Thistle went into today’s game on the back of successive defeats that put them out of the West of Scotland Cup and probably killed off any lingering hopes in the league. They were hoping to avoid going out of three in a row in the Scottish Cup today. Three changes from last week’s home defeat to Girvan saw Ryan Cooper, Dom Chiedu and Mark Cuthbertson replaced by David Cherry, Warren Grenfell and Taylor Scott.

Larkhall’s first attack in earnest turned out to be their best of the half with Bartoz showing good feet to slip his marker and feed the ball into Jack Currie, his low shot forced the keeper down well to save. A minute later Scott was in acres of space but shot over the bar from 20 yards.

Kello were emerging as the more dangerous looking team and indeed they took the lead after 10 minutes when Dickson was left stranded in the left back position, Bartoz had to get over to cover and put the ball out for a corner, a low ball in that missed first defender for a tap in from three yards.

Five minutes later the Jags faced another corner and again failed to clear, Cherry got down to smother at the second attempt but the warning signs were there and it is obvious that corners are a problem. Thistle didn’t have much to shout about for the rest of the half but did have a more than reasonable claim for a penalty half way through when a Kello defender headed the ball onto his own arm.

There were more hair-raising moments when Dickson attempted to head back to the keeper but left it well short and his opponent nipped in and nearly scored. Larkhall played the ball out and won a free kick that Dickson delivered right on to Adam Boyle’s head, he got power on the header but hit it straight at the keeper.

From nearly scoring though, Thistle immediately went two down when Grenfell misjudged the pace on the ball while trying to usher it out for a goal kick, he got robbed and the ball across was drilled in low from 10 yards.

A very poor first half from a Larkhall point of view, nothing much in attack and slack in defence.

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Kello Rovers 2

The second half began in the same lacklustre way but five minutes in Graham Gracie replaced Scott Cowan and made an immediate impact when he headed in with his first touch.

Defensive frailties almost put the game out of sight again though just minutes later as Dickson was caught out again, far too slow to cover and Cherry had to make a great stretch to tip over. From the resultant corner Kello were gifted a free header that was glanced just wide from 6 yards when a goal looked certain.

Kello were still the better team and had their own claim for a penalty when Cherry rushed out to contest a 50-50 and clattered into the onrushing striker who was subsequently booked, a decision that looked a bit generous to Larkhall to say the least.

As time ran out, Thistle produced two more attempts at goal both from Ben Fraser crosses from the right. The first was an acrobatic scissor kick from Scott followed by a late effort from substitute Billy Wilson who did well to bring the ball down and get a shot away although it went just past the post. In between these Thistle lost Kyle Stewart to a straight red card as he too struggled for pace and was caught out and forced into conceding a foul on the edge of the box.

As the ten men chased the equaliser deep into added time they were caught by a quick break and Kello wrapped up the win. The final incident was another sending off, this time for Ben Fraser who saw a straight red for a tackle.

In truth whichever team progressed from this tie would have needed a really kind draw to go any further but Kello were by far the better team on the day and deserved their win, good luck to them in the next round.

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Kello Rovers 3

Larkhall Thistle:
Cherry; Fraser, Boyle, Stewart, Dickson, Cowan (Gracie 50), Bartoz (Cuthbertson 71), Grenfell, Gallagher, Scott, Currie (Wilson 79)

Thistle were the 2/5 pre-match favourites to come away from sunny Deeside with a win and although the final score reflected the odds it was far from plain sailing for most of the game. Larkhall made it hard for themselves for long periods and never really looked convincing until a couple of late goals made sure they would be in the next round.

An early goal could have settled any nerves and the Jags almost got one, Graham Gracie found himself in the clear after only two minutes but was unlucky to see his shot come back off the post. The game settled down into a typical junior cup tie with plenty of effort from both sides but not a great deal of quality, maybe partly due to the uneven park.

It took until midway through the half for the next real chance of note and again it was Gracie, this time in from the left with a good low shot that the keeper got down well to save but it was Banchory who nearly took the lead minutes later. A corner to Larkhall was cleared and Thistle were caught short and left facing a 2 v 2 quick break, the ball was played down the left and rolled into the middle for the striker, Jags keeper Cherry got out quickly to block and was a bit lucky to find the shot hit straight at him.

That was the jolt that Thistle needed and two minutes later they took the lead. Gracie appeared to try and take the whole defence on as he was forced further and further left and eventually found a space for a shot, the keeper saved but the ball rebounded back to Warren Grenfell who curled a shot up over the defence and into the top corner.

Seven minutes from half time the Saints broke away and looked like they might score but Cherry got out well to head clear, colliding with Adam Boyle in the process. The defender went down with a head knock and caused a bit of concern before making a full recovery and carrying on.

Larkhall doubled the lead just before the interval from a corner, Dom Chiedu got up highest and bundled the ball over the line.

Half time: Banchory St Ternan 0 Larkhall Thistle 2

Banchory started the second half well and had a decent claim for a penalty turned down and plenty of the play in the opening 20 minutes with Thistle not really getting going at all. The home side’s hopes however disappeared in a bizarre one minute spell deep into the second half. David Cherry came for a high ball that looked to be a routine catch but totally flapped at it and missed the ball altogether, it landed at the feet of a Banchory stiker who had the goal gaping and needed only to roll it into the empty net from close range but somehow managed to miss by five yards.

From the kick out Thistle went straight up the park and scored. Gracie fended off two defenders and slid the ball down the line for the overlapping Cowan to cross into the middle for Currie who took a touch to set himself and shot past the helpless keeper.

It was possibly more than Thistle deserved at that stage and any possible lingering doubt was removed 10 minutes from the end when Thistle’s man of the match Bartoz looked to have tripped over his own feet but recovered to play a one-two before turning inside and floating a magnificent shot right into the top corner.

Even with five minutes left, a clean sheet was probably a bit too much to hope for and so it proved with the whole defence switching off and allowing a free shot from close range.

The difference between the teams was emphasised with two late goals, a great strike from Gracie that he flicked up and hit on the half-volley from the edge of the box and a stooping header from Jack Currie as Gracie turned provider with a pinpoint cross from the right.

A good day out for all the travelling players and supporters – job done and on to the next round but Thistle will have to up their game if they are going to progress any further in the cup.

Full time: Banchory St Ternan 1 Larkhall Thistle 6

Cherry; Chiedu (Dickson 84), Stewart, Boyle, Dawson; Grenfell, Cuthbertson (Gallagher 68), Bartoz, Dawson (Wilson 84), Currie, Gracie