Thistle went into today’s game on the back of a 3-2 home defeat to Kello Rovers, which before the game looked like being their best chance of a league win. Muirkirk are third bottom of League 2 and today’s game looked like the last chance of a win of any kind, as it turned out it was another defeat and exit from another cup at the first time of asking.

11 minutes into the game Larkhall found themselves in the familiar position of being a goal down, the defence failed to clear a corner properly and the second ball was finished from close range.

The Jags came into the game and played a bit of football in what turned out to be a decent first half for them. They created a few chances most notably a Miller header that he should have scored with and a move down the right that found Forbes in on goal but his touch was too heavy, allowing the keeper time to get out and block his shot.

Thistle did draw level just before half time though with a wonder strike from Michael Brunton, winning the ball and playing a one-two before unleashing an unstoppable shot that dipped high into the top corner.

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Murkirk 1

The decision to play McGraw in goals ahead of young Cooper surprised most given the way he had struggled and ten minutes into the half his error proved to be the turning point in the game. The keeper came out of his goal to challenge for a high ball and got nowhere near it, instead clattering into the Muirkirk forward and conceding a penalty which was easily converted.

Five minutes later a move down the left wing had the home defence floundering and the cross was easily slotted past McGraw to make it 3-1.

Thistle manager Derek Holmes reacted right away by taking off Miller who had posed no threat in attack and replacing him with Hunter, a move that almost paid off right away as he made a good run and was put in by Forbes only for the keeper to dive at his feet and thwart him.

With time running out, Thistle won a corner on the right and the kick was swept first time into the roof of the net by Ben Fraser who again had a good game for the Jags.

As it was last week, the closing stages were all about Thistle bombarding the visitors goal in search of an equaliser, if they could bring that kind of urgency and will to win to the other 85 minutes they might have a chance of doing something.

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 2 Murkirk 3

Larkhall Thistle:
McGowan, Rowan, Fraser, Boyle, McMurray, Dick (Simpson), Forbes (Campbell), O’Hagan, Bartosz, Miller (Hunter), Brunton. Subs Holmes, Cooper (GK)

Today’s bottom of the league clash saw the Jags welcome Kello Rovers, the only other team in the four divisions who were yet to win a point in the league. The good news was that at least one of them would lose that unwanted tag, the bad news is that it wasn’t Thistle.

There were four changes to the starting eleven from last week and anybody who saw the game last week wouldn’t have had many complaints about them with Cooper restored in goals and Hunter, Campbell and Breen the all-change forward three.

Larkhall suffered a major dent to their hopes however when the visitors took the lead before half time with a shot across the keeper.

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Kello Rovers 1

The second half was only six minutes old when the Jags fell further behind, a run down the right past Michael Brunton and a shot low into the far corner of the goal. It went from bad to worse less than 10 minutes later as Kello looked to have put the game out of sight, a defensive howler as an attempted headed clearance spun backwards towards the Jags goal and right into the path of the Kello striker who rolled it in past Cooper.

In a season of lows, 3-0 down at home to a team who had not previously won a point this was hopefully the low watermark.

Things did pick up a bit from there as Thistle took the game to Kello in an attempt to try and get back in the game and they pulled a goal back on 64 minutes with the one genuine moment of quality in the game. Craig Forbes picked up the ball just outside the box and turned inside past his marker before firing an unstoppable dipping shot up and over the keeper and into the top corner.

In fairness to the Jags they battled hard to try and get another goal and came close on a couple of occasions but they did make it 2-3 right at the end of scheduled time with a Hunter pop shot from distance that seemed to catch the keeper by surprise. It looked like it was going to be little more than a consolation but the referee played a further five minutes to make up for the Kello keeper’s time wasting.

The Jags pounded the visitors goal in the remaining time and came within a fraction from scoring when a Kello defender cleared a netbound shot off the line but they couldn’t get the final break that would have seen them get their first point.

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 2 Kello Rovers 3

Larkhall Thistle:
Cooper; Fraser, Barclay (Rowan), Boyle, Brunton, Forbes, Dick, Adams (Simpson), Hunter, Campbell (Miller), Breen. Subs Bartosz, McGraw (GK)

With Glencairn at the top of the league and Thistle pointless at the bottom, there wasn’t much expectation of a positive result today going into the game.

