Category: McBookie.com West Region Division One 2019 – 2020

Larkhall Thistle 3 Port Glasgow 3 – 5th October 2019

On: By: ian

Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Port Glasgow
McBookie.com West Region – League One

 

Having drawn 2-2 at the start of the season at Port Glasgow, Thistle were playing the return fixture unusually early today due to the scheduled game against Wishaw being postponed for a Scottish Cup replay.

 

The Jags started the game well and could have taken the lead as early as the first minute but Taylor Scott scuffed his shot from a good position. However for all their pressure it was Port Glasgow who took the lead in the 16th minute and from a defensive point of view it was a bad goal to lose. Kyle Stewart attempted to see the ball out for a goal kick but was dispossessed and the cross went straight to a Port attacker in the proverbial acres of space twelve yards out for an easy finish.

 

Four minutes later it was the unfortunate Stewart again who failed to clear properly and the ball went straight to an opponent whose shot took a deflection and looped up over David Cherry in the Thistle goal.

 

It looked like a long way back at that point in the game but Larkhall aimed to get back in the game straight away and a good long ball out of defence from Stewart was flicked on by Jack Currie into the path of Sean Gallagher who took a good touch but his first time shot was blocked by the advancing keeper.

 

Thistle had decent possession and some good play but didn’t really create any more chances, going in at the break two goals down.

 

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Port Glasgow 2

 

The Larkhall manager made a double substitution at half time with the fit again Graham Gracie and Dom Chiedu replacing the ineffective midfield pairing of Taylor Scott and Dylan O’Hagan in a 3-5-2 formation. The change made an immediate impact on the game as Larkhall dominated the second half with Ben Fraser and Paul Cowan providing the width down the wings. They came close with a cross from Cowan that the keeper had to palm onto the bar to keep out but nearly got the beakthrough after 62 minutes when a pinpoint cross from Gracie on the left was met full on by Currie but his header just went past the post.

 

Thistle did get the goal they had been pressing for in the 70th minute, Gracie was taken down by two Port Glasgow players on the edge of the box and took the resultant free kick himself. The ball came back off the wall but for once Larkhall got the break of the ball and it fell to Currie, he slipped it to Gallagher in space on the right who finished well with a shot that beat the keeper at the near post.

 

A minute later it should have been 2-2 as Gracie drifted past two defenders before releasing the ball to Currie, he showed great feet to create a yard in the box and just when he’d done everything right he scooped his shot over the bar from 6 yards.

 

As the game went into added time the home fans and dugout were fearing the worst but eventually the chance did come in the 91st minute, a clear handball that the refeee did well to spot in the crowd of players and award the penalty. Gracie made no mistake from the spot and the Jags were immediately back on the attack after winning the ball from the kick off, Gracie and Currie again played the ball through the middle and the final touch appeared to come off a defender to spin the ball up over the keeper and into the net to send nearly everybody in the ground into raptures.

 

There were still five minutes left to play though – ironically largely due to the Port Glasgow time wasting tactics when they were two goals up. Right on the final whistle some rash defending resulted in a corner to the away side and bad marking once again left a player with a free header to draw the game.

 

A point won or two lost depending whether you have a glass half full or glass half empty attitude but there’s no doubt that after taking the lead Thistle should have seen the game out for the win.

 

Nobody really emerged with flying colours today but Graham Gracie’s influence turned a defeat into what was so nearly a win.

 

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 3 Port Glasgow 3

 

Larkhall Thistle:
cherry; Fraser (B Wilson 85), Boyle, stewart, Dawson; Brunton, O’Hagan (Gracie 45), Grenfell, Scott (chiedu 45); Gallagher, Currie

 

Larkhall Thistle 6 Maryhill 1 – 21st September 2019

On: By: ian

Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Maryhill
McBookie.com West Region

 

Thistle’s topsy turvy season continued today in the Indian summer heat as they followed up last week’s five goal defeat with a five goal win.

