The junior fixture list took advantage of a temporary lull in the monsoon to play their first games since the corona virus was just a sniffle, unfortunately for Thistle it was against the probable league winners. Transfer-listed Graham Gracie started the game up front with Jack Currie and there was a debut for new signing Johnny Lindsay in midfield. Taylor Scott and Ben Fraser had left the club since the last game.

The opening spell of the game was fairly even with the only real half chance falling to Shettleston, a cut back for a good shooting opportunity that was scuffed and gathered easily by Cherry in the Thistle goal.

After a promising start though things took a disastrous turn with two goals in five minutes both from defensive howlers. The first in the 14th minute came from a ball inside Kyle Stewart for the right winger to run on to, with Stewart stranded Cherry came charging out of his goal but missed the ball altogether leaving an empty net for the winger to roll the ball into.

The second was if anything worse, Cherry came out to claim what was the most routine looking cross but somehow managed to drop the ball under no pressure whatsoever and it fell to a Shettleston player who slammed it in.

It took until the 24th minute for Thistle to pose any sort of threat at all when Gracie took the ball to the corner of the box and slipped his marker to set up Grenfell whose shot was blocked. Five minutes later the Jags produced their best move so far, Dickson won the ball in defence and played it down the left channel to Gracie who picked out Currie making a run. The ball was set perfectly for him to hit first time but he didn’t fancy it on his left foot and took a touch, by the time he’d set himself the defence was in place and the move petered out.

That could have been a turning point but instead it was Shettleston who scored again, albeit this time with more than a little help from the referee. A pinpoint ball out wide to the left picked out the winger who played an early ball in to the middle. The Thistle defence had done its job this time and the line held firm leaving the striker yards offside but not for the first time the referee waved play on and there was no mistake from right in front of the goal.

Thistle were deflated as they saw their chances disappear due to the incompetence of the referee and the home team took full advantage with a fourth straight after with an almost identical goal to the third, this time the striker had a tap in from close range and may or may not have been offside, probably too close to call.

Thistle managed their first shot on target a minute later and again it was the combination of a cutting through ball from Dickson and this time Jack setting up Gracie for the effort.

Half time: Shettleston 4 Larkhall Thistle 0

Larkhall manager Brian Crawford reacted to the first half performance in the strongest possible way by making three half-time substitutions, off came Kyle Stewart who’d had a nightmare first half and Scott Cowan and Barthoz neither of whom had done much wrong but probably not affected the game as much as they could have.

The changes had an immediate impact, Thistle had the first chance of the second half and it nearly produced a goal, Gracie whiiped in a ball from a corner from the left and it got a touch that the keeper had to react quickly to get down and touch past the post.

Just after the hour mark the Jags were dealt a blow when Lindsay went down injured and without any subs left chose to play out the last half hour obviously in pain and struggling to run.

A minute later Thistle pulled a goal back, a free kick on the edge of the area was curled in by Gracie and it was almost immediately followed up with a second goal as Jack nicked in front of the last defender to get a flick on a loose ball but again the keeper’s reactions – and luck – kept the ball out. The Jags had their tails up now and kept the pressure on, winning another free kick on the left delivered right into Sean Gallagher for a free header he should have done better with.

Thistle were by far the better team in the second half as the manager’s changes paid off in style but Cherry had to throw himself up to the top corner to save brilliantly from a fierce shot. Larkhall had the last chance of the game though with a whipped in free kick that found Gracie free at the back post but he sent his header over the bar.

On the face of it today was a bad result but there are positives to take from the game. Winning the second half, the emergence of new boys David Dunnachie and Johnny Lindsay and a Thistle man of the match performance from Chris Dickson who mopped up nearly everything that came his way and started most of the attacking moves, especially in the first half with his range of passing.

Next game is Saturday home to Wishaw kick off 14:00

Full time: Shettleston 4 Larkhall Thistle 1

Larkhall Thistle:
Cherry; Boyle, Dunnachie, Dickson, Stewart (Dawson 45); Barthoz (Gallagher 45), Lindsay, Cowan (Cuthbertson 45), Grenfell, Gracie, Currie

Thistle made two changes from last week’s derby win against Royal Albert with Warren Grenfell and Taylor Scott replacing Shaun Gallagher and Jack Currie. Storm Ciara was just hitting the west coast as the game began with Thistle kicking against a strong wind on a very soft park that was only just playable.

With the advantage of the wind, Ardrossan were on top in the early stages of the game without putting the finishing touches to anything but it was Thistle who nearly took the lead with an ambitious overhead attempt from Grenfell that was saved and rebounded to Mark Cuthbertson but his close range effort was smothered.