It all seemed to be going as planned when the visitors took the lead after seven minutes, Smith found himself unmarked at the back post for an easy finish. It looked like a rout was on the cards when Simeon doubled the lead 10 minutes later but the Jags managed to work their way into the game and had a couple of decent passages of play, they even created a chance that Mackiewicz should have put away.

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Rutherglen Glencairn 2

The first fifteen minutes of the second half also remained goalless until Glens stretched their lead, again through Simeon and it was 0-4 a minute later when he completed his hat trick.

Thistle managed to pull a goal back through Mackiewicz before Glencairn added two late goals from Kerr and McKay.

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 1 Rutherglen Glencairn 6

Larkhall Thistle: McGraw; Fraser, Boyle, McMurray, Barclay, Hunter, Brunton, Adams, Mackiewicz, Miller, Simpson. Subs: Cuthbertson, Wells, Breen, Crawford, Alexander.

Rutherglen Glencairn: Whyte; Gebbie, McGregor, Donaldson, Kerr, Fraser, Leyden, Esplin, Smith, Simeon, McKay. Subs – Mitchell, Gormley, Quinn, McGuire, McLellan.

Today’s game was a friendly arranged due to Girvan having cup commitments. St Anthony’s were the bottom placed team in the West and Central Leagues so players and supporters alike were looking for a positive result.

The first half finished without a goal and without Larkhall having created a chance of note. The Ants whilst not exactly dominating the game did create several chances and could have taken the lead on a couple of occasions.

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 0 St Anthony’s 0

The visitors had the ball in the net early in the second half but the striker had made his run too early and was rightly ruled offside but Thistle were creating a couple of decent chances and were on top in the early part of the half.

Larkhall made a couple of substitutions on the hour mark but the Ants took the lead with 15 minutes left through a scrambled goal from a corner.

Six minutes later it was 2-0 from the penalty spot after the referee had awarded the spot kick for handball, sub keeper Ryan Cooper’s first touch of the ball was to pick it out of the net.

Again it was late goals that cost Thistle the game, pointing to a lack of fitness or concentration over the full 90 minutes or both. Again also the passing was well short of what is required and has to be improved.

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 0 St Anthony’s 2

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

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

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

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

Thistle made several changes from the midweek loss to Petershill; Duncan, Doyle, McKeever, Innes and Clarke all dropped out to be replaced by Thomson, Mushett, Payne, Canning and Gary McStay.

The Jags got off to a shaky start with Kello having most of the early play and chances, in the seventh minute Josh Payne had to rescue the defence with a clearance off the line that set the tone for an excellent game from the youngster.

Kello had a claim for a penalty after 15 minutes with the suspicion of a shirt being pulled followed by the ball striking an arm from close range but the referee waved play on, however he appeared to use the totting up method of two half penalties making a whole one when he awarded a spot kick two minutes later for a challenge from Hugh Kelly. Stewart Thomson in the home goal kept up the Jags excellent recent record of keeping penalties out with a diving save to his left.

Johnny McStay had done well to rob a Kello defender and get his shot away and although not his best effort he made up for it in the 20th minute when he again took the ball off a dithering defender and took it forward, keeping his head well to slot past the keeper.

Five minutes later David Reid nearly made it two with a fierce drive from 25 yards and at this point Thistle were in control of the game and passing the ball confidently. Kello replied with a shot from range of their own that Thomson saved well but that was about it from them in the first half in an attacking sense.

Reid doubled the lead ten minutes from half time after Brian Jack’s flick header set him away, he took the ball wide past the last defender and looked to have taken a touch too many but in doing so created the perfect angle to draw the keeper and slot it past him into the opposite corner.

Half time: Larkhall Thistle 2 Kello Rovers 0

Two minutes into the second half the game was over as a contest as Liam Mushett rose to meet a corner from the left and made excellent use of the back of his neck to force the ball over the line.

Understandably with the game won Thistle’s performance dipped a bit and Kello came back into it but without the quality in the final third to threaten a realistic comeback. Their best effort came twenty minutes from time from a simple move, a throw-in found an unmarked team-mate who took the ball first time on the volley and forced a full length save from Thomson.