 

Larkhall abandoned their normal game plan of losing an early goal and instead took the lead themselves in the second minute, Michael Brunton’s throw landing perfectly for Warren Grenfell who smashed into roof of the net from six yards.

 

With 10 minutes on the clock Jags young keeper Ryan Cooper got down brilliantly to tip round the post and prevent a certain goal, Thistle replied from the breakaway, Gracie played great long ball down the left for Currie who cut back to Grenfell but his shot was saved. A minute later Larkhall looked to have scored but the Maryhill keeper produced a tremendous save to push the ball over the bar.

 

Thistle went two up in the 18th minute from another throw in, this time Currie found himself in plenty of space in the box and smashed the ball low into the corner.

 

However after the goal Thistle switched off and Maryhill took advantage to get back into the game with a goal that was poor from a defensive point of view as the home defence failed to clear and allowed the Hill forward to dance through and pick his spot low in the corner.

 

Graham Gracie looked like he needed a goal to get himself going and nearly found one after 34 minutes when he went clear but the keeper managed to get a hand on the ball and fortunately for him it bobbled just short of the goal line.

 

Thistle added to the lead four minutes from half time, Gracie played a one-two with Dylan O’Hagan and picked up the return just outside the box, he drove in and hit a low shot past the keeper who looked to have got something on it but couldn’t prevent it going in.

 

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 3 Maryhill 1

 

Three minutes after the restart Jack Currie linked up with Bartek and hit the byeline, his cut back unfortunately had no takers. On the hour mark the ball dropped to Gracie who tried to chip the keeper but he back-pedalled enough to make the save.

 

Thistle only had to wait another minute for the goal that sealed the win, O’Hagan and Grenfell set up Currie for a run on goal, he drove in then checked back and sold the two defenders with a feint before squaring the ball for Gracie to claim an easy goal at the back post.

 

Maryhill’s last meaningful attack came in the 76th minute and after a frantic goalmouth scramble Brunton cleared off the line then Cooper had to produce another wonder save to keep the ball out of the top corner. The ball broke upfield to Currie who drove on and played it wide to Brunton, he slipped it across the face of the goal for Gracie to score his third.

 

Thistle had chances to make it six through Brunton and a decent dipping long range effort from Bartek before Currie ran in unchallenged past a defence that had looked to have chucked it by this point to slot the ball past the keeper to round off the scoring.

 

A good all round performance that took Larkhall above Maryhill on goal difference and back into the top half of the table but it was difficult to tell how much of it was down to Thistle being really good or Maryhill being really bad.

 

Top displays today from Stewart at centre half, Grenfell in the middle of the park and Currie who led the line brilliantly all day.

 

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 6 Maryhill 1

 

Larkhall Thistle: Cooper; Fraser (Chierdu 72), Doyle, Stewart, Dawson (Dickson 67); Brunton, Bartek, Grenfell, O’Hagan (Cuthbertson 62); Gracie, Currie

Maryhill: Black, Crawley, Beckley, McKenzie, McGinty, Naismith, Easdon, Gilchrist, Dobbs, Ashe, Stevenson. Subs Skinner, McNeil, Bolard, Edgar

 

Larkhall Thistle 0 Bellshill Athletic 2 – 7th September 2019

On: By: ian

Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Bellshill Athletic
McBookie.com West Region – League One

 

Thistle went into today’s game looking to leapfrog Bellshill and keep in touch with the leaders, as it was this second successive home defeat left the Jags in the bottom half of the table while Bellshill climbed into second place.

 

Once again Larkhall got off to the worst possible start, losing a goal in just four minutes. Craig Dickson, playing at left back instead of his usual position at centre half, got nutmegged and beaten for pace and the winger whipped in a cross along the deck that Cowan could only direct into his own net as he tried to prevent a tap in for his opponent.

 

Thistle quickly got back into the game though and had the upper hand for most of the rest of the half. Taylor Scott was first to go close with a nice one-two and fierce drive that the Bellshill keeper did well to tip over the bar.

