Larkhall Thistle 0 v Cumbernauld United 8

On: By: hugh

Thistle started very well with a team containing 4 young lads and a mixture of trialists and signed players only to loose the opening goal as the result of a massive blunder by the assistant referee failing to raise his flag for offside with at least 3 Cumbernauld players in an offside position with one of them finally netting from close in. With regular keeper Ryan Cooper unavailable Young Lewis Melvin was in goal and was very unfortunate when he just failed to push a well struck Div. Reid free kick round the post . So half time Thistle 0 – Cumbernauld 2.

Thistle lost Mark Cuthbertson and Kevin Campbell to injury being replaced by two trialists.

With fifteen minute left to play the jags were 4-0 down but lack of experience and fitness resulted in a further 4 goals for the team who have been installed as favourites to win the league.

The management team are actively working to bring in some experienced players but patience will need be shown be everyone.

Larkhall Thistle 1 Irvine Victoria 6 – 4th August 2018

On: By: ian

Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Irvine Victoria
McBookie.com West Region Championship

 

Thistle began their league campaign against Irvine Victoria, a team who found themselves in the same situation of having no players, manager or money going forward into the new season.

 

The first half showed a marked improvement in the young Jags team as they saw out the half on level terms with the sides creating a couple of chances each.

 

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Irvine Victoria 0

 

The second half started with Vics doing most of the pressing and they got the breakthrough when the ball broke from a corner and was steered in for the opener. However the game turned on a couple of wild tackles from Ross Adams in a five minute spell resulting in Thistle being reduced to ten men.

 

Having just about held their own and stayed in the game at 11 v 11, the extra man proved too much and the Jags collapsed with Irvine tearing the defence apart almost at will. Vics scored again straight after the sending off with a free kick that took a horrible bobble when the keeper looked to have it covered but three more goals in a five minute spell tied it up. Thistle pulled one back from the penalty spot but lost the six almost straight from the restart.

 

With Irvine Victoria as one of the teams potentially competing at the foot of the table for survival, this is a benchmark of the improvement that will be needed to stay in the league.

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Irvine Victoria 6

 

Larkhall Thistle:
Cooper; Gibb, Kidd, Holmes, J. Adams, R. Adams, Riddoch, Broaton, Bartloz, M. Cuthbertson, Torrance
Subs: Munn, Airth, S. Cuthbertson, Campbell, McMurray

Scorer: Bartloz

Blantyre Vics 6 LarkhallThistle 1

On: By: hugh

After Thistle’s fighting display against East Kilbride on Monday night losing 3-2 after a spirited display a much  changed team with 4 trialists in the line up were eventually well beaten by a strong Vics. line up. Thistle were 4-1 down at the break but improved in the second half. East Kilbride won the section after beating Glencairn 3-1.

The club are under no illusions that there is a great deal of work to be done having to start from scratch  with no players remaining from last season so patience will be the key word for us all.

On to Saturday now with Irvine Vics. the visitors for the opening league game of the season.

Rutherglen Glencairn 9 Larkhall Thistle 0 – 28th July 2018

On: By: ian

New Southcroft Park, Rutherglen
Rutherglen Glencairn v Larkhall Thistle
Sectional League Cup

 

Thistle’s first competitive game under the new management provided a look at what might be expected in the coming season and the early signs are it’s going to be an uphill struggle. Glencairn were four up inside 18 minutes and the signs were that it was only going to get worse but to their credit the young Thistle team steadied the ship and saw out the rest of the half on more or less even terms, albeit with the keeper pulling off a couple of very good saves.

 

Half time: Rutherglen Glencairn 4 Larkhall Thistle 0

 

Two early second half goals for Glencairn took any sting out what was left of Thistle’s recovery ambitions and for the rest of the game it was damage limitation, three further goals could have been more but for more excellent work from the keeper.

 

Fair to say that the project still needs a bit of work.

 

Full time: Rutherglen Glencairn 9 Larkhall Thistle 0

SANDY RODGER

On: By: hugh

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.

Larkhall Thistle 3 Abbey Vale 2 – 21st July 2018

On: By: ian

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

 

Managerial Position

On: By: hugh

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.

Larkhall Thistle 0 Troon 7 – 27th May 2018

On: By: ian

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