As the game warmed up, Rovers replied with a good chance of their own as the ball was played wide right to Campbell whose shot was well saved by David Cherry and the follow up blasted over the bar. The visitors kept the pressure on and forced Cherry into a brilliant double save from a close range header that he somehow got down to then recovering quickly to get to the follow up shot.

Ardrossan had a final chance to go into the break with a lead as Adam Boyle went down injured in the box the ball went wide left and when the cross came in two players in light blue somehow contrived to miss an open goal between them, there was then a scramble as the Larkhall defence regrouped and managed to clear the ball right on the whistle.

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Ardrossan Winton Rovers 0

The first real incident of the second half produced the only goal of the game and also the most controversial moment. Ardrossan had the ball in the middle of the park and their midfielder played a great through ball that caught the Jags defence out and put two strikers clear. However the referee had failed to spot that both of them were blatantly offside, it was an easy decision and a bad mistake from the referee as McKenna ran on to slot past Cherry.

Five minutes later Larkhall had a golden opportunity to draw level when Taylor Scott was put clear in on goal but he checked back instead of going on to shoot and the chance was lost. It was a difficult day for Scott as he was asked to fill the unfamiliar lone striker role against a physical old-school junior defence that didn’t give an inch.

Grenfell had another good opportunity midway through the half but sent his shot over the bar, then it was over to Ardrossan who took charge of the second half and created nearly all the chances. A hook shot that caught out the Thistle defence went just past the post quickly followed by a one on one where it looked easier to score but the ball was slipped past the post.

Thistle’s only real chance in the closing stages fell to Dom Chiedu who brought out a point blank save from the keeper with a header from six yards and in the other goal Cherry made another spectacular double save just before the end to prevent Ardrossan doubling their lead.

There was a late debut for new signing David Donnachie who coped well in defence and pass marks for most today with David Cherry by far the best for Thistle.

Not a day for silky skill with the high winds and choppy park ruining any chance of good football but Ardrossan probably just deserved their win although there’s no doubt that the referee’s mistake cost Thistle a share of the points.

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Ardrossan Winton Rovers 1

Larkhall Thistle:
Cherry; Boyle, Dickson, Chiedu, Stewart; B Wilson (Elliot 70), McCambley (Donnachie 82), Grenfell, Barthoz (Cowan 78), Scott, Cuthbertson

Ardrossan Winton Rovers:
Lochhead; Brown, Hunter, McGregor, Lochhead, Hannah, Henderson, Campbell, Kennedy, McKenna, McMenamay

Thistle went into today’s game on a poor run of form and knew they would have to improve on recent performances to keep any slim chance of a promotion push alive. Manager Brian Crawford made sweeping changes both to personnel and formation and his roll of the dice worked well, especially in the first half. Out went Dawson, Cowan and Scott, replaced by Dickson, McAlemby and Cuthbertson. Adam Boyle was recalled from his recent role in midfield to right back, Kyle Stewart switched to left back and Jack Currie was up front as the lone striker with Barthoz and Paul McAlemby supporting him in a front three.

Larkhall had the bulk of the early play but were reduced to a couple of long range efforts from Barthoz that came nowhere near troubling the keeper. Wishaw when in possession looked dangerous with nippy young forwards running on to balls over the top against what is a slow Jags defence. Larkhall suffered an early blow with the loss of Warren Grenfell after only 14 minutes however Billy Wilson came on to replace him and proved more than capable with his best game in a Thistle shirt.

Thistle took a deserved lead in the 32nd minute with a good move, Currie held up a long ball out of defence for Cuthbertson to run onto and he managed to get a shot away as he was falling and swept the ball into the corner past the keeper. The lead seemed to take the pressure off and the team played probably their best football of the season in the remaining minutes before half time.

Just minutes after the goal Mark Cuthbertson did well to prevent the ball going out for a throw and laid it off to Currie who put Barthoz in, his shot looked netbound but clipped the bar as it headed over. The respite was short lived though and the Jags got the second in the 38th minute with Barthoz being the provider, twisting and turning past defenders before setting up Currie who checked back inside the last man before rolling the ball under the keeper.

Thistle could have had another two before half time, the first after a great passage of play that saw about a dozen passes round a bemused looking Wishaw before Barthoz blasted just past then right on half time Jack Currie hit the back post with an effort across the keeper, the ball fell to Barthoz six yards out but in fairness the angle was a bit tight and he hit the bar again as he tried to curl the ball into the top corner.

Half time: Wishaw 0 Larkhall Thistle 2

The second half however was a completely different story. The Wishaw manager’s half time talk obviously worked as they came out and looked a different team altogether. Wilson conceded what looked a very soft free kick on the edge of the box in the 64th minute and to compound matters was booked in the process by the referee who never at any stage covered himself in glory. The free kick found its way through the wall but David Cherry reacted quickly to get down and smother in what was his only real save of the game.

