Published: Monday, 5th May, 2008 10:00
Last gasp agony for Largs
By Calum Corral
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Off his Marks ... Thistle striker Jamie Marks scored a cracker against Clydebank.
Clydebank 1 Largs Thistle 1
Largs Thistle striker Jamie Marks scored a super goal on Saturday which looked like taking Thistle to another away win this season.
However, there was a real sense of deja vu, because like the first game, Clydebank managed to snatch a late equaliser to deny Thistle the sweetest of victories.
Some players were rested for Wednesday night’s Whyte and Mackay cup clash against Girvan including keeper Stephen Connick and captain John Robertson, while Largs man Scott McNicol played well as a trialist in defence.
The ever improving Martin Dow had the first good opportunity for Largs as his half volley from the edge of the area forced keeper Barry John Corr into a good diving parry around the post on ten minutes.
There were appeals for a penalty kick as Mark Hailstones seemed to be tugged to the ground as keeper McWilliams got down to save the ball but the referee waved away all protests which enraged the big Clydebank support.
A good cross into the box resulted in Jamie Marks heading into the hands of Corr, before heading over from another swinging cross.
At the start of the second half, Largs had a nervous moment as a goalmouth scramble involving Neil Shearer and McNicol, but McWilliams managed to gather.
Willie McClure was having a good game and he volleyed just wide of the right post as Gus Gault came on for Martin Dow, and Robertson replaced Tom Molloy.
Paul Craig was given his marching orders for his second bookable offence as Largs played against ten men for the final 25 minutes and went on to have their best period of the game. Marks evaded a challenge and fired in a low angled shot which was smothered by the keeper.
Thistle opened the scoring on 81 minutes as McClure did well to pick up Tom Jamieson’s throughball down the left as he won possession from a defender before sending a curling cross into the box. Marks got his foot in front of a defender at the near post to the turn the ball into the far right of the net for a quality finish and send the Thistle support into glee.
Largs really should have made their advantage count as Marks was again put through but the keeper was quick off his marks and his attempted lob sailed wide of the left post.
Thistle’s best chance to double the score came from a corner kick as McClure agonisingly volleyed high over the bar from close range at the right post with the goal at his mercy.
With two minutes to go, Clydebank, who had barely been an attacking force at all throughout the match, won a free kick 30 yards out from goal. Substitute Alan Jack stepped up and sent the ball past the flailing McWilliams as the ball nestled in the bottom right corner of the net for a surprise equaliser.
While it took a while for Largs to get their noses in front, they had good chances to bury Clydebank but did not do so and for the second match in a week, came a cropper as the opposition scored at the last gasp. It has been the story of Thistle’s season that they have not been able to get goals when they are on top of teams, and they are in desperate need of a top striker next season if they are to have any hope of challenging for promotion.
Largs: McWilliams, Molloy, McNicol, Hendren, Shearer, McCann, McClure, McCabe, Marks, Jamieson, Dow. Subs: Robertson, Black, Gault, McColl.
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