 

Jack Currie was next to try and level in the 18th minute with a shot that had to be blocked desperately on the line, the ball rebounded to Graham Gracie who hit it on the volley but his attempt went well over the bar.

 

The Bellshill keeper had a good half and produced a few decent saves as Thistle tried and failed to make the breakthrough.

 

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Bellshill Athletic 1

 

The second half carried on much where the first left off with Larkhall playing reasonably well and creating chances but coming up against a packed Bellshill defence that cleared and blocked and headed away everything the Jags could throw at them.

 

After good pressure on the hour mark, Jack Currie did well to create some space with the usual three defenders round him and laid the ball back to Warren Grenfell on the edge of the box but he shot high over the bar, a familiar story by now in the game.

 

Bellshill doubled the lead three minutes later in bizarre circumstances, a corner on the right was headed straight into his own goal by Scott, the second og of the game.

 

Thistle continued to press and to try and get something back but it was Bellshill who came the closest to scoring, Aiden McMurray misplaced a pass that allowed the Bellshill forward in on goal and his attempt to squeeze the ball in at the near post was only just tipped round by Cherry.

 

As the game drew to a close Thistle had a claim for a penalty turned down for a handball in a goalmouth scramble but it would have been a harsh decision to give it. Gracie then set up McAlemby but his netbound shot was deflected over the bar and the last attempt of the game saw Currie head wide from a free kick into the box.

 

The noise levels that carried halfway up Watson Street after the game indicated that the manager wasn’t best pleased with the performance although in fairness Thistle will win games this season playing worse than that. Credit must be given to the Bellshill defence who were all excellent.

 

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Bellshill Athletic 2

 

Larkhall Thistle:
Cherry; Cowan (Cuthbertson 72), McMurray, Boyle, Dickson; Gallagher, B Wilson (McAlemby 65), Grenfell, Scott (Brunton 65), Gracie, Currie

 

Larkhall Thistle 1 Greenock 5 – 24th August 2019

On: By: ian

Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Greenock
McBookie.com West Region – League One

 

Thistle went into today’s game level on points with their visitors and sitting second equal in the early league table. With Carluke going down at Ardrossan the result left Greenock top of the league.

 

Greenock nearly got off to the perfect start with a break down the right and a low cross to the back post for what looked like a tap-in but Ryan Cooper who has been in great form in the last two games produced a miraculous save.

 

Thistle wee under pressure for most of the half but should have taken the lead in the 17th minute, Mark Cuthbertson played a sweeping crossfield pass to McAlemby who did well to cut inside the defender and square the ball to Jack Currie but he skewed his shot round the post from six yards out.

 

Currie was involved minutes later when it took two defenders to bring him down on the edge of the box but the resultant tame free kick from Gracie was easily saved.

 

A goal might have made all the difference to the game but as it was, it was Greenock who took the lead in the 33d minute. Again it was a move down the right but this time Jags left back Dawson did well to block for a corner. The high ball into the six yard area should have been the keeper’s but instead was a free header that was blocked but eventually scrambled in from two yards.

 

Two minutes later another corner and another goal, this time from a glancing header that again was unchallenged. The ten minute nightmare spell for Larkhall was completed when the Greenock No.10, their best player broke free of the Jags high line and lobbed Cooper as he charged out of his goal. More than a suspicion of offside but playing an offside trap in a game without linesmen is always going to be open to risk.

 

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Greenock 3

 

Greenock almost fluked a fourth goal five minutes into the second half with a cross that came back off the bar but Thistle were spurred into action and came to life a bit in the early stages.

 

Good pressure paid off with a goal from the penalty spot nine minutes into the half. A suspicion of handball was waved away but Jack Currie was fouled as he drove back into the box and Graham Gracie converted the spot kick.

 

The goal proved to be a false dawn as Thistle never really got going or came anywhere near the effort and energy of Greenock with the notable exception of Jack Currie who never let up all day and at times had four and five defenders round him with no help from anybody else.