A minute later Wishaw made their pressure tell by reducing the deficit with a sloppy goal from a Thistle point of view. A ball across the goal found an unmarked attacker at the back post and he had all the time in the world to scoop it up into the middle of the six yard area where there were two Wishaw players and no Thistle defenders and it was the easiest of finishes to smash the ball into the empty net.

Larkhall reacted to the setback by getting themselves back in the game and four minutes later produced their first real attack of the half, Barthoz coming close after cutting in from the left and shooting just past the post. It should have been game over minutes later when Mark Cuthbertson took a brilliant touch to control a long ball out of defence in mid air and set himself in on goal, the keeper narrowed the angle and he went for the near post but his shot was just wide.

There was one more goalmouth incident and it came nine minutes from time and nearly led to a Wishaw equaliser, Dickson performing heroics to throw himself in front of the ball to prevent what would probably have been a goal.

It was a much improved performance for three quarters of the game with a great display from Barthoz closely followed by Mark Cuthbertson, Jack Currie and Billy Wilson. The win leaves Thistle in ninth place with next week’s game a home derby against Royal Albert, kick off 2:00pm.

Full time: Wishaw 1 Larkhall Thistle 2

Larkhall Thistle:
Cherry; Boyle, Chierdu, Dickson, Stewart; Barthoz, Gallagher, Cuthbertson (Cowan 74), Grenfell (Wilson 83), McAlemby (Elliot 74), Currie

Thistle continued on their slump with a home defeat to fourth bottom Kello, their sixth in the last seven games. The Jags made three changes from their last game at Carluke; Chiedu, Barthoz and Dawson replacing Dickson, Adam and Elliot.

The game got off to a horrendous start with Larkhall losing a goal in the first two minutes. Kello won a free kick and played the simplest of balls right to a completely unmarked player who side footed the ball into the corner of the net. It was a shocker from a defensive point of view with no attempt to close down or get out and block the scorer.

Thistle were nearly level a minute later when Scott Cowan put in a good cross for Barthoz who bulleted a header narrowly over the bar and Sean Gallagher brought out a good save from the Kello keeper when he had to throw himself up to tip over the bar.

Kello nearly doubled their lead a couple of minutes later though when the ball bobbled in the box and was crashed back off the post but it was Thistle who had the ball in the net in 32 minutes after good play on the left from Taylor Scott who set up Warren Grenfell. It looked like an easy finish but he mis-hit the shot and his scuffed effort was enough to deceive the keeper and the ball trundled over the line.

All the manager would have wanted was to see the half out and go in level but again the defence switched off completely a minute into stoppage time. The move started on the wide left but it was a simple one-two and the Kello man strode forward unchallenged to slot into the bottom corner of the net.

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Kello Rovers 2

The second half very nearly started in the same way as the first, this time though there was a major let off for Larkhall. The defence had two chances to clear but didn’t and the ball was squared to a completely unmarked striker at the back post whose shot hit Cherry’s trailing leg when it looked certain to finish in the net.

Thistle rallied again and Barthoz brought out a save from the keeper after good work from Dawson on the left and it was the Pole who looked the only goal threat Thistle had, sweeping a great 20 yard effort off the inside of the post and hitting another dipping drive just wide after beating his man on the left.

Kello should have sewn the points up in the 73rd minute when a straight pass through the middle found their front man on the penalty spot, unmarked and with the time to turn and shoot. Thankfully his effort was one of the worst seen at Gasworks for a long time as he side footed a good 10 yards wide.

Ben Elliot came on as a substitute for Cowan and made an impact within two minutes, he was upended as he cut across the box and Barthoz made no mistake with the penalty.

Thistle managed to stay level for nearly three minutes before conceding again, this time in controversial circumstances. The visitors won a free kick 25 yards out and as the ball ricocheted it fell to one of three Kello players who were beyond the defence. The refereee presumably judged that it had come off a defender but when the ball was then passed forward for a tap-in it definitely looked offside.

Thistle threw everything into trying to get the equaliser and were caught on the break with three minutes left, the big No9 doing brilliantly to hold on to the ball and roll it to the right for his team mate to finish.

As it stands Thistle have too many points in the bag to become drawn into a relegation struggle but on current form it looks like the best they can hope for is mid table consolidation, however if they won their games in hand they would be right up in contention for promotion so there is still a glimmer of hope.

