Stagecoach West of Scotland League Central District First Division
Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v East Kilbride Thistle

Larkhall Thistle went into this game knowing only a win would be good enough to maintain their push for promotion and having won the corresponding fixture at the Show Park by 8-0, were strong favourites to do so even though they were missing three of the regular back four in Dean Richardson, Alan Fleming and Andy Brown. Fellow promotion chasers Lesmahagow and Lanark were playing each other so at least one of them was going to drop points.

The game started quietly with Thistle looking a bit nervous and it was the ninth minute before the first chance was created. Jordan Marshall and Graham Gracie worked the ball between them before laying it back for Mark Canning to volley from the edge of the box, his effort going narrowly past the right post. The visitors showed that they intended to make a game of it and as they grew in confidence they managed their first real attempt at goal when striker Scott hit a dipping shot past the post after picking up a loose ball from a free kick.

Thistle then replied with a couple of half chances, first Joe Doyle – who looked like he has never been away – made a 30 yard run but hit his shot tamely straight at East Kilbride keeper Wilson then Graham Gracie and Ross McKeever combined to set up Mark McKeever but the keeper managed to block his shot with his feet.

Hugh Kelly picked up the game’s first booking after 21 minutes when he left the referee with no option after fouling an opponent who was racing into the clear on the halfway line but five minutes later Thistle were in front. Mark Canning picked up the ball halfway inside the East Kilbride half and poked a ball through the middle into the path of Gracie who looked up and picked his spot with a lob past the advancing keeper into the middle of the goal.

Thistle were pressing for a second and after a couple of attempts the incident that was to confirm the home win came in the 38th minute. McKeever picked up the ball on the edge of the box and hit a hard drive that caught an East Kilbride defender on the arm, the referee decided somewhat harshly that it was a penalty and JP Grant made no mistake from the spot.

Having gone two up some of the Jags players might have thought that the job was done but were to get a sharp reminder that East Kilbride weren’t going down without a fight just four minutes later, when Boyle picked up an excellent through ball and lobbed high into the net past Davie McEwan.

Fortunately for Thistle they heeded the warning and restored their two goal advantage four minutes later through a magnificent solo effort from Gracie. He picked up the ball just outside the left edge of the box and weaved his way past the whole East Kilbride defence before crashing the ball high into the roof of the net.

Half Time: Larkhall Thistle 3 East Kilbride Thistle 1

The second half started with a complete chance of attitude from Thistle as they looked for the early goal to make sure the points were safe. Gracie nearly got the goal after only two minutes when he crashed a fierce shot from the edge of the box, unfortunately for him Wilson was well placed to make the save. Next to threaten the visitors goal was McKeever who struck his shot wide after being played in by a great ball from the outside of Jordan Marshall’s boot. Marshall was becoming increasingly influential and his hard work and range of passing was what had been missing in the right midfield role.

Larkhall were pressing hard without any real cutting edge up front and although they had nearly all the pressure the goals weren’t coming with JP Grant in particular frustrated at not getting his name on the scoresheet.

Thistle did add one more goal to their tally in the 71st minute and it came from the best move of the match. A long ball from McEwan was headed on by Grant and Gracie took a great touch to bring it down and control it in one move, passing it square to Canning 20 yards out in front of the goal. The midfielder looked up and spotted Marshall on the right and played a perfect ball into his path for the youngster to run on and place the ball low into the left corner of the goal.

The Jags made a couple of late substitutions, bringing on first Sandy Strang in place of McKeever then Jack for Marshall and saw the game out safely although there was a late chance for East Kilbride. McEwan had to dive full length to tip past a 20 yard effort for a corner and from the resultant kick the visitors should have scored with a free header from 8 yards.

Although the result was what was required, other games didn’t go in Thistle’s favour on the night and nothing was gained. St Anthony’s came back to beat Dunipace, Shettleston won and Lesmahagow beat Lanark in the derby. The Ants have now played all their games and we can overtake them on points with back to back wins against Port Glasgow, the other contenders being Lesmahagow who would top us if they won all their five games and Shettleston who would now need us to slip up.

Full Time: Larkhall Thistle 4 East Kilbride Thistle 1

Thistle Scorers: Gracie 2, Grant, Marshall

Larkhall Thistle Team:
McEwan; Russell, Doyle, Kelly, Nicholl; Marshall, Canning, Grant, McKeever; McGeachie, Gracie. Subs , Jack, Strang, Bulloch, Moss

Booked: Kelly

Best for Thistle on the day were youngsters Marshall and Nicholl, with Doyle and Kelly doing a good job of controlling the defence.