 

The lead was extended to 4-1 with 16 minutes left, a poor attempt at a clearance only found the Greenock No. 10 and even Ryan Cooper couldn’t get near his fierce shot into the top corner. The scoring was completed with a goal that was embarrassing defensively, as the striker found himself unmarked just inside the box with time to bring the ball down, swivel and hit a shot on the half volley.

 

Hopefully today’s rude awakening was a blip rather than the team being found out, next Saturday should answer a lot of questions as Thistle are at home to another team who won well away from home today, Shettleston.

 

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Greenock 5

 

Larkhall Thistle:

Cooper; Cowan (Galloway 67), Boyle, Dickson, Dawson (B. Wilson 51); Cuthbertson (Brunton 68), McAlemby, Gallagher, Scott, Currie, Gracie

Larkhall Thistle 3 Lesmahagow 2 – 17th August 2019

On: By: ian

Larkhall Thistle 3 Lesmahagow 2 – 17th August 2019
Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Lesmahagow
McBookie.com West Region – League One

Thistle went into today’s game with early pacesetters Lesmahagow in the unfamiliar position in recent years of not being favourites. Gow had won all three opening fixtures and the inclusion of ex-Jags players Ryan Innes, Neil Schonevill and Matty Clarke added to the mix. With ex-Thistle favourite Mark McKeever and also Niall Reynolds watching on and Graham Gracie back leading the line for Larkhall it was a bit of a Sinky old boys reunion at Gasworks.

 

Lesmahagow got off to the perfect start with a goal in the fifth minute, a break down the right put Nicholson clear and his emphatic finish gave Cherry in the home goal no chance.

 

Thistle were forced into an ealy change when Bathoz hobbled to a stop and was replaced by Mark Cuthbertson, a blow after his recent good form but young Mark did well and proved a more than adequate replacement.

 

The Jags drew level in 21 minutes, a high ball to the edge of the box was knocked down cleverly by Gracie into the path of McAlembie who looked to have lost the chance but it broke for Jack Currie at the back post who placed it in the corner to level the scores.

 

Gracie had the ball in the net 10 minutes from half time when he slotted straight from a kick out from the keeper but it was disallowed, apparently for a foul as he was well onside when he started his run.

 

Two minutes later though the roof looked to have caved in as the Jags lost keeper Cherry to a red card for a foul as last man as he chaged out of his box. McAlembie was the unfortunate player to have to make way for sub keeper Ryan Cooper and what a start he made with a tremendous save to keep the resultant free kick out of the top corner.

 

Just before the interval Lesmahagow won a penalty after a melee in the box ended with Dickson committing the foul but it was a poor effort past the post and it was down to Cooper to keep the scores level as he produced two more worldies to send the teams in at 1-1.

 

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Lesmahagow 1

 

Lesmahagow came out early for the second half and seemed determined to get a lead but Thistle weathered the early storm. As the pressure built though Gow did get the breakthrough just before the hour, a cross from the left found the number 8 in space. His shot was well saved by Cooper but the keeper could only parry it as far as Thomson who finished easily at the back post. His celebration might have been worth a booking with gestures to the home fans but the referee let the lad have his moment.

 

Thistle didn’t learn the lesson though and just minutes later an identical move saw the same player in space but once again Cooper was equal to his effort, this time a downward header that the keeper got across brilliantly to block.

 

Larkhall had their backs to the wall but in the 69th minute got an equaliser when Currie broke free and ran in on the keeper and rolled the ball past him. The Jags nearly took the lead moments later from a Gracie volley that the keeper scrambled to hold down at the foot of the post.

 

The ten men wee not going to be content with a point and showed tremendous spirit and battling qualities in their quest for a winner. It nearly came three minutes from time when Sean Gallagher had a clear shot from the edge of the box that he put just over the bar.