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 2 Kello Rovers 4

Larkhall Thistle:
Cherry; Dawson (Dickson 62), Chiedu, Stewart, Cowan (Elliot 77); Barthoz, Gallagher (B Wilson 62), Boyle, Grenfell, Currie, Scott

Thistle began the decade having just held on to a place in the top half of the third tier, a disappointing end to last year but with cause for optimism as games in hand could see them move as high as second if all went well. Today’s opponents began the day a place below in ninth but with the psychological advantage of having beaten the Jags in the reverse fixture at the start of August. Thistle made three changes from last week’s home defeat to Shettleston, Dom Chiedu, Mark Cuthbertson and Ben Elliot making way for Ben Fraser, Billy Wilson and Bartoz.

Carluke stunned their visitors by taking the lead after only three minutes, Conlon taking advantage of a mix up in the middle of the park to steal the ball and go past a static Thistle defence before finishing. It took until the 20th minute before Larkhall managed any kind of response of note, Bartoz hitting a dipping shot that just cleared the bar. Minutes later however the referee delivered a hammer blow to Thistle’s chances when he sent off Jack Adam for a last man challenge, a decision that was questionable at best as the incident took place 25 yards from goal wide on the left of the park with Larkhall players coming across to cover and did not look in any way a clear goal scoring chance.

As with last week, the sending off didn’t deter Thistle from their task of getting level and they did so just three minutes later with a great passage of play. Jack Currie held up the ball well and laid it off into Barthoz’s path, he squared it across the six yard area and Taylor Scott made the late run to get on the end of the cross and bundle the ball over the line.

Thistle had the bit between their teeth and for the rest of the half were by far the better team, they nearly took the lead minutes later when Scott showed some skill with a good touch and a back heel into the path of Barthoz, his precision cross landed right on the head of Currie who really should have done better from six yards out but he put it past the post. Scott was next to threaten after a fantastic crossfield pass from Barthoz found him on the right but choked his shot just past the post then four minutes from half time Warren Grenfell stuck out a foot awkwardly to divert a corner onto the post when it appeared to be an easy header into an empty net.

After all the pressure though the Jags were hit with the sucker punch just on 45 minutes when Mark Cassidy rose unchallenged at the back post to head in from a corner in one of Carluke’s few forays up the park.

Half time: Carluke Rovers 2 Larkhall Thistle 1

The second half began with a strong penalty claim for Thistle, Scott dribbled past right back Brown and was unceremoniously tripped in the box, as clear a penalty as you could get but the referee waved away the claims and played on. Thistle kept coming and Scott Cowan played a good ball right into the danger area, finding Barthoz who hit it on the volley but his shot went just past the post.

There wasn’t much after that for Larkhall though, they appeared to have given all they could and from then on it was pretty much complete domination from Carluke. Just after the hour Cassidy drove down the right and fired a ball across the face of the goal in a move almost identical to Thistle’s goal but this time Adam Boyle was there to save the goal with a tremendous sliding challenge. From the corner, Cassidy was once again left unmarked at the back post but this time his header went past the post.

The relief was only temporary, Stewart was left for dead and as Cherry went down the ball was lifted over him for what looked to be a certain goal but again Boyle was there to clear off the line, that was quickly followed by Cherry having to make a great save with his feet but the inevitable third goal came a minute later.

Stewart again lost out, caught up the park in a midfield position and with two failed attempts to put in a tackle the Carluke man was clear in a 3 v 1 situation that left Cherry helpless and Conlon slammed the ball into the middle of the goal. Carluke didn’t let up and two minutes later it was 4-1, Cherry had to race out of his box to try and clear and gave away a free kick, it was played in low and Conlon got in front of the defence to score with a nice flick.

Thistle pulled one back 10 minutes from time with a goal out of nothing, substitute Sean Gallagher picked up the ball on the half way line and played a one-two with Barthoz, as he got it back the Carluke defence seemed to part and let him through. His shot was poor in all honesty, scuffed and straight at the keeper but the mis-hit deceived Brown in the Carluke goal and it squirmed in.

This was an opportunity missed, Carluke were in disarray with players leaving and having to recruit emergency signings from the amateurs and a bad result for Thistle which sees them swap places with Carluke and drop into the bottom half of the table.

Next game is away to Bellshill on Saturday, kick off 1:45pm

Full time: Carluke Rovers 4 Larkhall Thistle 2

Carluke Rovers:
Brown; Murdoch, Neossi, Cassidy, Goodall, Dickson, Conlon, Kane, Frame, Frame, Mitchell

Shettleston have been the best team in the league this season and went into this game two points behind leaders Port Glasgow but with six games in hand so this was always going to be a difficult task for Thistle.

After a lively start with neither team really on top the Jags task became a whole lot more difficult when they lost centre half Dom Chiedu for a handball on the line. It was a tame cross/shot that shouldn’t have troubled the defence but it was heading in and Chiedu reacted to prevent the goal. The referee had no option but to give a penalty and McGrotty sent David Cherry the wrong way to give Shettleston the lead.

