, Canning (Innes 45), Jack, Robb (J McStay 45), Reid; G McStay. Subs: Clarke, Kelly

 

Scorers:

 

Booked: Robb

 

Club Statement

On: By: hugh

Larkhall Thistle deeply regret having to announce that our management team of manager Duncan Sinclair, Assistant, Tam McLaughlin and coach Jamie Sandilands will be leaving the club after Saturday’s last home game Against Troon.

Larkhall Thistle would like to put on record their appreciation for Sinky’s, Tam’s and Jamie’s hard work, commitment and successes during the past eight years.

These guys will always be welcome at Gasworks Park.

 

Larkhall Thistle is now inviting applications for the vacant manager’s position.

Contact Hugh Kerr on [email protected] or phone 07746875347

 

President Chris Lenson on 07463127010

Saturday 19th. May Kello Rovers v Larkhall Thistle

On: By: hugh

Thistle arrived a Kirkconnell with a much depleted squad and only had 10 outfield players including young Tommy Kidd from the U19s. with the bench comprising of Lewis Melvin u19s keeper and Tam Mclaughlin and Jamie Sandilands from the coaching staff.

Kello started strongly as the Jags got to grips with the strange formation and the defence had their work cut out in the early stages keeping Kello at bay. It was no surprise when the home team took the lead scoring with a header from close in. Thistle were struggling to put any real pressure on the home defence because quite frankly just about every time we played the ball forward up went the assistants flag for offside . There must have been at least a dozen offsides against us as half time approached.

Half Time Kello 1 Larkhall Thistle 0

Thistle came out for the second half in determined fashion and it was no surprise when Div.Reid equalised from close in. Thistle now had their tails up and the Kello defence was struggling with the strong running of Div. Reid . Thistle took the lead when Div. cut in from the right and shot across the keeper into the far corner. At this point Kello were struggling to cope with a Thistle team in the showing a lot of character and no shortage of skill. The home team thought they had equalised but the goal was chalked off due to some pushing in the penalty box.

Thistle then shocked the home team with a third goal Niall Reynolds latching on to tremendous Andy Brown through ball rounding the keeper and slotting the ball home.. Kello pulled one back with 5 minutes remaining but Thistle held on Quite comfortably for a really good win.

The 11 guys on the pitch gave 110% with young Thomas Kidd having a tremendous game with Div. without a doubt having one of his finest games in the jersey but everyone more than did their bit on what was a warm afternoon.

 

Team, Duncan, Robb, Brown, Mushet, Kidd, Reynolds, Doyle Canning , Jack, G. McStay  , Reid

 

Final game this Saturday home to Troon who can still gain promotion.

Wednesday 16th.May Cumbernauld United v Larkhall Thistle

On: By: hugh

Thistle arrived at Guys Meadow with 15 players to select from with Ryan Innes and Billy Robb suspended and Mark McKeever in the U.S.A. due to work commitments and Stuart Thomson out injured after Saturday’s game at Rossvale.

On a very  bumpy and dry  pitch both teams took time to settle with very little goalmouth action in the early stages. The home gradually began to get the upper hand and then scored two goals within the space of a minute in the 29th. and 30th. minutes both scored by David Dickson. This stung Thistle into action and Jonny McStay went close. Graham Gracie then worked himself into a clear goals coring position but somehow  with only the keeper to beat he shot across the keeper and past the post.

Half time Cumbernauld 2 – Larkhall Thistle 0

Thistle came out in the second half and immediately went on the offensive to try and get back into the game and after 58 minutes they pulled a goal back when Brian Jack volleyed home from the edge of the box giving the home keeper no chance. This goal encouraged the Jags to push on and Liam Mushet just failed to connect with a Josh  Payne corner. Div. Reid then replaced Matty Clarke and Jonny Mcstay should have netted from a Div cross but failing to connect from inside the 6 yard area. At this stage very little was happening from the home team as an attacking force .Gary McStay then replaced Jonny McStay but try as they might Thistle just could not get the equaliser with Cumbernauld winning 2-1 and still have slight chance of picking up one of the two play off spots.

