Good workout on Tuesday night against the Scottish Amateur Cup holders Thistle winning 3-2 with all players getting a runout.
Tag: Friendly
Cumnock game off
Thistle’s friendly against Cumnock next Monday has been called off.
Reminder for anybody looking to go on the bus to Blairgowrie to contact Chris Lenson
Friendly – Larkhall Thistle 7 Motherwell Amateurs 0
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
Friendly – Backburn Utd 3 Larkhall Thistle 2
Blackburn United’s New Murrayfield Park is one of the better new community facilities in that it actually manages to feel like a football ground and the surface itself looks excellent.
Jordan Marshall’s departure to Glencairn meant Jags manager Dunky Sinclair looked to be trying out a new 3-1-4-2 system for the first friendly of the season – with Hugh Kelly sitting in front of a back three of Burns, Reynolds and Brown.
The game was played at a lively pace with both teams looking more or less ready to go for the new season in terms of fitness but Thistle went behind early on and found themselves 2-1 down with Brian Jack getting the Jags goal.
Thistle dominated possession in the latter stages of the first half but fell further behind after defensive slackness let the home side in to score a third.
Half time: Blackburn United 3 Larkhall Thistle 1
Graham Gracie pulled an early goal back for Thistle after great work from Ryan Innes who won the ball and fired in a shot that the keeper could only parry.
The Jags continued to press for the rest of the game and had a couple of half chances that might have produced an equaliser but in the end it didn’t come and the home side came away with a result that the play didn’t entirely justify.
On the positive side Mark Canning made a return after his long enforced layoff and looked like he’d never been away, he lasted the pace very well and showed he can still ping a pass with most in the junior game.
Full time: Blackburn United 3 Larkhall Thistle 2
Scorers: Jack, Gracie
Larkhall Thistle (rolling subs):
S Thomson, Brown, Reynolds, Burns; Kelly, McKeever, Jack, Canning, Innes, Nicholl, Doyle; Reid, Gracie.
Larkhall Thistle v Darvel Saturday 1st August
Due to Thistle’s and Darvel’s pitches both being waterlogged in places, this friendly will now be played at Loudon Academy 3G pitch, kick off 2pm.
The academy is easy to find, follow the A71 until you pass Loudon Gowf Club and at the roundabout take the third exit on right. You will find the academy on your right.
Electric Bar 2 Larkhall Thistle 3, Saturday 25th July 2015
Conditions for this game were horrendous, heavy and sometimes monsoon-like rain from start to finish very much affected the play. The final score was 3-2 to Thistle with goals from David Reid and two from Graham Gracie, his second an exquisite chip from the edge of the box.
Credit to both sets of players for what turned out to be an entertaining game.
Bus for Abbey Vale away
The bus for the Abbey Vale game at Palmerston, Dumfries leaves the clubhouse on Saturday 18th July at 11am. Kick off is 2:00pm.
Anyone wishing to travel please contact Hugh Kerr on 07746875347 or Stevie Johnston on 07523153713 to book a seat
Thistle v Bellshill – Match off
Thistle’s game with league leaders Bellshill has been called off due to the weather.
The friendly with Pollok which was pencilled in as a possible replacement has also been postponed.
Next fixture is Wishaw away on Saturday, kick off 2:00pm.
Friendly result – Larkhall Thistle 4 Petershill 3
The Jags got a great result yesterday with a win in the friendly against the highest placed Central team in the juniors at the moment.
Graham Gracie opened the scoring in the first minute with a great goal but Petershill pulled a goal back to send the teams in level at the interval. Second half goals for Neil Schoneville, David Reid and Matty Clarke tied the game up for Thistle.
Saturday’s game
Should Saturday’s home game against Vale of Clyde be cancelled due to the weather, the club have arranged a friendly against Petershill on the 3G pitch at Braidhurst High School, Dalriada Crescent, Motherwell, kick off 3:00pm.
Directions to the school: Go past Motherwell train station heading towards Forgewood/Bellshill, the school is on the right hand side after the level crossing.