It is with deep sadness that the club have to announce the passing of Tam Taylor . Tam was a lifelong Jags supporter and season ticket holder attending most home games and some away as well. Tam was one of the guys who stood by the club during our dark and difficult times last season
Our sincere condolences go out to the Taylor family at this sad time.
Rest in Peace Tam
It is with great sadness that the club have to announce the passing of John . Although he stayed in Kirkmuirhill John was very much a Jags supporter and season ticket holder . Until his illness John accompanied either by his daughter or grandson seldom missed a home game .
John was a pleasure to know and the club send there sincere condolences to his family at this sad time.
Rest in peace John.
The Beltane, Wishaw
Wishaw v Larkhall Thistle
McBookie.com West Region – League One
Thistle went into today’s game on a poor run of form and knew they would have to improve on recent performances to keep any slim chance of a promotion push alive. Manager Brian Crawford made sweeping changes both to personnel and formation and his roll of the dice worked well, especially in the first half. Out went Dawson, Cowan and Scott, replaced by Dickson, McAlemby and Cuthbertson. Adam Boyle was recalled from his recent role in midfield to right back, Kyle Stewart switched to left back and Jack Currie was up front as the lone striker with Barthoz and Paul McAlemby supporting him in a front three.
Larkhall had the bulk of the early play but were reduced to a couple of long range efforts from Barthoz that came nowhere near troubling the keeper. Wishaw when in possession looked dangerous with nippy young forwards running on to balls over the top against what is a slow Jags defence. Larkhall suffered an early blow with the loss of Warren Grenfell after only 14 minutes however Billy Wilson came on to replace him and proved more than capable with his best game in a Thistle shirt.
Thistle took a deserved lead in the 32nd minute with a good move, Currie held up a long ball out of defence for Cuthbertson to run onto and he managed to get a shot away as he was falling and swept the ball into the corner past the keeper. The lead seemed to take the pressure off and the team played probably their best football of the season in the remaining minutes before half time.
Just minutes after the goal Mark Cuthbertson did well to prevent the ball going out for a throw and laid it off to Currie who put Barthoz in, his shot looked netbound but clipped the bar as it headed over. The respite was short lived though and the Jags got the second in the 38th minute with Barthoz being the provider, twisting and turning past defenders before setting up Currie who checked back inside the last man before rolling the ball under the keeper.
Thistle could have had another two before half time, the first after a great passage of play that saw about a dozen passes round a bemused looking Wishaw before Barthoz blasted just past then right on half time Jack Currie hit the back post with an effort across the keeper, the ball fell to Barthoz six yards out but in fairness the angle was a bit tight and he hit the bar again as he tried to curl the ball into the top corner.
Half time: Wishaw 0 Larkhall Thistle 2
The second half however was a completely different story. The Wishaw manager’s half time talk obviously worked as they came out and looked a different team altogether. Wilson conceded what looked a very soft free kick on the edge of the box in the 64th minute and to compound matters was booked in the process by the referee who never at any stage covered himself in glory. The free kick found its way through the wall but David Cherry reacted quickly to get down and smother in what was his only real save of the game.
A minute later Wishaw made their pressure tell by reducing the deficit with a sloppy goal from a Thistle point of view. A ball across the goal found an unmarked attacker at the back post and he had all the time in the world to scoop it up into the middle of the six yard area where there were two Wishaw players and no Thistle defenders and it was the easiest of finishes to smash the ball into the empty net.
Larkhall reacted to the setback by getting themselves back in the game and four minutes later produced their first real attack of the half, Barthoz coming close after cutting in from the left and shooting just past the post. It should have been game over minutes later when Mark Cuthbertson took a brilliant touch to control a long ball out of defence in mid air and set himself in on goal, the keeper narrowed the angle and he went for the near post but his shot was just wide.
There was one more goalmouth incident and it came nine minutes from time and nearly led to a Wishaw equaliser, Dickson performing heroics to throw himself in front of the ball to prevent what would probably have been a goal.
It was a much improved performance for three quarters of the game with a great display from Barthoz closely followed by Mark Cuthbertson, Jack Currie and Billy Wilson. The win leaves Thistle in ninth place with next week’s game a home derby against Royal Albert, kick off 2:00pm.