Thistle saved their best move of the game till the 80th minute, Kelly found Gary McStay on the right side of the penalty area with an inch perfect pass, he played the ball across the area to substitute Matty Clarke on the left who rolled it into the path of Reid to take the ball in and nearly put the icing on the cake but he was denied by another good stop from the keeper.

Two minutes later Clarke found himself in an almost identical position and his shot brought the same result from the keeper.

The win move Thistle up to the dizzy heights of fifth bottom with four games left to play against Kello Rovers (away), Cumbernauld (away), Troon (home) and starting at Irvine Meadow on Saturday.

Full time: Larkhall Thistle 3 Kello Rovers 0

Larkhall Thistle:
Thomson; Brown, Mushett (Robb 75), Reynolds; Canning (Clarke 71); Payne, Jack, Kelly, Reid; G McStay, (McKeever 79), J McStay. Subs: Gracie, Duncan (GK)

Scorers: J McStay, Reid, Mushett

Larkhall went to their furthest flung league opponents with a depleted squad, Gary McStay, Andy Brown, Billy Robb, Hugh Kelly and Mark McKeever were all missing for various reasons. Josh Payne started the game at right back in a back three with Liam Mushett and Niall Reynolds.

Largs looked the more likely side in the early stages and came close on a couple of occasions, a good flowing move ended with a shot past the post when the Largs player looked like scoring and it was quickly followed by another effort that Thomson in the Jags goal had to look lively to save.

Midway through the half Thisle created their first real threat as Liam Mushett back-headed a floated free kick towards the goal and a Largs defender nearly turned the ball into his own goal trying to clear it, bringing out a great reaction save from his keeper.

Largs went ahead five minutes later from a corner on the right, it was played into the danger zone and not dealt with by the defence and Scott Adam found himself in space in the middle of the box to stoop and head in from close range. They were lifted by the goal and immediately went looking for a second and nearly got it as Thomson had to save well with his feet when the Largs striker was clean through.

Larkhall got level just before half time against the run of play, David Reid took a corner on the right and Mushett got up well to get on the end of it, heading what looked to be a certain goal but it was scrambled off the line only as far as Matty Clarke who finished easily from a couple of yards.

Half time: Largs Thistle 1 Larkhall Thistle 1

Clarke almost carried on his good work into the second half as he took a free kick that Largs keeper Cousar had to be at full stretch to fingertip round the post. Largs responded through Stevenson who left Reynolds but produced a tame shot before the same player wriggled past the defence only to lift his shot over the bar. McWaters then got clear of four Larkhall defenders to cross for Fleming arriving late in the box but his header was wide of the post.

Stevenson got clear on the right minutes later but Thomson dived to save from his half-volley but the writing was on the wall and Largs took the lead for the second time right on the hour mark. They won a throw on the right and played the ball right to the byeline and cut along it before sending the ball  across the goal to the back post where Adam finished again for his second.

Liam Mushett picked up an injury and although he came back onto the park after treatment it was clear he was struggling and was replaced by young Mark Cuthbertson who did an excellent job when he came on and provided probably the one bright spot of the day with his performance.

Thistle were under the cosh for most of the rest of the game with the home side producing waves of attacks but the defence held out without conceding any further goals.

Ten minutes from the end there was a chance to snatch a draw when Johnny McStay intercepted a poor back pass and bore down on the goal but decided to go it alone rather than cut back for Reid who was in a great position to score. His shot was saved for a corner and when the ball came back out to Jack he hit a tremendous dipping volley from 25 yards that would have been a contender for goal of the season if the keeper hadn’t saved it.

A familiar result in Ayrshire but Largs were the better team on the day and deserved their win that takes them now third in the league. Thistle are third bottom, a point behind Kello Rovers who they play on Saturday.

Full time: Largs Thistle 2 Larkhall Thistle 1

Larkhall Thistle:
Thomson; Payne, Mushett, Reynolds; Canning; Clarke, Jack, Innes, Reid, J McStay, Gracie. Subs: Duncan (GK), Adams

Scorer: Clarke

Booked: Innes, Reid, Payne

Largs Thistle:

Cousar; Fisher, McMaster, Little, Jamieson, Muir, Stevenson, Fleming, Adam, McWaters, McKie