The club would like to offer their sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Sandy who passed away last night . Past committee man and lifelong supporter Sandy fought a brave battle against failing health issues. Yet again we have lost a member or the Jags family. What’s a game of football at such a sad time.
Rest in peace Sandy.
Tommy Jamieson Memorial Shield (pre-season friendly)
Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Thistle started the new season with a new management team and an entire new squad after the mass exodus at the end of last season. Starting with probably the youngest team they have ever fielded in the modern era, the young Jags adapted well to the challenge of junior football and took a two goal lead into the break.
Half Time Larkhall Thistle 2 Abbey Vale 0
Abbey Vale pulled an early goal back to put themselves right back in the game and threatened to equalise before Thistle tied up the win with a great move – a pinpoint through ball that split the defence and a composed dink over the keeper.
Vale reduced the deficit again to make the final score a bit more respectable for themselves.
Full Time Larkhall Thistle 3 Abbey Vale 2
Fixtures have been released for the first half of the season:
The annual general meeting will take place in the clubhouse on Sunday 1st. July at 11am. a good attendance of members is requested.
The club have great pleasure in announcing that Derek Holmes has been appointed as the club’s new manager. Derek comes with a wealth of experience as a player and licenced coach. He will be assisted by Brian Crawford who has spent nearly all his football days at our level and had a season at Gasworks Park. We welcome both Derek and Brian to the club.
Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Troon
McBookie.com Super First Division
Thistle’s last game of the season was also the last game for the management team of Dunky Sinclair, Tam McLaughlin and Jamie Sandilands. In marked contrast to last season’s epic encounter with St Roch’s there was nothing to play for today for the Jags although Troon were still chasing a promotion place via the playoffs.
Thistle got off to a good start attacking the old club end and nearly took the lead after just five minutes, Gary McStay rolled the ball from a corner to Billy Robb and his first-time shot brought out a great save from the Troon keeper. Mark Canning had featured prominently in the opening stages and sent a good effort wide of the post three minutes later.
It looked like the old stagers of Canning, McKeever and Gary McStay might have a final fling, they were all playing well but after 16 minutes it all turned sour as Troon took the lead with their first real attacking move of the game. Good play down the right then a ball into the box that the No.10 slid in unchallenged to meet and send high into the net.
Three more quickfire goals before the break put the game beyond doubt. Declan Doyle was outmanouevered on the left and the cross left an easy tap in from two yards for the second. The third came from the same position but the Troon No.11 in fairness did brillianly to twist and turn and get his cross in that left a free header right in front of goal.
The fourth came down the right, again a shot in that Johnny Duncan could only block and the follow up was slammed into the roof of the net.
Half time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Troon 4
Dunky made his final throw of the dice as manager with a triple half time substitution; Johnny McStay, Ryan Innes and Josh Payne for McKeever, Robb and Doyle but any thoughts that Thistle could get back into the game disappeared as early as the second minute of the half when Troon got their fifth from an unchallenged shot inside the box.
The only time Thistle threatened the visitors goal came 10 minutes into the second half, Gary McStay did well down the right wing, beating the left back and getting a cross in to Johnny McStay who hit a good volley just past the post.
Troon made it 6-0 with 20 minutes still left to go and thoughts of double figures must have crossed minds of players and supporters of both sides. As it was they settled for just one more three minutes from time to complete what was the most embarrassing result in many people’s memory.
Good luck to Sinky, Tam and Jamie and thanks for all your efforts, nobody will forget the double header with St Roch’s last season. Good luck also to those players who played their last games today and again thanks for all the good work.
Full time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Troon 7
Larkhall Thistle:
Duncan; Doyle (Payne 45), Brown, Mushett, Reynolds; McKeever, Canning (Innes 45), Jack, Robb (J McStay 45), Reid; G McStay. Subs: Clarke, Kelly
Scorers:
Booked: Robb
Larkhall Thistle deeply regret having to announce that our management team of manager Duncan Sinclair, Assistant, Tam McLaughlin and coach Jamie Sandilands will be leaving the club after Saturday’s last home game Against Troon.
Larkhall Thistle would like to put on record their appreciation for Sinky’s, Tam’s and Jamie’s hard work, commitment and successes during the past eight years.
These guys will always be welcome at Gasworks Park.
Larkhall Thistle is now inviting applications for the vacant manager’s position.
Contact Hugh Kerr on [email protected] or phone 07746875347
President Chris Lenson on 07463127010
Thistle arrived a Kirkconnell with a much depleted squad and only had 10 outfield players including young Tommy Kidd from the U19s. with the bench comprising of Lewis Melvin u19s keeper and Tam Mclaughlin and Jamie Sandilands from the coaching staff.
Kello started strongly as the Jags got to grips with the strange formation and the defence had their work cut out in the early stages keeping Kello at bay. It was no surprise when the home team took the lead scoring with a header from close in. Thistle were struggling to put any real pressure on the home defence because quite frankly just about every time we played the ball forward up went the assistants flag for offside . There must have been at least a dozen offsides against us as half time approached.
