Thistle continued their pre-season with a confidence-building win against local amateur side Motherwell. Seven goals was just about a true reflection of the difference between the sides but the visitors competed well and would also have benefitted from testing themselves against a team at a higher level.
Scott Nicholl got the ball rolling in the second minute with a low shot after a good passing move and Graham Gracie doubled the lead ten minutes later after a mix up in defence left him with a free shot from 8 yards.
The Jags were not without their own defensive lapses in the first half and Motherwell might have got on the scoresheet on a couple of occasions but Burns did well at the other end of the park five minutes before half time when he set up Ryan Innes for a good right foot finish into the bottom corner.
Half time: Larkhall Thistle 3 Motherwell Amateurs 0
Despite a rousing half time talk from the Motherwell coach, the second half was even more one-sided as the visitors ran out of steam and Thistle piled on the goals.
Josh Payne, Matty Clarke and Brian Jack all came on at half time in place of Innes, Burns and Doyle and in the reshuffle Scott Nicholl moved to left back which gave the defence a lot more stability and pace.
With the changes the team took a bit of time to settle and although they played well and kept the ball the vast majority of the time, it took until the 80th minute before Clarke made it 4-0 with a dribble and fierce finish
Innes then got on the end of a cut back following a great run down the left from Payne and Clarke put the gloss on the scoreline with two late goals.
Well done to Thistle stalwart Lee Moss who came out of retirement to help out in goals tonight and found himself in the unique position of playing for both sides. After being substituted by regular keeper Stuart Thomson and the Motherwell goalie going off injured, Lee stepped in to finish the game for Motherwell and performed well for both sides.
Full time: Larkhall Thistle 7 Motherwell Amateurs 0
Scorers: Nicholl, Gracie, Innes (2), Clarke (3)
Larkhall Thistle:
Moss, Brown, Reynolds, Burns; Nicholl, Kelly, Canning, Innes, Doyle; Reid, Gracie. Rolling subs: S Thomson, Jack, Payne, Clarke, Mushett