East Kilbride Thistle:
Wilson; McMillan, Sloan, McAnenie, Borg; Stuart, Kelsell, Johnstone, Scott, Jeffrey, Boyle Subs: Findlay, Clark, Meek, Winter, Kennedy

Stagecoach West of Scotland League Central District First Division
Gasworks Park, Larkhall
Larkhall Thistle v Bellshill Athletic

Thistle went into this match with a poor league record this season against local rivals from Lanarkshire and unfortunately kept the bad run going by only just scraping a draw. Yet again the game was played like a cup tie from the start with Bellshill just as desperate to win as Thistle even though they had nothing to play for and were already safe.

 

Thistle were forced into making changes with two of the regular back four missing through suspension so they started with Scott Nicholl at left back and Joe Doyle at centre half alongside Andy Brown, Mark Russell returning to right back. Ross McGeachie dropped to the bench to allow JP Grant to play as supporting striker and accommodate Jack in the midfield.

Bellshill made the early running and had most of the possession in the opening exchanges but it was Thistle who came closest to scoring in the ninth minute. Graham Gracie made his first telling contribution with a run down the left and was fouled, JP Grant took the resulting free kick and was unlucky to see it cannon back off the left post.

Shortly after that Nicholl was booked for needlessly kicking the ball away and from then on he walked a tightrope with the referee showing leniency on more than one occasion, his inexperience showing through.

Fifteen minutes into the game the Jags had their best chance of the first half when Gracie again did well to win a free kick. Joe Doyle swung the ball in and it fell perfectly for Russell 10 yards out but the keeper dived well to smother his shot. Thistle’s pressure looked like resulting in a goal but it was Bellshill who took the lead after 21 minutes against the run of play. They won a couple of corners and the second one fizzed into the middle of the goal, Nicholl swung his boot to try and clear but it spun off him and past Davie McEwan. The Jags were facing a strong wind and the ball seemed to have moved in the air, deceiving the keeper.

Bellshill passed up a couple of chances to go into the half-time break ahead, firstly a soft looking free kick from 28 yards which beat the wall and goalkeeper but sailed just over the bar, then an even better opportunity when a ball floated to the back post forced McEwan into a point blank save from 6 yards.

Half Time: Larkhall Thistle 0 Bellshill Athletic 1

The second half started with Larkhall on the offensive but again it was Bellshill who created the best scoring opportunity three minutes into the half when striker Miller wriggled past two defenders and got a shot away but it went just over the bar. The visitors bench made some half-hearted appeals for a penalty but the referee got this one right.

JP Grant picked up a booking after 57 minutes – even although it was him who was fouled – for swinging a leg at his opponent and was possibly slightly fortunate to stay on the park. Two minutes later Mark McKeever followed him into the book for a tackle.

Ross McGeachie replaced the anonymous Brian Jack and immediately made an impact, winning header after header and getting some very dangerous flick-ons and it was big Ross who was on the end of Thistle’s next chance when he got his head to a Joe Doyle free kick from the half way line but sent it just past the post. The Jags were pushing hard for the equaliser but the visitors were looking dangerous on the break and Davie McEwan had to be at his best in the 75th minute when he pulled off a point blank save to keep them in the game.

Thistle made another change to push for the equaliser and replaced Mark Russell with Sandy Strang, switching to three up front.

If Thistle were to get the breakthrough it always looked likely to come from a set piece and in 79 minutes they drew level from a free kick. Joe Doyle swung the ball in from the right and when it landed in the middle of the six yard area JP Grant reacted first and poked it home.

The joy at drawing level was short-lived however as two minutes later Bellshill regained the lead with a free header in the middle of the goal from a cross from the left. Gracie was booked shortly after in an extremely harsh incident when he swore at a team mate.

It was attack on all fronts now for Thistle but their attempts looked like falling short while at the same time Bellshill always looked capable of scoring on the break and McEwan saved the day on a couple more occasions. The goal did eventually come two minutes into added time and it was the simplest of moves. Gracie took a long throw on the right hand touchline and McGeachie rose highest to flick the ball up and over the keeper into the far corner of the goal.

Bellshill were now starting to regret the time wasting tactics as the Jags pressed again and looked for the winner but time got the better of them and the game ended in a draw that didn’t really satisfy either team.

Full Time: Larkhall Thistle 2 Bellshill Athletic 2

Thistle Scorers: Grant, McGeachie

Larkhall Thistle Team:
McEwan; Brown, Doyle, Nicholl, Russell; Jack, Canning, Kelly, McKeever; Grant, Gracie. Subs: McGeachie, McInall, Strang, Bulloch, Moss

Booked: Nicholl, Grant, McKeever, Gracie

Bellshill:
Donnelly, Brady, McDowell, Dolan, Wilson, Morris, Woods, Redpath, Miller, Selkirk, Holmes. Subs: Connolly, Love, Steele, MacDonald, Calder

Best for Thistle on the day was McEwan with another string of great saves but young Scott Nicholl also had a very good game and showed his versatility by filling in at full back