Team; Duncan, Brown,  Mushet , Reynolds, Payne, Jack, Kelly, Canning, Clarke(Reid) Gracie , J. McStay (G.McStay)

Rossvale 4 Larkhall Thistle 0 – 12th May 2018

On: By: ian

Huntershill Village Hub, Bishopbriggs
Rossvale v Larkhall Thistle
Central League Cup

 

Thistle made their first visit to the new Rossvale park at Huntershill Village Hub, a council run facility where health and safety is the top priority. For some bizarre reason supporters are confined to one half of one side of the park but in fairness to the council everybody went home safely.

 

 

With only 11 fit first team players the Jags were up against it from the start but Matty Clarke had a chance to put them up after just four minutes when he was sent clear by David Reid but he wanted too much time and his shot across the keeper was saved.

 

Rossvale came back right away with a move down the left, the cross was met in the middle but the finish was blazed high over the bar. Jags keeper Stewart Thomson went down off the ball and it was obvious right away he was going to have to go off and be replaced by Johnny Duncan.

 

Rossvale settled down quickly and had the upper hand for the rest of the game as Thistle limped out tamely from the last competition of the season in what is probably the final season for the Central League Cup.

 

Rossvale had a couple of decent efforts before the first goal came for them after 28 minutes but it came from a corner for Thistle that was cleared over the top, leaving Niall Reynolds with no chance of catching the flying winger who crossed for the striker to take a touch and settle himself before slotting in.

 

Larkhall hit back right away, Gary McStay setting Graham Gracie up for a good shot that might have brought an equalser but was straight at the keeper. Reynolds kept Thistle in the game with a goal-line clearance a minute later but the reprieve was not to last for long. The Rossvale captain and best player easily stepped past Clarke before taking the ball on and hitting a shot that Duncan might have expected to do better with albeit it might have taken a bit of a deflection.

 

Even at half time it looked obvious that the game was done and there was going to be no way back.

 

Half time: Rossvale 2 Larkhall Thistle 0

 

After a quiet opening 15 minutes Thistle might have given themselves a chance with what turned out to be their last real attempt of the game. Gracie took a quick throw on the right to McStay who rolled the ball inside to Jack, he played it out to the left to Reid and his shot brought out a good save down low.

 

Things went from bad to worse as Gary McStay was booked then shown a second yellow for backchat, poor stuff when the backs were against the wall on a hot day and Gracie did his best to join him with a senseless barge into a Rossvale player’s back that he was lucky just to be booked for.

 

It was the end of any resistance from Thistle with the only question now was how many. The answer was another two that were both shambolic from a defensive point of view, the fourth coming five minutes from time when Thistle were down to nine men after Josh Payne had also been sent off.

 

A real low today after last week’s great effort at Irvine, hopefully the final three games will give the team a chance to get a few more league points on the board.

 

Finally congratulations to our neighbours Royal Albert who were confirmed as the Second Division champions today.

 

Full time: Rossvale 4 Larkhall Thistle 0

 

Larkhall Thistle:
Thonson (Duncan 11); Doyle (Cuthbertson 57), Brown, Reynolds; Kelly; Payne, Clarke, Jack, Reid; Gracie, G McStay

 

Sent off: G McStay, Payne

 

 

Fixtures update

On: By: hugh

La test fixtures

Saturday 12th. May Rossvale away Central League Cup 2pm K.O.

Wednesday 16th. May Cumbernauld United League K.O. 7.15pm.

Saturday      19th. May Kello Rovers League K.O. 2pm.

 

One home league fixture outstanding Troon Juniors no date yet.

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Irvine Meadow 2 Larkhall Thistle 1 – 5th May 2018

On: By: ian

Meadow Park, Irvine
Irvine Meadow v Larkhall Thistle
McBookie.com Super First Division

 

The phrase threadbare squad is often overused in senior football but Thistle arrived at Irvine with eleven fit players, a struggling Graham Gracie and a trialist. First team regulars Thomson, Brown, Payne, Canning and Innes along with Declan Doyle were all unavailable.