Great credit to the remaining ten players though, they rolled up their sleeves and got on with it and to a man gave it their best effort to try and save the game. Jack Currie had his usual thankless task of trying to hold the ball up against two or three defenders at every turn but he did brilliantly to wriggle free from three Shettleston men and fire in Thistle’s best effort of the first half, a low shot that the keeper did well to reach.

Minutes later Thistle were on the attack again through Currie who span his defender and raced onto a good ball down the line from Taylor Scott, Scott kept the run going and got into the middle to take the return ball and found Mark Cuthbertson at the back post whose low shot was blocked by the keeper. Thistle were pressing hard for an equaliser and nearly got one when Scott was in again on the keeper after a horrendous error from the centre half trying to head clear, he had options with Currie in the middle but chose to shoot early and gave the keeper too much of a chance.

The game could have been over in the 38th minute as Shettleston broke clear but star man McGrotty fired just over from the edge of the box, instead Thistle broke back up the park and Currie won a free kick on the left. Scott Cowan swung in a good ball and the referee spotted a foul on Ben Elliot and awarded Larkhall a penalty. Scott stepped up and despatched the ball confidently into the corner for the equaliser.

The visitors were none too happy at having lost the lead and set about regaining it with some good pressure on the Jags goal. A great move finished with a nice reverse pass that split the Thistle defence but the striker put the ball just past the post and a minute later Cuthbertson had to look lively to poke the ball clear to prevent a tap-in.

Half time came without any further damage being done and the teams went in level.

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Shettleston 1

The bombardment of the end of the first half continued into the start of the second and Adam Boyle had to make a fantastic sliding tackle to prevent a certain goal after a neat Shettleston move but the dam burst in the 57th minute. A throw in on the left found McGrotty in space, he collected the ball and ran across the 18 yard line making space and hit a low shot past Cherry.

The difference between the teams was illustrated five minutes later with an almost identikit move for Thistle, a throw found Taylor Scott on the edge and although he did well to make space his shot trundled weakly into the arms of the keeper.

Thistle introduced a couple of youngsters, Connor Phairs and Steven Kyle and neither looked out of place with both of them making lively contributions but it was all over when the game’s outstanding player McGrotty claimed his hat trick on 75 minutes, a ball over the top wasn’t defended and he ran on to place the ball past Cherry.

No lack of effort today but the game was killed by the early sending off of Dom Chiedu, the better team won and in all probability will go on to win the league. There were no failures in the Thistle team but Jack Currie looked back to his best with a heroic display up front and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Shettleston 3

Larkhall Thistle:
Cherry; Cowan (Kyle 82), Chiedu, Stewart, Adam; Cuthbertson (Phairs 60), Boyle, Grenfell, Elliot, Currie, Scott (Wilson 75)

Few would have thought that after Thistle had won at Perthshire in mid-October it would be the end of the year before they would have another away fixture. Eight weeks later it was a return to the bleak surroundings of Ravenscraig Sports Centre, which if nothing else has a great view of the park from the stand.

Greenock had hammered Larkhall in the reverse fixture at the start of the season to provide a rude awakening and a rethink of any ambitions of an easy return to the Championship and a first team squad travelling without the likes of Graham Gracie, Ben Fraser, Kyle Stewart, Bartosz, Michael Brunton and Aiden McMurray looked to be very much up against it.

Ben Elliot and Jack Adam were called up from the Under 21s although it could be argued that both are more than capable of playing for the first team and indeed might get into Thistle’s best 11. The rest of the team was along familiar lines although Taylor Scott hasn’t seen many first team starts lately and Adam Boyle was again used in midfield with Dickson at centre half.

The visitors got off to a flyer with a goal in the first 5 minutes, Scott crossing from the wide right position and Elliot justifying his selection with a bullet header that gave the keeper no chance. After that whirlwind start the game settled down into a dour midfield struggle with few moments to lift it until the Jags added to their lead in 25 minutes. Jack Adam made a great run at the defence and drew a foul just outside the box, Scott Cowan lined up the free kick and placed it perfectly just inside the post with the accuracy beating the keeper rather than the power.

Adam was then booked for a lunging tackle and that was by no means the end of his involvement in the half. A quick Greenock break with two forwards both yards offside was shockingly missed by the referee but the danger was snuffer out by Cowan who switched a tremendous ball to Elliot on the left to set him away. Maybe part striker selfishness and part youthful enthusiasm after having scored earlier but he chose to shoot rather than square to Currie for an easy tap-in and the keeper saved comfortably.

