Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Murkirk
Ardagh Group West of Scotland Cup
Thistle went into today’s game on the back of a 3-2 home defeat to Kello Rovers, which before the game looked like being their best chance of a league win. Muirkirk are third bottom of League 2 and today’s game looked like the last chance of a win of any kind, as it turned out it was another defeat and exit from another cup at the first time of asking.
11 minutes into the game Larkhall found themselves in the familiar position of being a goal down, the defence failed to clear a corner properly and the second ball was finished from close range.
The Jags came into the game and played a bit of football in what turned out to be a decent first half for them. They created a few chances most notably a Miller header that he should have scored with and a move down the right that found Forbes in on goal but his touch was too heavy, allowing the keeper time to get out and block his shot.
Thistle did draw level just before half time though with a wonder strike from Michael Brunton, winning the ball and playing a one-two before unleashing an unstoppable shot that dipped high into the top corner.
Half time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Murkirk 1
The decision to play McGraw in goals ahead of young Cooper surprised most given the way he had struggled and ten minutes into the half his error proved to be the turning point in the game. The keeper came out of his goal to challenge for a high ball and got nowhere near it, instead clattering into the Muirkirk forward and conceding a penalty which was easily converted.
Five minutes later a move down the left wing had the home defence floundering and the cross was easily slotted past McGraw to make it 3-1.
Thistle manager Derek Holmes reacted right away by taking off Miller who had posed no threat in attack and replacing him with Hunter, a move that almost paid off right away as he made a good run and was put in by Forbes only for the keeper to dive at his feet and thwart him.
With time running out, Thistle won a corner on the right and the kick was swept first time into the roof of the net by Ben Fraser who again had a good game for the Jags.
As it was last week, the closing stages were all about Thistle bombarding the visitors goal in search of an equaliser, if they could bring that kind of urgency and will to win to the other 85 minutes they might have a chance of doing something.
Full time: Larkhall Thistle 2 Murkirk 3
Larkhall Thistle:
McGowan, Rowan, Fraser, Boyle, McMurray, Dick (Simpson), Forbes (Campbell), O’Hagan, Bartosz, Miller (Hunter), Brunton. Subs Holmes, Cooper (GK)