Thistle started with the same team as started the previous week at Carluke with the exception of the goalkeeping position with young David Thomson replacing Stewart Thomson who had not recovered from his injury sustained at Carluke.
Before the kick off the players and spectators stood for a minute’s silence for Thistle committee man Joe Tierney and ex-player Willie Holland.
The game started in sensational fashion with the Jags going ahead in 38 seconds, David Reid heading home a great cross from Ryan Innes.
Maryhill did not let this set back upset them and were soon putting pressure on the home goal without really threatening and young David Thomson dealt comfortably with anything that came his way. He had to be alert to stop the Maryhill No 9 equalising when clean through, making a fine stop at the feet of the striker.
At this stage Thistle were struggling to contain the visitors who looked physically stronger and had a definite height advantage. As half time approached, very little had been seen of the home team in an attacking sense with Maryhill in control.
Half time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Maryhill 0
The second half started much the same as the first half with the visitors on the offensive and young Thomson produced a fine diving save from the Maryhill centre forward. Thistle then hit Maryhill on the break, Reid raced into the penalty box and was pulled back by a Maryhill defender.
The referee awarded a penalty – which looked to be the right decision – and it was taken by Reid himself, but his weak effort was easily saved by the keeper. The player who conceded the penalty was not even given a yellow card, far less a red for pulling back a player who was in a goal scoring position with only the keeper to beat. That was nothing compared to what was to happen later.
This seemed to inspire the visitors to greater efforts and they equalised when their No 14 was left completely unmarked at the back post to give Thomson no chance with a fine finish. Thistle were now under the cosh and it was no great surprise when their No 3 rose unchallenged to head a corner into the net and give Maryhill the lead.
Thistle were stung into action and after a spell of pressure Reid scored with a tremendous lob which deceived the visiting keeper. Quite honestly what happened next was bizarre to say the least, after scoring Reid ran towards the tunnel area where the Thistle supporters and committee were standing with his arm raised and his fist clenched to celebrate his goal.
Before the game restarted to the utter amazement of every single person in the ground the referee then called Div over and gave him a red card for making what he deemed was an threating and abusive gesture leaving the home team to play out the remainder of the game with ten men.
Mark McKeever and Matty Clarke were replaced with Graham Gracie and Scott Nicholl.
Maryhill continued to press and David Thomson tipped a net bound shot over the crossbar. Worst was to follow for the Jags when Maryhill netted a 93rd minute winner again from an unchallenged header. Naturally the Maryhill celebrations were wild with people entering the field of play from their dugout to join in the celebrations on the edge of the penalty box.
The annoying thing about this was not the celebration which would have been much the same had the Jags scored but the fact that the referee after deeming to issue a red card to a player for celebrating a goal took no action against at least two people who entered the field of play without permission to join the ecstatic visitors. After a lengthy celebration thistle kicked off and the referee promptly blew for time up.
Full time: Larkhall Thistle 2 Maryhill 3
Larkhall Thistle:
D. Thomson; Reynolds, Marshall, Brown, Burns; Innes, Kelly, Jack, Reid; McKeever (Gracie), Clarke (Nicholl). Subs: Doyle, McStay and Payne.
Over the piece the visitors probably deserved to win and again Thistle’s best performers were in defence, with Andy Brown and Jordan Marshall battling well but today’s man of the match goes to David Thomson who made some fine saves with his handling and kicking being very assured.