Published: Saturday, 26th April, 2008 12:00
Thistle win last gasp thriller
By Calum Corral
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Largs Thistle 4 Maryhill 3
Drama ... Defender Neil Shearer gave away a penalty and made amends minutes later to net the equaliser in a free-flowing encounter at Barrfields Park.
Thistle came back from the dead to secure an incredible win in the proverbial seven goal thriller.
Largs Thistle showed some excellent character to wrestle this encounter away from Maryhill who looked to be heading to a comfortable victory at half-time.
The Glasgow visitors have had only three wins all season while Thistle’s inconsistent home form has been patchy, and the Barrfields club needed a morale boost after the heavy defeat to Kilbirnie Ladeside.
It was a game which was certainly not for junior football purists and Largs certainly rode their luck at times but few could begrudge them the win at the end as Largs gained the ‘rub of the green’. Thistle had to fight back twice from 2-0 and 3-2 down before toppling Maryhill.
The return of Stewart Hendren was a big bonus before kick-off but Jasper Donnelly, Graham Black, Anton McLernan and Mark McColl were all absent from the squad.
The first half had very little to write home about as there were few chances but Largs started picking up towards the half hour mark as one danger cross in the box was sclaffed by McCabe with Willie McClure at the far post picking up the pieces but screwing wide.
Ross McMillan showed a cool header under pressure to clear up one attacking move from Maryhill but Thistle were looking comfortable and were creating chances.
However, it was the city men who took the lead against the run of play on 39 minutes as a high ball into the box was not picked up by a defender and Brian Smith dived in to head home from close range.
Matters went from bad to worse on the stroke of half time as a dangerous looping ball into the box from the right was expertly headed home into the roof of the net by Russell.
Manager Sandy McLean’s half-time pep talk would not have been pretty at half-time but Largs came out as a more attacking looking outfit as Phil Cannie was replaced with Jamie Marks, and it was the substitute who halved the deficit from a corner kick as he fired home a smart header on the hour mark.
The goal seemed to galvanise a Largs side who had been lacking in belief in their previous forward forays and John Robertson’s deflected cross from the right was only just missed by on the on-rushing Marks. The striker was again unlucky as Willie McClure threaded his way through the Maryhill defence but his cross had too much pace.
Thistle’s fortune looked to be out as they were chasing an equaliser as Martin Dow’s cushioned header bounced off the underside of the crossbar .
Largs equalised on 73 minutes as McClure managed to thump home from five yards after a low cross into the box.
Supporters couldn’t believe it though when the momentum swung the other way as Maryhill broke away after strong Largs pressure to win a penalty kick after Neil Shearer handled in the box. Ex-Largs winger Mark McManus swept the ball to the bottom left of the net as Maryhill dramatically recaptured the lead.
Marks went so close after flashing a header wide of the right post after an outswinging cross as the crowd cheered only for the ball to go past the sidenetting.
With eight minutes to go, Largs drew level once again at 3-3 as Neil Shearer made amends and headed home at the far post from Gus Gault’s corner out on the right.
But the drama continued as Maryhill launched a late attack and an incredible goalmouth scramble ensued, and despite a handball in the chaotic defensive scenes, Largs keeper Stephen Connick was able to scramble the ball away.
Thistle went close as Gus Gault dodged two challenges before veering a curling shot over the bar, and then Alan McCabe’s header was kicked off the line as Maryhill tried to hold out but Largs were not to be denied as another high cross was directed into the box for Dow to nod home to make it 4-3 in injury time.
All his teammates jumped on to him in the ensuing celebrations as Largs turned it around from a seemingly impossible position. Thistle showed great guts and while it was a thrilling encounter, the greater issue which manager Sandy McLean will have to deal with is how to stem the goals after their good defensive record throughout the season is in danger of going off the rails after conceding ten goals in the past three games.
While it was good to see a shot-shy Largs side scoring four goals at home, there was little sign of what was to come in the first half, and Thistle need to be more clinical going forward if they want to have purpose and the winning habit during the remainder of the season.
Thistle: Connick, Hendren, McCabe, Gault, Shearer, McMillan, Robertson, Dow, McClure, McCann, Cannie. Subs: Marks, Jamieson, Black, McNicol, McLean.
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