Full time: Wishaw 1 Larkhall Thistle 2
Larkhall Thistle:
Cherry; Boyle, Chierdu, Dickson, Stewart; Barthoz, Gallagher, Cuthbertson (Cowan 74), Grenfell (Wilson 83), McAlemby (Elliot 74), Currie
Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Kello Rovers
McBookie.com West Region – League One
Thistle continued on their slump with a home defeat to fourth bottom Kello, their sixth in the last seven games. The Jags made three changes from their last game at Carluke; Chiedu, Barthoz and Dawson replacing Dickson, Adam and Elliot.
The game got off to a horrendous start with Larkhall losing a goal in the first two minutes. Kello won a free kick and played the simplest of balls right to a completely unmarked player who side footed the ball into the corner of the net. It was a shocker from a defensive point of view with no attempt to close down or get out and block the scorer.
Thistle were nearly level a minute later when Scott Cowan put in a good cross for Barthoz who bulleted a header narrowly over the bar and Sean Gallagher brought out a good save from the Kello keeper when he had to throw himself up to tip over the bar.
Kello nearly doubled their lead a couple of minutes later though when the ball bobbled in the box and was crashed back off the post but it was Thistle who had the ball in the net in 32 minutes after good play on the left from Taylor Scott who set up Warren Grenfell. It looked like an easy finish but he mis-hit the shot and his scuffed effort was enough to deceive the keeper and the ball trundled over the line.
All the manager would have wanted was to see the half out and go in level but again the defence switched off completely a minute into stoppage time. The move started on the wide left but it was a simple one-two and the Kello man strode forward unchallenged to slot into the bottom corner of the net.
Half time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Kello Rovers 2
The second half very nearly started in the same way as the first, this time though there was a major let off for Larkhall. The defence had two chances to clear but didn’t and the ball was squared to a completely unmarked striker at the back post whose shot hit Cherry’s trailing leg when it looked certain to finish in the net.
Thistle rallied again and Barthoz brought out a save from the keeper after good work from Dawson on the left and it was the Pole who looked the only goal threat Thistle had, sweeping a great 20 yard effort off the inside of the post and hitting another dipping drive just wide after beating his man on the left.
Kello should have sewn the points up in the 73rd minute when a straight pass through the middle found their front man on the penalty spot, unmarked and with the time to turn and shoot. Thankfully his effort was one of the worst seen at Gasworks for a long time as he side footed a good 10 yards wide.
Ben Elliot came on as a substitute for Cowan and made an impact within two minutes, he was upended as he cut across the box and Barthoz made no mistake with the penalty.
Thistle managed to stay level for nearly three minutes before conceding again, this time in controversial circumstances. The visitors won a free kick 25 yards out and as the ball ricocheted it fell to one of three Kello players who were beyond the defence. The refereee presumably judged that it had come off a defender but when the ball was then passed forward for a tap-in it definitely looked offside.
Thistle threw everything into trying to get the equaliser and were caught on the break with three minutes left, the big No9 doing brilliantly to hold on to the ball and roll it to the right for his team mate to finish.
As it stands Thistle have too many points in the bag to become drawn into a relegation struggle but on current form it looks like the best they can hope for is mid table consolidation, however if they won their games in hand they would be right up in contention for promotion so there is still a glimmer of hope.
