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

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

Thistle made the short trip across the Clyde to play high-flying neighbours Wishaw. In a week of remarkable turnarounds in the big football, Wishaw followed in the steps of Rangers Liverpool and Germany as they blew a two goal lead.

Read the match report of Wishaw Juniors v Thistle here

Read the match report of Glenafton v Thistle here

See full match report of Thistle v Shotts here

See full match report of Arthurlie v Thistle here

Thistle went down to the latest money men from Ayrshire, but not before putting up a fantastic first half showing and restricting Hurlford to goals from set pieces – one of them straight out of the comic capers category.

See full match report of Thistle v Hurlford here

Next week Thistle are away to Maryhill in the league, kick-off 1:30

Thistle progressed into the third round of the Scottish Cup after an incident packed game with 10 goals, three red cards, two penalties and an amazing five goal blitz from striker Graham Gracie (above)

See full match report of Thistle v Kirriemuir Thistle here