GREENVERSITY RENEWABLES	WOSFL Premier Division	Match 23
Largs Thistle	3 (1)	Martin, McVey, Ramsay
Glenafton Athletic	1 (1)
Sat 22 Mar 2025	KO 2:00 pm	Barrfields Park, Largs

Glenafton made two changes to the eleven that started against Benburb last Saturday with Ryan McCubbin and Sam McKee making way for Ryan Walker and Cammy Ross. On the bench was midweek signing Kyle Fraser, on loan from Ayr United U18 until end of the season.,

In the Largs line-up was Liam McVey junior, son of former Glens defender, Liam McVey senior.

The visitors made a lively start after Ryan Walker outleapt Liam McVey in the centre circle and his header was gathered by Shuggy Kerr who gave Liam McVey and Stuart Faulds the slip before clipping the ball forward for Chris Erskine to chase and although he left Ryan McCreath in his wake, keeper Matt Johnson was quick to collect the ball some ten yards from his line.

The home side responded with Travis Stacey gathering a pass on the right-hand side of the box before drilling a low angled shot that keeper David Markey got down low to hold as Jamie Martin looked to pounce on any spillage.

Back came Glens as Cammy Ross chased the ball down the right with Conor Bradley in close attention before whipping the ball from the bye-line to the back post where Kerr’s glancing header, under pressure from Laurie McMaster, drifted wide of the post.  

On 8 minutes a bizarre interlude followed as Jamie Martin had to leave the park convinced his nose was bleeding and on his way to the dug-out the referee had requested that Kieran Brady also seek attention in the dug-out. On returning to field the game was referee was delayed as a Largs player, near the centre-circle, had to tie his laces, while a substitute then run up the touch-line with the instructions, clearly heard, to tell the keeper to get down and tie his laces. Soon after Martin returned to play with his No. 7 shirt replaced with No. 8 shirt while Brady returned with a number-less shirt!

Play continued to flow back and forth with few chances on show.

Michael Mullen lobbed the ball high over Ryan McCreath’s head into the Largs box as Erskine burst down the right before cutting inside the box to meet the bouncing ball only for his lob  to fly over the keeper, rooted inside the six-yard box, but well over the bar too.

At the other end Largs enjoyed a good spell of pressure beginning with another low angled shot from Stracey deep in the box which bulged the side netting. Soon after Bradley, from wide on the left, whipped the ball across the goal mouth for the inrushing Cole Ojungo only for his header to fly over the bar.  Ryan Deas then fired a free kick from the left into the six yard box where the leaping McCreath just failed to get his head to the ball which then slipped out of Markey’s hands and Ojungo’s follow up shot was then blocked on the line by Jared Willet, before the defender hoofed the ball high into the air and eventually cleared from the box.

Glens countered through Mullen clipping the ball from the centre circle upfield for Kerr only for Bradley to intercept with a header and McCreath then head the ball high into the air from the edge of the ‘D’ before Erskine trapped the descending ball magnificently and squared it through the gap between Stracey and Stuart Faulds for Michael Mullen to take a touch for lashing an unstoppable shot into the net from 25 yards. Largs 0 Glens 1 on 23 minutes.

The visitors pressed again with Ryan Walker clipping a ball high up the left for Kerr to chase and although he outpaced the back-tracking McCreath, keeper Johnston sprinted from his line to the corner of the box to pluck the ball out of the air.

At the other end Glens lost possession allowing Faulds to feed Bradley wide on the left before pushing forward and whipping the ball into a busy box which fell for Jamie Martin to drill low and hard into the net. Largs 1 Glens 1 on 30 minutes.

Largs continued to press, winning a corner on the right which Deas curled to the near post only for McCreath’s diving header to sail over the bar.

At the other end Ross chased down a ball into the right-hand side of the box with Bradley tight on his heels and then holding him back with both hands in full view of the assistant referee, but no action was taken.

