Category: Central League Cup

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

 

 

Johnstone Burgh 1 Larkhall Thistle 5 – 7th April 2018

On: By: ian

Keanie Park, Johnstone
Johnstone Burgh v Larkhall Thistle
Central League Cup Second Round

 

Manager Dunky Sinclair made four changes from last week with Billy Robb, Ryan Innes, Josh Payne and Matty Clarke replacing Liam Mushett, Mark Canning, David Reid and Gary McStay. Johnny Duncan kept his place in goal after Stewart Thompson failed a fitness test.

 

With Johnstone second bottom of the Second Division, it was a game that Thistle were expected to win.

 

Johnstone had the first effort on goal 14 minutes into the game with a shot that went wide, Thistle’s first meaningful attack five minutes later resulted in the opening goal for the Burgh. Ryan Jack played a god ball into Matty Clarke who shot into a crowd of players on the edge of the box, Johnstone broke away downhill and scored.

 

After the goal Thistle came into the game and Josh Payne went close with a shot that went high past the right hand post then Ryan Innen was in on the keeper after a one-two with Johnny McStay but the keeper got down to turn the ball round for a corner.

 

Thistle’s pressure brought the equaliser in 31 minutes when Payne got free down the right again and shot across the goal, the keeper got a hand to it but only managed to divert it into the path of Matty Clarke who finished easily at the back post.

 

Larkhall took the lead just before half time when Clarke dribbled the ball along the byeline and cut back for McStay to slam in from 10 yards.

 

Half time: Johnstone Burgh 1 Larkhall Thistle 2

 

Johnstone came out in the second half looking to try and get level and had most of the pressure in the early stages. Payne went close for Thistle ten minutes into the half against the run of play witha shot just over the bar after he had he created space at the edge of the box following good set up play from Innes and McStay.

 

Ten minutes later Jack played a one-two with Innes and got in a shot that was pushed round for a corner, he then got a good glancing header from the corner kick but sent it just over the bar.

 

Thistle were now in control of the game again and after the double substitution of Gary McStay and Graham Gracie for Johnny McStay and Matty Clarke totally dominated the rest of the game. The third goal came with 15 minutes left, McStay and Payne combining to set up Gracie who found the far corner.

 

Six minutes later any doubt about the outcome disappeared as Gracie broke down the left and his cross was deflected into the net for an own goal. Gracie was involved again for the fifth, holding the ball up an laying it off for Reynolds to finish.

 

Thistle are one of eight teams through to the third round, East Kilbride v Clydebank was postponed and another eight teams still need to play each other in the second round.

 

Full time: Johnstone Burgh 1 Larkhall Thistle 5

 

Larkhall Thistle:
Duncan; Doyle, Brown, Robb, Reynolds; Payne, Innes, Jack (Kelly 78), McKeever; J McStay (G McStay 68), Clarke (Gracie 68) Subs: Canning, Reid

 

Scorers: Clarke, J McStay, Gracie, Reynolds, og

 

Booked: Robb, Payne, J McStay

 

Central League Cup draw

On: By: ian

Larkhall Thistle have been drawn to play Shettleston at home in the first round of the Euro Engineering Central League Cup. There are 39 teams involved so there are seven games in Round 1, leaving 32 teams in Round 2. The draw for the second round has also been made and the Jags will travel to play St Roch’s if they get through. Dates for the ties have yet to be decided.