Full time: Larkhall Thistle 2 Kello Rovers 4
Larkhall Thistle:
Cherry; Dawson (Dickson 62), Chiedu, Stewart, Cowan (Elliot 77); Barthoz, Gallagher (B Wilson 62), Boyle, Grenfell, Currie, Scott
We now have a complete fixture list or all games still to be played
Sat.18th.Jan Kello Home K.O.1.45pm
Sat, 25th.Jan.Wishaw Away K.O. 1.45pm
Sat. 1st. Feb. Royal Albert Home K.O. 2.00pm
Sat. 8th. Feb. Ardrossan Home K.O. 2.00pm
Sat. 15th, Feb Lesmahagow Away K.O. 2.00pm
Sat. 22nd. Feb. Perthshire Home K.O. 2,00 pm
Sat. 29th. Feb. East Kilbride Away K.O. 2pm
Sat. 7th. Mar Shettleston Away K.O. 2pm
Sat.14th. Mar. Wishaw Home K.O. 2pm
Sat 21st Mar. Maryhill Away K.O. 2pm
Sat. 28thMar. Kello Away K.O. 2pm
Sat. 4th April Lanark Utd, Home K.O.2pm
Sat. 11th.April no Game
Sat. 18th April Away to Bellshill K.O. 2pm
As expected Game Off
John Cumming Stadium, Carluke
Carluke Rovers v Larkhall Thistle
McBookie.com West Region – League One
Thistle began the decade having just held on to a place in the top half of the third tier, a disappointing end to last year but with cause for optimism as games in hand could see them move as high as second if all went well. Today’s opponents began the day a place below in ninth but with the psychological advantage of having beaten the Jags in the reverse fixture at the start of August. Thistle made three changes from last week’s home defeat to Shettleston, Dom Chiedu, Mark Cuthbertson and Ben Elliot making way for Ben Fraser, Billy Wilson and Bartoz.
Carluke stunned their visitors by taking the lead after only three minutes, Conlon taking advantage of a mix up in the middle of the park to steal the ball and go past a static Thistle defence before finishing. It took until the 20th minute before Larkhall managed any kind of response of note, Bartoz hitting a dipping shot that just cleared the bar. Minutes later however the referee delivered a hammer blow to Thistle’s chances when he sent off Jack Adam for a last man challenge, a decision that was questionable at best as the incident took place 25 yards from goal wide on the left of the park with Larkhall players coming across to cover and did not look in any way a clear goal scoring chance.
As with last week, the sending off didn’t deter Thistle from their task of getting level and they did so just three minutes later with a great passage of play. Jack Currie held up the ball well and laid it off into Barthoz’s path, he squared it across the six yard area and Taylor Scott made the late run to get on the end of the cross and bundle the ball over the line.
Thistle had the bit between their teeth and for the rest of the half were by far the better team, they nearly took the lead minutes later when Scott showed some skill with a good touch and a back heel into the path of Barthoz, his precision cross landed right on the head of Currie who really should have done better from six yards out but he put it past the post. Scott was next to threaten after a fantastic crossfield pass from Barthoz found him on the right but choked his shot just past the post then four minutes from half time Warren Grenfell stuck out a foot awkwardly to divert a corner onto the post when it appeared to be an easy header into an empty net.
After all the pressure though the Jags were hit with the sucker punch just on 45 minutes when Mark Cassidy rose unchallenged at the back post to head in from a corner in one of Carluke’s few forays up the park.
Half time: Carluke Rovers 2 Larkhall Thistle 1
The second half began with a strong penalty claim for Thistle, Scott dribbled past right back Brown and was unceremoniously tripped in the box, as clear a penalty as you could get but the referee waved away the claims and played on. Thistle kept coming and Scott Cowan played a good ball right into the danger area, finding Barthoz who hit it on the volley but his shot went just past the post.
There wasn’t much after that for Larkhall though, they appeared to have given all they could and from then on it was pretty much complete domination from Carluke. Just after the hour Cassidy drove down the right and fired a ball across the face of the goal in a move almost identical to Thistle’s goal but this time Adam Boyle was there to save the goal with a tremendous sliding challenge. From the corner, Cassidy was once again left unmarked at the back post but this time his header went past the post.
The relief was only temporary, Stewart was left for dead and as Cherry went down the ball was lifted over him for what looked to be a certain goal but again Boyle was there to clear off the line, that was quickly followed by Cherry having to make a great save with his feet but the inevitable third goal came a minute later.
Stewart again lost out, caught up the park in a midfield position and with two failed attempts to put in a tackle the Carluke man was clear in a 3 v 1 situation that left Cherry helpless and Conlon slammed the ball into the middle of the goal. Carluke didn’t let up and two minutes later it was 4-1, Cherry had to race out of his box to try and clear and gave away a free kick, it was played in low and Conlon got in front of the defence to score with a nice flick.
Thistle pulled one back 10 minutes from time with a goal out of nothing, substitute Sean Gallagher picked up the ball on the half way line and played a one-two with Barthoz, as he got it back the Carluke defence seemed to part and let him through. His shot was poor in all honesty, scuffed and straight at the keeper but the mis-hit deceived Brown in the Carluke goal and it squirmed in.
