Published: Thursday, 18th October, 2007 10:30
Thistle collapse against Maybole
By Calum Corral
Print Article
Largs Thistle 1 Maybole 2
Thistle suffered a surprise defeat against promoted Maybole despite fielding one of their strongest sides and will wonder how they did not win the game convincingly.
It was an ignominious way for Sandy McLean’s men to lose their unbeaten league run after making such a good start to the season. The game had an altogether Scottish Cup hangover feel following the Linlithgow encounter, with Maybole bringing little support and the crowd numbers hit by the euphoria surrounding the Scotland national side.
Thistle never got going in the first twenty minutes and conceded early in this Stagecoach West 1st division clash. Equalising early in the second half, Largs had the carpet pulled from beneath their feet as Maybole restored their lead only a matter of minutes later and managed to fend off the Barrfields side during the remainder.
Thistle started with the top scoring partnership of Phil Cannie and Alan McCabe who had not featured together in the startling line-up since the second league game of the season against Lesmahagow.
Cannie went close with a header which was well saved but Largs were not picking out some Maybole attacks with particular success coming down the left wing as the visitors spurned some early opportunities.
Again, an unmarked player was not picked up on 13 minutes after a high ball into the box but the effort was blocked twice before falling to Robert Love who cleanly struck home from the right with a stylish half-volley into the opposite corner of the net.
The visitors’ goal led a charmed life as Neil Shearer went close three times, heading inches wide on one occasion, while ballooning over the bar on another from five yards. Michael Fulton nearly scored with a fierce low bending effort from a 22 yard free kick which just curled wide of the left post.
Keeper Steven Connick made a fabulous blocking save as he came off his line to spread himself at the feet of a Maybole forward who had again managed to find an alarming amount of space.
It was the Tom Jamieson who was incredibly unlucky to see his bullet header at the right post from a corner kick come rattling off the right junction and bounce out for a goal kick.
The start of the second half looked promising as Largs levelled matters with Fulton’s well steered cross from the left byeline finding Shearer who made amends for earlier misses with a low drive at the back post on 55 minutes.
However, Thistle were stunned just a matter of minutes later a high ball to Boyle was not picked up and he converted from close range.
It was a real hammerblow after Largs had worked so hard to get back into the match but the South Ayrshire side managed to hang on despite more pressure from Thistle.
Sub striker Willie McClure had two decent headed opportunities but was unable to convert while a fracas developed at the other end resulting in an angry exchange between sub Gus Gault and a Maybole midfielder which resulted in the Thistle man seeing red to complete the Largs club’s misery.
It was a mixed performance from Largs who had seemed certain to score a bundle at one point yet incomprehensibly let the game out of their grasp.
Thistle: Connick, Molloy, Jamieson, Hendren, Shearer, McColl, Black, Robertson (C), Cannie, McCabe, Fulton. Subs: Marks, McClure, Gault, Donnelly, Graham.
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Further Details
Largs karate men Scottish champs