Pollok 4 Largs Thistle 1

Largs were bearing too many Christmas gifts on Saturday, and paid the ultimate price with a heavy defeat at Pollok.

The city cracks had a testing first hour against the Barrfields side, but cranked up the gears in a dominant second half, and the scoreline was identical to the reverse fixture between the sides of a few months ago.

It was the same Largs team which had comprehensively outplayed Hurlford the week before, and it was no surprise that Largs started matters with their tails up.

Thistle nearly scored in the opening attack in the first 45 seconds as a deep cross from the right found James Marks but his angled header flew across the face of goal and out to safety.

Pollok were awarded a penalty kick when Hanlon was upended in the box but Largs keeper Sean Graham confidently beat away Sideserf's penalty kick to keep the scores even. Graham then spread himself well to deny Pollok after a short pass back.

The opening goal arrived in 36 minutes and it was a high cross into the box which gave Graham problems, and Daly took advantage to head home. The referee didn't award the goal at first but did so after consultation with his linesman, over whether the ball had crossed the line.

And Thistle were dealt a further bodyblow as evergreen Robbie Winters latched on to a free kick into the box and tucked home a tidy volley from ten yards into the top left corner on 47 minutes to double Pollok's lead.

Thistle halved the deficit from the spot on 62 minutes after Glenn Thomson's penalty kick was drilled home, but the city side restored their two goal advantage after a mix up between Thistle veteran defender Eddie Walton and Graham, with Daly nipping through to tuck home on 65 minutes, and Daly got his hat-trick after latching on to a clever crossfield pass, to prod the ball past the outrushing Graham to give further polish to the score on 83 minutes.

Thistle kept working away and nearly pulled a goal back through sub Robert Love but his off balance volley flashed across the face of goal.

Pollok had too much in term of possession play for Largs, and their quick and inventive forward play put the Thistle defence under pressure. As for Largs, it was a sore defeat for them, and leaves them anchored to bottom spot at Christmas.

After Thistle's recent revival, this was definitely a step back into the abyss, and Largs will now require a major effort in their last nine games, including double headers against Beith and Auchinleck, to keep themselves in the top flight. Largs simply can't afford to throw away games like this.

Largs: Graham, Fisher, Walton. Little, Jamieson., McDonald, McWaters, Thomson, Marks, Struthers, Bennett. Subs: Love, Lundy, Gilbride, McMahon.

* Largs Thistle would like to thank shirt sponsors EDF Energy, and A H Mackie.

* Thanks to Ryan Scott Photography for the photos.