Largs AFC 2-3 Drongan United

Largs AFC suffered a disappointing loss as both sides lost their discipline towards the end of a feisty encounter.

The visitors found themselves 2-0 up inside the opening 15 minutes. The home side seemed to have bags of time to clear their lines, but somehow the ball ended up at the feet of the Drongan striker, who tapped home from close range. The away side doubled their advantage in some style. A short free-kick led to a 30-yard thunderbolt, which flew past Alistair Deans in the Largs goal.

Largs grabbed themselves a lifeline after 20 minutes when Brendan Hill showed some nifty footwork in the penalty box before firing the ball into the top corner of the net. Drongan’s two-goal cushion was quickly restored, however, though it came from a contentious penalty. After a cross into the box was flicked on by the Drongan striker, the ball caught the hand of Chris McMillan. Though the ball struck his arm, there was clearly no intent on McMillan’s part and the judgement seemed harsh. Nevertheless, the penalty was calmly dispatched.

Largs seemed reinvigorated after the break, with the introduction of Gordon Wilson – returning after a long injury lay-off – and Sean Robb adding fresh impetus in attack.

It was Robb, making his debut for the home side, who reduced the deficit to a single goal as he finished smartly from close range.

Largs centre-half David Campbell got caught on the wrong side of his man. With the striker bearing down on goal, Campbell clipped his heels, leaving the referee with no other option than to send-off the Largs man for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.

It was soon 10-against-10, however. With David Mitchell starting a break-away from the edge of the Largs box, a Drongan striker needlessly charged into the Largs midfielder with intent. In the ensuing stramash, the initial aggressor raised his arms and Drongan were reduced to 10 men. The referee was not finished with his cards, however. Making his way over to the Largs dug-out, the whistler picked out Scott Fraser, who had been substituted at half-time, and gave him his marching orders for his own part in the melee.

Once the action got back under way, Largs set up camp in the Drongan half of the field. For 25 minutes, the home side laid siege on the visitors’ goal, but found a goalkeeper in inspired form and a defence eager to hold on to their slender advantage.

This Saturday sees Largs travel to mid-table Ochiltree United.

Largs: Deans, McMillan, Turley, Campbell, Hawkins, Hill, McGowan, Russell, Mitchell, Fraser, Cockerill. Subs: Cunningham, Robb, Robson, Smith, Wilson.