Author: ian

Larkhall Thistle 0 St Anthony’s 2 – 1st September 2018

On: By: ian

Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v St Anthony’s
Friendly

 

Today’s game was a friendly arranged due to Girvan having cup commitments. St Anthony’s were the bottom placed team in the West and Central Leagues so players and supporters alike were looking for a positive result.

 

The first half finished without a goal and without Larkhall having created a chance of note. The Ants whilst not exactly dominating the game did create several chances and could have taken the lead on a couple of occasions.

 

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 0 St Anthony’s 0

 

The visitors had the ball in the net early in the second half but the striker had made his run too early and was rightly ruled offside but Thistle were creating a couple of decent chances and were on top in the early part of the half.

 

Larkhall made a couple of substitutions on the hour mark but the Ants took the lead with 15 minutes left through a scrambled goal from a corner.

 

Six minutes later it was 2-0 from the penalty spot after the referee had awarded the spot kick for handball, sub keeper Ryan Cooper’s first touch of the ball was to pick it out of the net.

 

Again it was late goals that cost Thistle the game, pointing to a lack of fitness or concentration over the full 90 minutes or both. Again also the passing was well short of what is required and has to be improved.

 

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 0 St Anthony’s 2

 

St Roch’s 9 Larkhall Thistle 2 – 18th August 2018

On: By: ian

James McGrory Park, Glasgow
St Roch’s v Larkhall Thistle
McBookie.com West Region Championship

 

St Roch’s pulled in a good crowd for the anticipated hammering of traditional rivals Thistle, boosted by around 10 travelling supporters.

Thistle suffered an early blow when David Breen limped off with a hamstring injury but took a shock lead in the 17th minute, Mark Cuthbertson nicking in front of the defence to finish from close range.

 

 

The excitement was short lived however as the home side replied with three quick goals in five minutes and another shortly after.

A further goal before half time from a break down the right resulting in a low cross and easy finish summed up the extent of the Jags defensive frailties.

 

Half time St Roch’s 5 Larkhall Thistle 1

 

As they had in the first half, Thistle scored the first goal in the second period after a howler from the home keeper left Bartosz with an empty goal. The home team looked flustered for the first time although the chances of a comeback were slim to say the least but it took until the final quarter of the game for them to add to their lead with a scooped shot.

 

What followed later was an unfair reflection of the play, St Roch’s were better on the day but the margin was more than the young Jags team deserved to lose by. A daft challenge gave the referee no option but to award a penalty for 7-2 but the next goal was farcical, the wide right St Roch’s player being without exaggeration 10 yards offside before cutting the ball back.

 

The last goal was a more modest 2 yards offside but still blatant and though the home fans were desperate for another, they couldn’t manage double figures.

 

Positives for Thistle were thin on the ground but scoring first in both halves and getting two goals for the first time showed there is maybe something there to work with. Speed of thought and quickness on the ball need to improve drastically if the boys are going to make the step up to junior players as well as retaining the ball and not giving it away when not under any pressure.

 

Full time St Roch’s 9 Larkhall Thistle 2

 

Larkhall Thistle:
McGraw; R Adams, D Adams,

Holmes, Beattie, Hazizi (Park 70),

Brunton, Simpson, Bartosz,

Breen not shown (Paterson 10), Cuthbertson.

Subs not shown: Airth, Munn, Cooper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thistle photos 1974 + 1975

On: By: ian

Some great photos of Thistle in the 70s supplied by former Jags legend Arthur Whiteside. Not sure if they’ve been up on the site already but always worth seeing again either way.

Many thanks Arthur

Larkhall Thistle 1 Rossvale 6 – 11th August 2018

On: By: ian

Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Rossvale
McBookie.com West Region Championship

 

Thistle’s third league game of the season saw them go down to another heavy home defeat leaving them at the bottom of the table.
 
The Jags saw a glimmer of light when they pulled a goal back to make it 3-1 but another one before the interval killed off any comeback prospects.
 
Half time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Rossvale
4

 

A decent looking Rossvale side added a further two second half goals to push themselves up into joint third place.
 

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Rossvale
6

 

Larkhall Thistle:
Cooper; Gibb, Kidd, Holmes, J. Adams, R. Adams, Riddoch, Broaton, Bartloz, M. Cuthbertson, Torrance
Subs: Munn, Airth, S. Cuthbertson, Campbell, McMurray

Scorer: Bartloz

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Larkhall Thistle 1 Irvine Victoria 6 – 4th August 2018

On: By: ian

Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Irvine Victoria
McBookie.com West Region Championship

 

Thistle began their league campaign against Irvine Victoria, a team who found themselves in the same situation of having no players, manager or money going forward into the new season.

 

The first half showed a marked improvement in the young Jags team as they saw out the half on level terms with the sides creating a couple of chances each.

 

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Irvine Victoria 0

 

The second half started with Vics doing most of the pressing and they got the breakthrough when the ball broke from a corner and was steered in for the opener. However the game turned on a couple of wild tackles from Ross Adams in a five minute spell resulting in Thistle being reduced to ten men.

 

Having just about held their own and stayed in the game at 11 v 11, the extra man proved too much and the Jags collapsed with Irvine tearing the defence apart almost at will. Vics scored again straight after the sending off with a free kick that took a horrible bobble when the keeper looked to have it covered but three more goals in a five minute spell tied it up. Thistle pulled one back from the penalty spot but lost the six almost straight from the restart.

 

With Irvine Victoria as one of the teams potentially competing at the foot of the table for survival, this is a benchmark of the improvement that will be needed to stay in the league.

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Irvine Victoria 6

 

Larkhall Thistle:
Cooper; Gibb, Kidd, Holmes, J. Adams, R. Adams, Riddoch, Broaton, Bartloz, M. Cuthbertson, Torrance
Subs: Munn, Airth, S. Cuthbertson, Campbell, McMurray

Scorer: Bartloz

Rutherglen Glencairn 9 Larkhall Thistle 0 – 28th July 2018

On: By: ian

New Southcroft Park, Rutherglen
Rutherglen Glencairn v Larkhall Thistle
Sectional League Cup

 

Thistle’s first competitive game under the new management provided a look at what might be expected in the coming season and the early signs are it’s going to be an uphill struggle. Glencairn were four up inside 18 minutes and the signs were that it was only going to get worse but to their credit the young Thistle team steadied the ship and saw out the rest of the half on more or less even terms, albeit with the keeper pulling off a couple of very good saves.

 

Half time: Rutherglen Glencairn 4 Larkhall Thistle 0

 

Two early second half goals for Glencairn took any sting out what was left of Thistle’s recovery ambitions and for the rest of the game it was damage limitation, three further goals could have been more but for more excellent work from the keeper.

 

Fair to say that the project still needs a bit of work.

 

Full time: Rutherglen Glencairn 9 Larkhall Thistle 0

Larkhall Thistle 3 Abbey Vale 2 – 21st July 2018

On: By: ian

Tommy Jamieson Memorial Shield (pre-season friendly)

Gasworks Park, Larkhall

 

Thistle started the new season with a new management team and an entire new squad after the mass exodus at the end of last season. Starting with probably the youngest team they have ever fielded in the modern era, the young Jags adapted well to the challenge of junior football and took a two goal lead into the break.

Half Time Larkhall Thistle 2 Abbey Vale 0

Abbey Vale pulled an early goal back to put themselves right back in the game and threatened to equalise before Thistle tied up the win with a great move – a pinpoint through ball that split the defence and a composed dink over the keeper.

Vale reduced the deficit again to make the final score a bit more respectable for themselves.

Full Time Larkhall Thistle 3 Abbey Vale 2

 

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

 

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