Sat 18th MAY 2019 KO 2:00 pm
McBookie.com West Region Premiership| Match 29
Barrfields Park, Largs
Largs Thistle 2 (0) Glenafton Athletic 1 (0)
Largs enjoyed the lion’s share of the early possession without threatening the Glens’ goal. The first decent chance fell to Graham Muir on 19 minutes but keeper Craig Burns stood firm to block his attempt from close range. A minute later former Glens striker John Carter fired a cross in from the right and although Ally Park headed it clear the ball fell kindly for Gary Fleming to take a touch before blasting the ball over the bar; the referee judging Burns had tipped it over for a corner which was safely cleared.
Glens grew into the game and were seeing a lot more of the ball. Long range efforts firstly from Cameron Marlow and then Leon Murphy were handled well by keeper Danny Farrell.
On 27 minutes Largs won back-to-back corners the second of which saw Kyle McAusland beat Nicky Jamieson in aerial battle only for the ball to fall for Carter at the back post but the big striker failed to get a good touch and the ball drifted wide of target. Cammy Marlow’s great block on a cross from Ryan McKie earned the home side another corner which was played short before being whipped into the box where a magnificent challenge from Ryan McChesney denied Creag Little a tap in.
The visitors responded with a fine break down the right where Mick McCann played a neat one-two with Dan Orsi before picking out McAusland tight on the right touchline to whip a great ball deep into the box for the incoming Park only for his powerful downward header to flash inches wide.
Ten minutes from the break Burns did well to get down low and cleanly clutch a low free-kick as Muir closed in looking for any scraps. A minute later Glens claim for a spot kick after Murphy and Jamieson tangled in the box was waved away. The big centre half had less luck in the Glens box when a corner-kick fell kindly for him but he blasted his shot high and wide of target. The final chance of the half fell to the Glens after Alan Cairns floated a free-kick into the box but McChesney’s high looping header to dipped inches over the bar.
HT Largs 0 Glens 0
The Glens made a change at the break with David Winters replacing Leon Murphy. Just as the hosts had the best of the early encounters in the first half so the Glens had in the second; while again clear-cut chances were thin on the ground. On 50 minutes, after a free-kick for the visitors had been repelled, the ball fell for McAusland some thirty yards or so from goal to thunder a shot for goal that Farrell leapt to push over the bar with an outstretched arm. The Glens continued to press without seriously testing Farrell while Largs had a couple of counter attacks that petered out in front of goal.
On the hour mark Largs replaced one former Glens striker with another as John Carter made way for Scott Adam; a change that would later pay dividends but not before the visitors broke the deadlock two minutes later with a well-worked goal. Orsi on the right cut in field to feed Winters who quickly slotted a perfectly weighted ball back out to wide on the right for McAusland to clip the ball to the back post for the inrushing McCann only for the diving Farrell to push it out the six yard box before it was met first time by David Winters to lash home an unstoppable shot from 10 yards for his first goal for the club.
Largs responded well through Ben Black cutting in from the left and finding Adam in the box with a forward pass, the striker taking a touch before drilling a low shot that Burns smothered comfortably. Back came Glens and Park’s effort from inside the box was deflected for a corner which although it was won in the air by McChesney the loose ball was mopped up by the home defence.
On 78 minutes the home side drew level after George Sewell’s pass for Muir at the edge of the box was intercepted by McChesney only for the ball to be snapped up by Adam but his progress into the box was blocked by Craig Menzies at the expense of a free kick. Full back Martin Orr stepped up to drill a low shot through a three-man wall covering the near post leaving keeper Burns a spectator in the middle of the goal as the ball found its way undeterred into the corner of the net.
Prior to the free kick being taken Largs had brought on Ross George for Ryan McKie and he was instrumental in Thistle taking the lead two minutes later. Black burst down the left before whipping the ball across the face of goal which George met first time only for Burns to stop on the line with a strong foot. The loose ball was gathered by Black who turned full circle to evade a number of Glens defenders before setting up his shot and as Menzies stretched a leg to block it, the midfielder lost his footing and the referee pointed to the spot. Scott Adam sent the keeper the wrong way slamming the ball low into the left-hand corner of the net.
Glens brought on Kit Cummins for Cameron Marlow as the visitors tried to salvage a point in the closing minutes while Largs replaced Graham Muir with Kevin Struthers.
Two minutes from time Black broke down the left before cutting inside and as Findlay Frye came across to cover, he caught the midfielder from behind sending him tumbling into the box earning an instant red card from the referee. After some handbags, earning Struthers a yellow for his over-reaction, Black was back on his feet and Struthers struck the free-kick which curled round the wall before Burns pulled off an excellent save to push the ball wide. The corner-kick that followed was headed clear by Cummins and the final whistle blew with the Scottish Junior Cup finalists taking the points.
FT Largs 2 Glens 1
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC: 1. Craig Burns 2. Kyle McAusland 3. Alan Cairns 4. Craig Menzies 5. Ryan McChesney 6. Findlay Frye 7. Dan Orsi 8. Cameron Marlow (14. Kit Cummins) 9. Mick McCann 10. Ally Park 11. Leon Murphy (12. David Winters) Sub Not Used : 16. Craig Potter
LARGS THISTLE: 1. Danny Farrell, 2. Martin Orr 3. George Sewell 4. Creag Little 5. Nicky Jamison 6. Stuart Faulds 7. Ryan McKie (15. Ross George) 8. Gary Fleming 9. John Carter (16. Scott Adam) 10. Graham Muir (12. Kevin Struthers) 11. Ben Black. Subs Not Used: 14. Ryan Begley 21. Ross Lundy
Glenafton Athletic 