 

Right on the final whistle of a pulsating match though the goal did come and it was that man Jack Currie again, he got the ball on the left edge of the box and calmly stepped inside before curling the ball low into the far corner of the net. The roar that greeted the goal was a mixture of joy at getting the winning goal along with a relief that Thistle were now indeed back, the biggest result since the promotion win against St Roch’s.

 

Maybe a bit unfair to single anybody out in what was a magnificent team performance all round but take a bow Ryan Cooper and Jack Currie you were both brilliant.

 

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 3 Lesmahagow 2

 

Larkhall Thistle:
Cherry; Cowan, Dickson, Boyle, Dawson; Gallagher, McAlembie (Cooper 37), O’Hagan (B. Wilson 75), Bartoz (Cuthbertson 12), Currie, Gracie

Port Glasgow 2 Larkhall Thistle 2 – 10th August 2019

On: By: ian

Parklea Sports Complex, Port Glasgow
Port Glasgow v Larkhall Thistle
McBookie.com West Region – League One

It was Inverclyde v Larkhall today as both Larkhall Thistle and Royal Albert headed down the M8 to play Port Glasgow and Greenock respectively, the day’s proceedings saw the Jags finish bang in the middle of the table with Albert rooted to the foot.

 

Thistle were beset by injuries and holiday calloffs that left them seven players short and with a major reshuffling exercise to be done. Sean Gallagher filled in at centre back in a back four while Harry Galloway replaced Jack Currie up front and there was an appearance for trialist Jonathan Wilson in midfield.

 

The game started at a frantic pace on the wide 4G surface and never let up, both teams hit the frame of the goals in the first five minutes but it was probably Gallagher’s unfamiliarity at centre half that caused time to overplay and get caught out for the first goal, he was picked off and the Port striker shot low past Cherry.

 

The home team were unlucky not to double their lead minutes later after more slack play in midfield led to their player in on goal but the chip over Cherry came back off the post. Thistle gradually worked their way back into the game but the best they could manage in the first half was a couple of tame shots from Graham Gracie.

 

Half time: Port Glasgow Thistle 1 Larkhall Thistle 0

 

The second half was a completely different story as Larkhall came out in determined fashion, first to test the Port Glasgow goal was Galloway after Wilson put him through but the keeper made a good save. The Jags didn’t have too long to wait to get level though as five minutes into the half Gracie took advantage of a break of the ball to go clear and slot the ball in along the deck.

 

Five minutes later Thistle were in front from the penalty spot. A corner was swung in and looked to be handled but it wasn’t clear whether the penalty was awarded for that or the subsequent foul, either way it was emphatically finished by Barthoz.

 

Cherry kept Thistle ahead with a great double save minutes later before the Jags manager made three changes with Michael Brunton coming on for McAmbaly, Ben Elliot replacing replacing Galloway and finally Billy Wilson coming on in place of Jonathan Wilson.

 

Thistle were on top for most of the half and looked like extending the lead as the game moved into a frantic last fifteen minutes. Gracie was sent clear in the box and would surely have scored but for a fantastic last ditch tackle from the recovering defender and a minute later Elliot going close with a shot from a wide angle.

 

Port Glasgow weren’t finished yet though and Cherry had to be brave to charge out of the goals and take a knock for his troubles but the Port pressure paid off five minutes from the end when a great ball down their right side caught out Dawson, Cherry could only parry the shot into the air and the Port striker reacted quickest at the back post to finish from close range.

 

Larkhall had one final golden opportunity to win the game just before the final whistle, Gracie drove forward and slipped the ball through to Barthoz whose delicate shot slipped agonisingly past the post.

 

Both teams had their spells on top and either of them could have won so a draw was probably a fair enough result. Best on the day were Adam Boyle at the back and Warren Grenfell and Barthoz in midfield.

 

Full time: Port Glasgow Thistle 2 Larkhall Thistle 2

 

Larkhall Thistle:
Cherry; Cowan, Dickson, Gallagher, Dawson; McAmbaly (Brunton 61), J. Wilson (B. Wilson 75), Grenfell, Barthoz, Gracie, Galloway (Elliot 73)