On 38 minutes Faulds brought down Mullen a few yards from the left-hand corner of the box. Ross Lindsay curled the free-kick over the two-man wall into the six-yard box where McCreath was positioned between Kerr and Ollie Rowe while keeper Johnston was rooted to the line as the ball finished up in the net.  As Glens celebrated and Largs heads went down the referee walked towards the centre circle only to notice the far side assistant referee raising his flag, presumably for offside. Shuggy Kerr was convinced it was an own goal and therefore could not have been offside. After some discussion the goal apparently was disallowed for a foul on the keeper, despite the keeper staying on his line and not claiming any foul!

Soon after McCreath fouled Kerr tight on the left touchline, a few yards from the bye-line, from where Walker floated the kick towards a packed near post only for the ball to dip over the bar.

In the closing action of the half McVey countered for Largs and pushed to the outskirts of the box before lashing a ferocious shot that whizzed over the junction of the far post and crossbar.

HT Largs 1 Glens 1

Glens made a change at the break with Cammy Ross making way for Sam McKee while Largs brought on Sean McLeod for Conor Bradley

Largs kicked off and were first to threaten after a Ojungo gathered the ball inside his own half before bursting up the right with Willet giving chase and then swerved inside between Willet and Walker to progress to edge of the box and crack a thunderous shot that sounded as if it had cracked the crossbar. Martin pounced on the loose ball to try and hook it into the net only for Markey to race back to his goal-line and dive to hold the ball tightly.

The home side took the lead on 55 minutes after the lively Martin broke up the left before cutting into the box short of the bye-line and then threaded a diagonal back-pass between two defenders for the incoming Liam McVey to pick his spot from 12 yards. Largs 2 Glens 1

Soon after Glens made a change with Ryan Walker making way for Evan Maley.

Play ebbed back and forth with the home side carrying the greater threat as Glens struggled to penetrate the Largs box, other than long throws.

Both sides brought on fresh legs with Glens bringing on Jamie Taggart for Chris Erskine while Largs replaced Ojungo, Martin and Stracey with Will Sewell, David Ramsay and Blair Devine.

However, the pattern of play remained much the same as before until Largs extended their lead on 83 minutes with the substitutes making their mark. Sean McLeod gathered the ball wide on the left just inside the Largs half before tearing up the wing with Mullen on his heels and some 15 yards short of the bye-line he squared the ball into the box for Brady but with Rowe blocking his path he rolled it back out of the box for Devine to drill a low diagonal shot from 20 yards which took a sight deflection and fell for David Ramsay to poke home from the outskirts of the 6 yard box. Largs 3 Glens 1

In the closing minutes the Glens brought on Kyle Fraser and Ryan McCubbin for Lyall Holding and Ross Lindsay.  

The home side continued to look dangerous and although Glens won a late corner kick which was scrambled clear and Largs broke upfield with Devine only for his attempt to pick out Ramsay in the box to be intercepted by Fraser. The final whistle blew soon after.

FT Largs 3 Glens 1

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC
1. David Markey 2. Lyall Holding (18. Kyle Fraser) 4. Jordan Allan 5. Ollie Rowe (captain) 3. Jared Willet; 7. Cammy Ross (16. Sam McKee) 6. Ryan Walker (15. Evan Maley) 8. Ross Lindsay (12. Ryan McCubbin) 11. Chris Erskine (14. Jamie Taggart); 9. Shuggy Kerr 10. Michael Mullen Subs Not Used: Finn Monaghan, Keon Thurston (gk).

LARGS THISTLE
21. Matt Johnston 3. Laurie McMaster 4/blank. Kieran Brady 15. Ryan McCreath 18. Conor Bradley (2. Sean McLeod); 14. Liam McVey 6. Stuart Faulds 19. Ryan Deas; 12. Cole Ojungo (11. David Ramsay) 10. Travis Stracey (20. Blair Devine) 7/8. Jamie Martin (9. Will Sewell) Subs: 1. Lewis McNeil 17. John Cumming

Match Photos

Largs Thistle vs. Glenafton Athletic