 

When Meadow took the lead in the 5th minute it looked like it was going to be a long day and that Thistle might be on the wrong end of a few goals. The ball was played in from the right by McLennan to Carnwath who was standing unmarked on the edge of box and swept it into the corner past a stranded Johnny Duncan.

 

 

Mark McKeever was the first to get a shot away for Larkhall a couple of minutes later, cutting back on the right side of the box before sending his effort over the bar. Irvine replied through McGuire who was given far too much space as he waltzed through and would probably have scored if his shot had been on target.

 

Thistle started dominating play around the 20 minute mark with a lot of good possession football and were on top for most of the rest of the half. They were finding it harder however to turn their superiority into goals but had a great chance after half an hour when Brian Jack pounced on a slip from a defender to claim the ball with a clear sight of goal. Jacko had a pass on but decided to try his luck but didn’t trouble Newman in the home goal with his shot.

 

Johnny McStay then had a couple of good attempts that both nearly produced a goal, firstly Mark McKeever took a quick throw and McStay turned quickly and shot, bringing a save from Newman down low at his near post for a corner. David Reid took it and Liam Mushett almost got his head to it as he dived in, just being beaten to the ball by a last gasp challenge.

 

The McStays combined just before the break, Gary putting in a good cross from the right that again a defender had to lunge at to stop Johnny forcing over the line.

 

Half time: Irvine Meadow 1 Larkhall Thistle 0

 

Thistle started the second half like they finished the first, on top and searching for the equaliser. Mushett had the first opportunity but sent his shot way over the bar but the Jags suffered a big blow minutes later when Johnny McStay saw a straight red. He squared up to an Irvine player off the ball, the referee was clearly heard telling both to break it up but McStay got sent off and the home played went unpunished, reportedly the offence was something McStay had said to the referee.

 

Meadow came into the game for a spell after the sending off, a couple of decent balls down the right channel nearly led to goals but Thistle showed they weren’t out of it yet with a tremendous Reid drive from distance bringing out a save from the keeper.

 

Thistle were drawing on all their fighting qualities and team spirit and battled brilliantly to try and get level and they did so in 75 minutes. Gary McStay had given it everything after working a shift in the morning before the game and was replaced by Graham Gracie who made an immediate impact with his strong running that the home defence didn’t fancy at all. He got his reward just six minutes after coming on when he ran on to a ball and lobbed the stranded keeper, not the easiest of finishes but his lob was hit to perfection.

 

Five minutes from time Meadow looked like they would snatch the win when Reid was robbed just inside his own box resulting in a poke that cleared the bar and it looked at that point the game was heading for a draw.

 

The referee’s performance would have pleased the home fans more than the away ones to put it mildly, and he had a final say as the game went into the second minute of added time, awarding a soft free kick twenty yards out. Substitute Darren Miller stepped up and smashed the ball straight through the wall into the roof of the net as the whole of the Meadow contingent went crazy.

 

Billy Robb was sent off after the final whistle as he lost his discipline and took out his frustration on the referee.

 

Given the circumstances of having been beaten twice recently by Irvine Meadow, the missing players and the fact that they went down to ten men with almost half a game to go this was possibly Thistle’s best performance of the season and they were desperately unlucky to come away from it without a point.

 

Full time: Irvine Meadow 2 Larkhall Thistle 1

 

Larkhall Thistle:
Duncan; Robb, Mushett, Reynolds; Kelly, Jack; McKeever, Clarke, Reid, J McStay, G McStay (Gracie 69). Subs: Trialist

 

Scorer: Gracie

 

Booked:Kelly, McKeever, Clarke, Gracie

 

Sent off: J McStay, Robb

 

Irvine Meadow: Newman, McLennan, Willet, Gow, Begley, Carnwath, Carson, Spence, McTernan, Gemmell, McGuire.