Greenock then had a chance after Currie was robbed at the touchline but the shot squirmed past the far post, it was only a temporary let-off though as they pulled a goal back a minute later through an Adam og as he header past Cherry after a mix-up between them.

Deep into first half injury time Greenock had a golden opportunity to equalise when they were handed a penalty. Almost inevitably it was Adam who was involved again although the referee was more than generous with the award, the striker having run across his path and thrown himself down with minimal contact.

Justice was done though as the spot kick crashed back off the bar and Thistle went in with their lead preserved.

Half time: Greenock 1 Larkhall Thistle 2

Larkhall made a good start to the second half and forced an early corner, Gallagher rose well unchallenged to meet it but sent his header over the bar. Thistle kept the pressure up and broke again a minute later, Elliot switched the ball for Currie and as the last defender lunged in and missed the ball he went clear in on the keeper but the keeper came out to save his low shot with his feet. Greenock broke back up the park and forced Cherry into what he does best, a flying save to keep the ball out of the top corner.

As the temperature plummeted in the second half, Thistle’s front three played some good stuff linking well with some nice flicks and lay-offs and good movement but when the third goal came it was from the most direct of routes. Dom Chiedu had been a threat all day with his laser targeted missiles of throw-ins and just before the hour he launched one into the box that Currie reacted first to, nipping in front of the defence to glance a header past the keeper.

Jack Adam looked to have rounded off his day with a serious injury and he went down from a crunching tackle but fortunately the spray was enough to get him back on his feet and complete the game.

Greenock finished the game on the attack and pulled a goal back with fifteen minutes left, substitute McKay heading in at the back post from a corner after being left unattended. Much huffing and puffing for the remainder of the game didn’t lead to any clear cut chances until right on the 90th minute when another free header at the same back post flashed just over the bar.

A tremendous result in the circumstances, well done to everyone and have a good Christmas one and all.

Full time: Greenock 2 Larkhall Thistle 3

Larkhall Thistle:
Cherry; Cowan, Chiedu, Dickson, Adam; Boyle, Scott (Wilson 83), Gallagher (Cuthbertson 82), Grenfell; Elliot (Carlin 90) Currie

Greenock:
Black, Lavelle, Jamieson, Higgins, Boyle, Doherty, Black, Cunningham, Brown, Frizzell, McLaughlan
Subs: Patterson, McEwan, Rodgers, Lapsley, McKay

Thistle went into today’s game looking to do the double over Girvan after the opening day win in Ayrshire. There were pre-match injury doubts over David Cherry, Warren Grenfell, Graham Gracie, Michael Brunton and Scott Cowan – all potential starters but only Cowan made the starting line up.

Girvan gave early warning that they were capable of creating chances when Balfour hit the post from what was in fairness a sitter in the fourth minute, Thistle came right back at them and Jack Currie was in a similar position but opted to go near post instead of hitting the big gap to the keeper’s left.

Thistle came close again when Dom Chiedu switched the ball left to Bartoz who hit it first time but his shot went just past but it was Girvan who took the lead against the run of play in the 12th minute. The goal was a sloppy one from a defensive point of view with big striker Currie allowed time and space to pick his spot with a composed finish.

As was the theme of the game, Larkhall came right back at them, Dickson did well in nosebleed territory as he dribbled into the box before playing a teasing ball across the six yard area where Gallagher should have scored, the rebound fell for Cowan whose netbound drive was cleared well off the line by a defender.

It was wave after wave of Jags pressure and it looked inevitable that an equaliser would come but Girvan again showed the threat they possessed when Currie danced across the Larkhall defence before firing a shot just over from the edge of the box.

Just before half time Cowan was fouled on the edge of the box, it might have been just inside but the referee played advantage as he squared to Sean Gallagher but the midfielder playing up front passed up the chance again. Right on half time he had an even better opportunity but again it came to nothing as he side footed over the bar.

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Girvan 1

Larkhall began the second half as they finished the first, on top and looking to get level. They won a corner on the left which bobbed about inside the box and as it came back out Adam Boyle got in a great header that rattled the bar with the keeper beaten.

However that was Girvan’s cue to wake up and for the next 20 minutes it was all one way traffic in the other direction. Girvan’s captain and playmaker Harvey forced two magnificent saves from Ryan Cooper but third time lucky as he cut inside and curled an unstoppable effort into the top corner.

More Girvan pressure followed and Cooper had to get out to block yet again from Harvey as the visitors threatened to run riot. As it was with Thistle in the first half though, failure to take their chances came back to bite Girvan as Thistle staged a remarkable two minute recovery.

The first goal was out of nothing, Thistle had been totally ineffective in attack since Boyle’s header but for once Jack Currie managed to slip his markers and get in behind. He picked out substitute Taylor Scott on his left who rolled the ball into the corner to put Thistle right back in the game.