Half Time Kello 1 Larkhall Thistle 0
Thistle came out for the second half in determined fashion and it was no surprise when Div.Reid equalised from close in. Thistle now had their tails up and the Kello defence was struggling with the strong running of Div. Reid . Thistle took the lead when Div. cut in from the right and shot across the keeper into the far corner. At this point Kello were struggling to cope with a Thistle team in the showing a lot of character and no shortage of skill. The home team thought they had equalised but the goal was chalked off due to some pushing in the penalty box.
Thistle then shocked the home team with a third goal Niall Reynolds latching on to tremendous Andy Brown through ball rounding the keeper and slotting the ball home.. Kello pulled one back with 5 minutes remaining but Thistle held on Quite comfortably for a really good win.
The 11 guys on the pitch gave 110% with young Thomas Kidd having a tremendous game with Div. without a doubt having one of his finest games in the jersey but everyone more than did their bit on what was a warm afternoon.
Team, Duncan, Robb, Brown, Mushet, Kidd, Reynolds, Doyle Canning , Jack, G. McStay , Reid
Final game this Saturday home to Troon who can still gain promotion.
Thistle arrived at Guys Meadow with 15 players to select from with Ryan Innes and Billy Robb suspended and Mark McKeever in the U.S.A. due to work commitments and Stuart Thomson out injured after Saturday’s game at Rossvale.
On a very bumpy and dry pitch both teams took time to settle with very little goalmouth action in the early stages. The home gradually began to get the upper hand and then scored two goals within the space of a minute in the 29th. and 30th. minutes both scored by David Dickson. This stung Thistle into action and Jonny McStay went close. Graham Gracie then worked himself into a clear goals coring position but somehow with only the keeper to beat he shot across the keeper and past the post.
Half time Cumbernauld 2 – Larkhall Thistle 0
Thistle came out in the second half and immediately went on the offensive to try and get back into the game and after 58 minutes they pulled a goal back when Brian Jack volleyed home from the edge of the box giving the home keeper no chance. This goal encouraged the Jags to push on and Liam Mushet just failed to connect with a Josh Payne corner. Div. Reid then replaced Matty Clarke and Jonny Mcstay should have netted from a Div cross but failing to connect from inside the 6 yard area. At this stage very little was happening from the home team as an attacking force .Gary McStay then replaced Jonny McStay but try as they might Thistle just could not get the equaliser with Cumbernauld winning 2-1 and still have slight chance of picking up one of the two play off spots.
Team; Duncan, Brown, Mushet , Reynolds, Payne, Jack, Kelly, Canning, Clarke(Reid) Gracie , J. McStay (G.McStay)
Huntershill Village Hub, Bishopbriggs
Rossvale v Larkhall Thistle
Central League Cup
Thistle made their first visit to the new Rossvale park at Huntershill Village Hub, a council run facility where health and safety is the top priority. For some bizarre reason supporters are confined to one half of one side of the park but in fairness to the council everybody went home safely.
With only 11 fit first team players the Jags were up against it from the start but Matty Clarke had a chance to put them up after just four minutes when he was sent clear by David Reid but he wanted too much time and his shot across the keeper was saved.
Rossvale came back right away with a move down the left, the cross was met in the middle but the finish was blazed high over the bar. Jags keeper Stewart Thomson went down off the ball and it was obvious right away he was going to have to go off and be replaced by Johnny Duncan.
Rossvale settled down quickly and had the upper hand for the rest of the game as Thistle limped out tamely from the last competition of the season in what is probably the final season for the Central League Cup.
Rossvale had a couple of decent efforts before the first goal came for them after 28 minutes but it came from a corner for Thistle that was cleared over the top, leaving Niall Reynolds with no chance of catching the flying winger who crossed for the striker to take a touch and settle himself before slotting in.
Larkhall hit back right away, Gary McStay setting Graham Gracie up for a good shot that might have brought an equalser but was straight at the keeper. Reynolds kept Thistle in the game with a goal-line clearance a minute later but the reprieve was not to last for long. The Rossvale captain and best player easily stepped past Clarke before taking the ball on and hitting a shot that Duncan might have expected to do better with albeit it might have taken a bit of a deflection.
Even at half time it looked obvious that the game was done and there was going to be no way back.
Half time: Rossvale 2 Larkhall Thistle 0
After a quiet opening 15 minutes Thistle might have given themselves a chance with what turned out to be their last real attempt of the game. Gracie took a quick throw on the right to McStay who rolled the ball inside to Jack, he played it out to the left to Reid and his shot brought out a good save down low.
Things went from bad to worse as Gary McStay was booked then shown a second yellow for backchat, poor stuff when the backs were against the wall on a hot day and Gracie did his best to join him with a senseless barge into a Rossvale player’s back that he was lucky just to be booked for.
It was the end of any resistance from Thistle with the only question now was how many. The answer was another two that were both shambolic from a defensive point of view, the fourth coming five minutes from time when Thistle were down to nine men after Josh Payne had also been sent off.
A real low today after last week’s great effort at Irvine, hopefully the final three games will give the team a chance to get a few more league points on the board.
Finally congratulations to our neighbours Royal Albert who were confirmed as the Second Division champions today.
Full time: Rossvale 4 Larkhall Thistle 0
Larkhall Thistle:
Thonson (Duncan 11); Doyle (Cuthbertson 57), Brown, Reynolds; Kelly; Payne, Clarke, Jack, Reid; Gracie, G McStay
Sent off: G McStay, Payne