Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Rossvale
Central League First Division
Thistle started the season with an away game at new boys Rossvale and went down to their heaviest defeat for many years, losing 8-2. Since then Rossvale looked like they were going to romp the league early on but have settled into the places just behind the leaders – although they could still catch Wishaw for second place.
The Jags were out to set the record straight though and raced into an early two goal lead through Graham Gracie in 5 minutes and David Reid after 14 minutes. The visitors had no answer to Thistle’s superiority and the Jags added two further goals before half time through Matty Clarke in the 23rd minute and Josh Payne.
Half Time: Larkhall Thistle 4 Rossvale 0
The second half was more of a contest as Thistle took their foot off the gas a bit, although they did extend their lead just before the hour mark with another goal from Gracie. Remarkably the visitors managed to pull two goals back in an exact copy of the way the scoring went in the first game. Scott Nicholl was sent off in the incident that led to the penalty for their second goal.
Brian Jack made it 6-2 with a goal from halfway to keep the sequence going but Rossvale had the last say with a goal seven minutes from time.
Full Time: Larkhall Thistle 6 Rossvale 3
Scorers: Gracie (2), Reid, Clarke, Payne, Jack
Larkhall Thistle:
S.Thomson, Doyle, Marshall, Brown, Burns; Payne, Nicholl, Jack, Reid; Gracie, Clarke
Website MoM: The committee men decided that David Reid was by far Thistle’s best player on the night.