We will now face Port Glasgow at home due to our original fixture Wishaw away being postponed due to the delayed Scottish tie Wishaw v Culter.
Month: September 2019
Kennoway Star Hearts 0 Larkhall Thistle 1
This was the first time these two clubs had met in what was an unusual experience with the team coach unable to get to the park itself due to the road which was no more than a farm track plus there was no way a coach could turn at the ground but the home club had mini bus to take our gear up to the ground and also ferry any supporters unable to walk the distance.
Thistle had been troubled with a sickness virus earlier in the week with even Monday’s training cancelled.
The visiting supporters were shocked when they realised that the front pairing of Graham Gracie and Jack Currie were both missing due to a calf injury and the sickness virus. Billy Wilson and Aiden McMurray were also not fit to take part.
Thistle lost the toss and were set literally an uphill task on a park where the grass was long and had one of the biggest gradients I have ever seen. Thistle started well with Taylor Scott and Shaun Gallagher upfront and Shaun had an early chance but it came to nothing. Although playing up the slope Thistle were coping well but David Cherrie came to their rescue with a couple of fine stops at the expense of corners. With 30 minutes on the clock Thistle took the lead when Kyle Stewart curled a right footed cross into the top corner leaving the keeper helpless. The home team came back at their opponents and there was loud appeals for the equaliser when the combined efforts of David Cherrie and Adam Boyle cleared the ball off the line but with no assistants the referee was in no position to make a judgement.
Half Time 0-1
Kennoway came out strongly in the second and were soon on the offensive without really troubling David Cherrie and his defenders. The game was developing into a dour battle with Thistle determined not to lose their advantage and both Shaun Gallagher and Taylor Scott both missing chances to consolidate their lead.
David Cherrie had another couple of fine stops but Thistle held on for a hard fought win.
Team ; Cherrie, Fraser, Boyle , Stewart, Dawson, Brunton ,O’Hagan (Cuthbertson) , Grenfell , Bartez ,(Dickson ) Scott (Cowan) Gallagher.
Subs, not used ; Cooper , Chiedu
The players once again gave their all and dug in to win in ugly fashion and await to see who is up next after the draw for the third round on the 7th. October
Larkhall Thistle 6 Maryhill 1 – 21st September 2019
Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Maryhill
McBookie.com West Region
Thistle’s topsy turvy season continued today in the Indian summer heat as they followed up last week’s five goal defeat with a five goal win.
Larkhall abandoned their normal game plan of losing an early goal and instead took the lead themselves in the second minute, Michael Brunton’s throw landing perfectly for Warren Grenfell who smashed into roof of the net from six yards.
With 10 minutes on the clock Jags young keeper Ryan Cooper got down brilliantly to tip round the post and prevent a certain goal, Thistle replied from the breakaway, Gracie played great long ball down the left for Currie who cut back to Grenfell but his shot was saved. A minute later Larkhall looked to have scored but the Maryhill keeper produced a tremendous save to push the ball over the bar.
Thistle went two up in the 18th minute from another throw in, this time Currie found himself in plenty of space in the box and smashed the ball low into the corner.
However after the goal Thistle switched off and Maryhill took advantage to get back into the game with a goal that was poor from a defensive point of view as the home defence failed to clear and allowed the Hill forward to dance through and pick his spot low in the corner.
Graham Gracie looked like he needed a goal to get himself going and nearly found one after 34 minutes when he went clear but the keeper managed to get a hand on the ball and fortunately for him it bobbled just short of the goal line.
Thistle added to the lead four minutes from half time, Gracie played a one-two with Dylan O’Hagan and picked up the return just outside the box, he drove in and hit a low shot past the keeper who looked to have got something on it but couldn’t prevent it going in.
Half time: Larkhall Thistle 3 Maryhill 1
Three minutes after the restart Jack Currie linked up with Bartek and hit the byeline, his cut back unfortunately had no takers. On the hour mark the ball dropped to Gracie who tried to chip the keeper but he back-pedalled enough to make the save.
Thistle only had to wait another minute for the goal that sealed the win, O’Hagan and Grenfell set up Currie for a run on goal, he drove in then checked back and sold the two defenders with a feint before squaring the ball for Gracie to claim an easy goal at the back post.
Maryhill’s last meaningful attack came in the 76th minute and after a frantic goalmouth scramble Brunton cleared off the line then Cooper had to produce another wonder save to keep the ball out of the top corner. The ball broke upfield to Currie who drove on and played it wide to Brunton, he slipped it across the face of the goal for Gracie to score his third.
Thistle had chances to make it six through Brunton and a decent dipping long range effort from Bartek before Currie ran in unchallenged past a defence that had looked to have chucked it by this point to slot the ball past the keeper to round off the scoring.
A good all round performance that took Larkhall above Maryhill on goal difference and back into the top half of the table but it was difficult to tell how much of it was down to Thistle being really good or Maryhill being really bad.
Top displays today from Stewart at centre half, Grenfell in the middle of the park and Currie who led the line brilliantly all day.