This was an opportunity missed, Carluke were in disarray with players leaving and having to recruit emergency signings from the amateurs and a bad result for Thistle which sees them swap places with Carluke and drop into the bottom half of the table.
Next game is away to Bellshill on Saturday, kick off 1:45pm
Full time: Carluke Rovers 4 Larkhall Thistle 2
Carluke Rovers:
Brown; Murdoch, Neossi, Cassidy, Goodall, Dickson, Conlon, Kane, Frame, Frame, Mitchell
Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Shettleston
McBookie.com West Region – League One
Shettleston have been the best team in the league this season and went into this game two points behind leaders Port Glasgow but with six games in hand so this was always going to be a difficult task for Thistle.
After a lively start with neither team really on top the Jags task became a whole lot more difficult when they lost centre half Dom Chiedu for a handball on the line. It was a tame cross/shot that shouldn’t have troubled the defence but it was heading in and Chiedu reacted to prevent the goal. The referee had no option but to give a penalty and McGrotty sent David Cherry the wrong way to give Shettleston the lead.
Great credit to the remaining ten players though, they rolled up their sleeves and got on with it and to a man gave it their best effort to try and save the game. Jack Currie had his usual thankless task of trying to hold the ball up against two or three defenders at every turn but he did brilliantly to wriggle free from three Shettleston men and fire in Thistle’s best effort of the first half, a low shot that the keeper did well to reach.
Minutes later Thistle were on the attack again through Currie who span his defender and raced onto a good ball down the line from Taylor Scott, Scott kept the run going and got into the middle to take the return ball and found Mark Cuthbertson at the back post whose low shot was blocked by the keeper. Thistle were pressing hard for an equaliser and nearly got one when Scott was in again on the keeper after a horrendous error from the centre half trying to head clear, he had options with Currie in the middle but chose to shoot early and gave the keeper too much of a chance.
The game could have been over in the 38th minute as Shettleston broke clear but star man McGrotty fired just over from the edge of the box, instead Thistle broke back up the park and Currie won a free kick on the left. Scott Cowan swung in a good ball and the referee spotted a foul on Ben Elliot and awarded Larkhall a penalty. Scott stepped up and despatched the ball confidently into the corner for the equaliser.
The visitors were none too happy at having lost the lead and set about regaining it with some good pressure on the Jags goal. A great move finished with a nice reverse pass that split the Thistle defence but the striker put the ball just past the post and a minute later Cuthbertson had to look lively to poke the ball clear to prevent a tap-in.
Half time came without any further damage being done and the teams went in level.
Half time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Shettleston 1
The bombardment of the end of the first half continued into the start of the second and Adam Boyle had to make a fantastic sliding tackle to prevent a certain goal after a neat Shettleston move but the dam burst in the 57th minute. A throw in on the left found McGrotty in space, he collected the ball and ran across the 18 yard line making space and hit a low shot past Cherry.
The difference between the teams was illustrated five minutes later with an almost identikit move for Thistle, a throw found Taylor Scott on the edge and although he did well to make space his shot trundled weakly into the arms of the keeper.
Thistle introduced a couple of youngsters, Connor Phairs and Steven Kyle and neither looked out of place with both of them making lively contributions but it was all over when the game’s outstanding player McGrotty claimed his hat trick on 75 minutes, a ball over the top wasn’t defended and he ran on to place the ball past Cherry.
No lack of effort today but the game was killed by the early sending off of Dom Chiedu, the better team won and in all probability will go on to win the league. There were no failures in the Thistle team but Jack Currie looked back to his best with a heroic display up front and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.
Full time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Shettleston 3
Larkhall Thistle:
Cherry; Cowan (Kyle 82), Chiedu, Stewart, Adam; Cuthbertson (Phairs 60), Boyle, Grenfell, Elliot, Currie, Scott (Wilson 75)
We are at home to Shettleston on Saturday K.O. 1.45pm. so with no premier league football till Sunday why not get down to Gasworks park and support your local team.
Club have great pleasure in announcing that Jack Adams and Ben Elliot have been promoted to the full team squad from the U21’s . Well done lads.