A minute later it was 2-2, Taylor Scott was involved again as he played the ball left to Bartoz who drove it low into the danger area, it came back out to Mark Cuthbertson who hit a fierce drive high into the net.

It was anybody’s game at this stage with Girvan looking still the more likely to score and they looked certain to 10 minutes from time when Harvey was left unmarked five yards out at the back post but inexplicably fired high into the air. Dempsie then brought out another fantastic save from Cooper as he cut in from the left and looked certain to score before Harvey forced another save from point blank range.

Just as the game looked to be heading for a draw, Thistle were hit with the sucker punch and after Cooper had saved the initial effort with his feet, it broke perfectly for Currie to tap in from close range.

Chiedu was sent off for a second booking in almost the last act of the game.

The absences of Grenfell in the middle of the park and Gracie up front were a big loss for Thistle today, they were wasteful in attack and should have been well ahead by half time. Girvan were by far the better team in the second half and could have scored five or six so there’s no real argument about the result.

Great performance from Ryan Cooper today who saved Thistle from a thrashing and solid work in midfield from Mark Cuthbertson who now looks like a real first team player.

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 2 Girvan 3

Larkhall Thistle:
Cooper; Fraser, Stewart, Chiedu, Dickson (Taylor 65), Boyle, Bartoz, Cuthbertson (Wilson 80), Cowan, Gallagher, Currie

Girvan:
Sloan; Marshall, Warren, Mitchell, Wells, Balfour, McClymont, Davidson, Dempsie, Currie, Harvey

Larkhall Thistle v East Kilbride Thistle
McBookie.com West Region – League One

After last week’s trip up north in the Scottish Cup, Thistle got back to league business today with a game they were expected to win against East Kilbride. The other Thistle were closer to the bottom of the table than the top and today was a chance to make up ground on the league leaders.

The early signs weren’t too encouraging though as Larkhall got off to a shaky start, Jack Currie gave the ball away in the second minute and the resulting quick break produced a corner, a good ball in and a header just over the bar.

Thistle’s first foray forward resulted in a free lick that Paul Dawson put into a good area but there were no takers and minutes later Bartoz put a great ball in but Currie’s touch wasn’t good enough and the chance was gone.

By the 15 minute mark Larkhall were on top and a free kick from Kyle Stewart was glanced on by Sean Gallagher but the keeper got down to save but it was nearly the visitors who scored on the break as Cherry showed great reactions to get down and save the netbound header.

Midway through the half Larkhall produced their best bit of football yet, Scott Cowan broke down the right and played a great ball across the field to Bartoz who ran from deep to get on the end of it and play it across the penalty box for Currie who took a touch but the keeper was too quick for him and got out well to smother.

Currie was having an eventful day and ten minutes from half time a long ball from keeper David Cherry put him clear and only a very physical challenge that was bordering on a penalty prevented him from getting a proper shot in. East Kilbride replied with a break down the right, the cross wasn’t cleared but fortunately the resultant shot was blocked.

Just before half time Cowan’s ball to Currie put him in behind the defence again but he tried to beat the keeper from a tight angle rather than pick out Gracie at the back post.

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 0 East Kilbride Thistle 0

The rain in the last couple of days had taken its toll and the park was cutting up, players were losing their footing and slipping all over the place but Larkhall settled quicker and took the lead after five minutes. Dom Chiedu floated a perfect ball in behind two defenders right to Currie’s feet, for once he wasn’t being manhandled and he took a touch and slotted the ball home.

Twenty minutes into the half Larkhall looked certain to score, Cowan skipped past the left back and delivered onto Currie’s head in the middle of the six yard box, the keeper rode his luck a bit with the header being straight at him but his reactions were fantastic to keep the ball out.

It was only a momentary reprieve however, a minute later Currie and Gracie took turns at trying to bludgeon their way through the packed defence, Gracie was fouled as he set himself for a shot and took the penalty himself, coolly rolling the ball the other way as the keeper made his move.

East Kilbride almost took advantage of Thistle’s defence going to sleep after the goal and wandered through the gaping holes before Cherry got lucky with a shot straight at him and there was another let-off moments later when a header from a free kick dropped just past the post.

Thistle’s last attempt to stretch the lead fell to Gracie who cut across the box past three defenders before shooting from a tight angle, the ball clearing the back post and also Currie’s foot as he slid in.

East Kilbride nearly pulled a goal back five minutes from time, the left back played a long ball down the line for the wide team mate, Chiedu dived in and missed the ball and he went past Stewart before hitting a shot that looked a certain goal only to see the ball come back out off the inside of the post.