Full time: Larkhall Thistle 6 Maryhill 1
Larkhall Thistle: Cooper; Fraser (Chierdu 72), Doyle, Stewart, Dawson (Dickson 67); Brunton, Bartek, Grenfell, O’Hagan (Cuthbertson 62); Gracie, Currie
Maryhill: Black, Crawley, Beckley, McKenzie, McGinty, Naismith, Easdon, Gilchrist, Dobbs, Ashe, Stevenson. Subs Skinner, McNeil, Bolard, Edgar
Ardrossan Winton Rovers 5 Larkhall Thistle 0
Thistle travelled to a blustery and windy Winton Park with new signings Dom . Chiedu and Kyle Stewart in the pool. However Ben Fraser and Bartek were still unavailable due to injuries with Scott Taylor , Warren Grenfell and Graham Gracie having late fitness tests.
Ardrossan won the toss and set Thistle to face the very strong wind . Thistle started well had early control of the game with the two defensive debutants looking confident in the early part of the game. A Graham Gracie through ball just failed to put Jack Currie through on goal but minutes later the first goal was lost when the defence failed to clear a free kick and Rovers went ahead. At this point it must be said the home team didn’t deserve to be ahead but once again we failed to take our chances on at least four occasions what were very much scoreable opportunities and paid the price when we gave away a penalty after yet another defensive error with the keeper eventually pushing the Winton forward who netted the resultant penalty with 42 minutes. Worse was to follow in the 46th. minute when from yet another free kick we lost the 3rd.goal so we went in at half time 3-0 down.
Quite honestly the second half was not much different apart from the fact that we didn’t create anything in an attacking sense but lost another two goals again not from open play as such with one from very poor marking from a free kick and yet another penalty kick.
So on to Maryhill at home next week and instead of feeling sorry for ourselves it should be sleeves up and get back to the team we were with performances against the Vics, Lanark and the Gow.
Team ; Cherrie , Chiedu, Boyle , Stewart , Scott ,(Brunton) Gallagher Cuthbertson), Wilson, Grenfell , McAlembey,(Cowan) ,Currie, Gracie
Subs. not used ; Dawson, Dickson
Transfer News
As promised further signing news with the transfer of defender Domonik Chieu from Carluke Rovers . Dom started his football career in the Youth set up at Werder Bremen before playing in the third tier of German Football. Welcome aboard Dom from everyone at Larkhall Thistle.
Transfer News
Manager Brian Crawford has been active in the transfer market recruiting defender Kyle Stewart from Petershill. Kyle also played with Vale of Clyde and Fauldhouse United.
We expect to announce further transfer news later today.
Larkhall Thistle 0 Bellshill Athletic 2 – 7th September 2019
Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Bellshill Athletic
McBookie.com West Region – League One
Thistle went into today’s game looking to leapfrog Bellshill and keep in touch with the leaders, as it was this second successive home defeat left the Jags in the bottom half of the table while Bellshill climbed into second place.
Once again Larkhall got off to the worst possible start, losing a goal in just four minutes. Craig Dickson, playing at left back instead of his usual position at centre half, got nutmegged and beaten for pace and the winger whipped in a cross along the deck that Cowan could only direct into his own net as he tried to prevent a tap in for his opponent.
Thistle quickly got back into the game though and had the upper hand for most of the rest of the half. Taylor Scott was first to go close with a nice one-two and fierce drive that the Bellshill keeper did well to tip over the bar.
Jack Currie was next to try and level in the 18th minute with a shot that had to be blocked desperately on the line, the ball rebounded to Graham Gracie who hit it on the volley but his attempt went well over the bar.
The Bellshill keeper had a good half and produced a few decent saves as Thistle tried and failed to make the breakthrough.
Half time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Bellshill Athletic 1
The second half carried on much where the first left off with Larkhall playing reasonably well and creating chances but coming up against a packed Bellshill defence that cleared and blocked and headed away everything the Jags could throw at them.
After good pressure on the hour mark, Jack Currie did well to create some space with the usual three defenders round him and laid the ball back to Warren Grenfell on the edge of the box but he shot high over the bar, a familiar story by now in the game.
Bellshill doubled the lead three minutes later in bizarre circumstances, a corner on the right was headed straight into his own goal by Scott, the second og of the game.
Thistle continued to press and to try and get something back but it was Bellshill who came the closest to scoring, Aiden McMurray misplaced a pass that allowed the Bellshill forward in on goal and his attempt to squeeze the ball in at the near post was only just tipped round by Cherry.
As the game drew to a close Thistle had a claim for a penalty turned down for a handball in a goalmouth scramble but it would have been a harsh decision to give it. Gracie then set up McAlemby but his netbound shot was deflected over the bar and the last attempt of the game saw Currie head wide from a free kick into the box.
The noise levels that carried halfway up Watson Street after the game indicated that the manager wasn’t best pleased with the performance although in fairness Thistle will win games this season playing worse than that. Credit must be given to the Bellshill defence who were all excellent.
Full time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Bellshill Athletic 2
Larkhall Thistle:
Cherry; Cowan (Cuthbertson 72), McMurray, Boyle, Dickson; Gallagher, B Wilson (McAlemby 65), Grenfell, Scott (Brunton 65), Gracie, Currie