Balmoral United AFC 8-7 Largs AFC Largs AFC’s Scottish Cup run came to an end in dramatic fashion on Saturday, as they shared no fewer than 15 goals with opponents Balmoral United AFC in a chaotic 90 minutes of football.

With the weather wreaking havoc with the fixtures’ card in recent weeks, the Scottish Cup Fourth Round tie was switched to Perth, where any locals and supporters of both sides who braved the cold-snap were treated to a feast of goals.

The journey north seemed to have taken its toll on Largs in the early stages of the match, as they conceded three times within the game’s opening 15 minutes.

It was not all one-way traffic, however, as replies from Gordon Smith and Martin Dunlop set a pattern of play that continued uninterrupted throughout the afternoon. Some fine attacking football was on display – with Largs, in particular, pressing their opponents high up the park, winning possession and making full use of the flanks to create a host of chances.

The sharp, attacking football was aided by some questionable defending from both sides, with Balmoral adding two further goals before the interval. Another goal from Dunlop, however, ensured Largs clung on to their opponent’s coat-tails as the sides enjoyed a much-needed half-time break.

The chance to regroup made no difference to the hectic nature of the match, and it was very much a case of as you were as the second half began. An early strike from David Mitchell reduced the deficit to a single goal, which lasted all of two minutes, as Balmoral quickly added their sixth of the afternoon.

Largs’ player manager Alistair McGowan, who was struggling with illness, was replaced early in the second half by Chris McMillan, who joined debutant David Campbell at centre-half.

Midway through the second period, with the score poised at 6-4, Largs received a significant boost when the Balmoral goalkeeper received his marching orders after hauling down Smith. The red card seemed somewhat harsh but Smith had done terrifically to burst away from the Balmoral backline.

The spot-kick was dually dispatched by Dunlop, completing the midfielder’s hat-trick and, once again, bringing Largs within a single goal of their opponents.

Enjoying the numerical advantage, Largs continued to take the game to their opponents and almost drew level. They were, however, caught out on the break by a quick Balmoral frontline, and two further goals were added to the home side’s tally.

A superb long range strike from Smith and a diving header from Campbell brought the scoring, and a crazy afternoon, to a close, with Largs coming up just short of a place in the fifth round of the national tournament.

They can, however, take heart from their incisive attacking play and work-rate and they will hope to tighten up their defensive performance when they return to league business this Saturday, hosting Kilmarnock AFC.

Largs: Cunningham, Robson, McGowan, Campbell, Hawkins, Fraser, Dunlop, Russell, Mitchell, Clark, Smith. Subs: McMillan, Hill, Wilson.