A deserved win for Thistle against a stubborn defence but an attack that never really offered much. Jack Currie battled all day up front and the defence managed a rare clean sheet but the player who caught the eye most was the ever improving Scott Cowan on the right wing.

The win leaves Thistle in fifth place in the table with games in hand over Greenock and Port Glasgow who are in third and fourth place.

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 2 East Kilbride Thistle 0

Larkhall Thistle:

Cherry; Dawson, Stewart, Chiedu, Boyle, Bartoz (Taylor 62), Gallagher (Wilson 80), Grenfell (Fraser 68), Cowan, Gracie, Currie

Today saw the first Larkhall derby in the league since season 2010/11 when Thistle had plunged to the bottom division for their one and only season since the leagues were restructured and it was a fitting return to the fixture. No holds barred and with nothing asked or given, it was a blood and guts affair played with maximum effort and intensity by both sides of an evenly matched contest.

The crowd had hardly settled into position before Albert took the lead with what must undoubtably be a contender for the best goal ever seen by them in their new home. The ball was punted forward out of defence and Alan Campbell was too strong in the air for Jags Kyle Stewart, he nodded the ball down to Mak McGinty who hit a worldy volley from 25 yards right into the top corner as Ryan Cooper in the Thistle goal could only look on helplessly.

Albert were very much on top in the early stages and took the game to their opponents, Campbell out-muscled Dom Chierdu on the left of the box to get in for a shot with Cooper making a good save and a minute later McGinty nipped in behind Dickson as he failed to clear, Cooper had to get down smartly again to tip past.

Larkhall did manage a break out of defence in the 19th minute and it got them an equaliser against the run of play. Stewart won the ball as the Albert winger slipped and strode forward 20 yards on the left side before delivering a cracking long pass up over the defence, Gracie brought the ball down with a great first touch and slammed it past the keeper.

Albert were unlucky not to score again before the break, in the 34th minute they won a corner on the left, the ball was fizzed right across the six yard area and a shot from point blank range hit Michael Brunton on the line. Thistle didn’t clear the ball properly and it fell to Barry Murdoch who shot from 30 yards and Cooper produced another top save down to his right, from the resultant corner Brunton again had to clear off the line, this time deliberately though.

At the other end Sean Gallagher just failed to meet a cross with a diving header and after good link up play between Bartoz and Currie, Bartoz made space to get his shot away but choked it well past the post.

Half time came with the Jags looking the happier side to be going in level.

Half time: Royal Albert 1 Larkhall Thistle 1

Albert started the second half even quicker than the first and in the opening minute they were allowed in again in too easily and produced a shot that Cooper got down to save. Thistle didn’t heed the warning and three minutes later good work by Man of the Match McGinty on the edge of the box left him in space for a shot that Cooper looked to have saved comfortably but spilled and Campbell reacted far too quickly for the sleeping Thistle defence, rounding the keeper easily before tapping in.

Back came Thistle again, Gracie made a good run and was fouled but should have been allowed to go on, the referee however stopped play to book the Albert player. Gracie took the free kick himself and the difference between the desire of the two teams was summed up when the keeper dropped the ball, two defenders were there to clear while no Thistle player was anywhere near.

Michael Brunton had made a contribution by being on the line twice to prevent a goal but was replaced by Taylor Scott who made an immediate impact with a great cross fom the right that Jack Currie headed in for the equaliser. Although Thistle had never really been in the game it was anybody’s now and two minutes later they took the lead for the first time. Currie picked up the ball on left and with three defenders round him twisted and turned clear before whipping a vicious shot that looked to have hit the bar but in fact rattled back out off the stanchion, a good spot by the referee without the aid of goal line technology.

Albert weren’t done and midway through the half they won a free kick that was floated in with no marking at all as the Thistle defence allowed a free header that fortunately landed right at Cooper’s feet. But the luck didn’t hold out for much longer as Larkhall switched off when Dickson was off injured, Albert hit on the break and Cooper was beaten at his near post.

The winning goal came in 72 minutes and again it was Scott who started it off with a cross from the right, the defence cleared only as far as Gracie whose shot was parried into the path of Scott who couldn’t miss from two yards.

That was the end of the scoring despite a frantic ending that could have produced goals at both ends with yet another great save from Cooper tipping over the bar and being enough to see the game out.

A great game but very harsh on Albert who were the better team and should have taken something from the game, defences were poor on both sides and in Campbell and McGinty Albert probably had the two best players on the park. From the Thistle side Taylor Scott was the man who made the difference.

Full time: Royal Albert 3 Larkhall Thistle 4

Cooper; Chierdu, Stewart, Dickson, Boyle, Brunton (Scott 55), Gallagher, Grenfell (Cuthbertson 85), Bartoz (Dawson 80) Currie, Gracie