Petershill 4 Largs Thistle 1
Largs were expected to be given a tough test in Glasgow against unbeaten league leaders Petershill, and so it proved.
A high ball resulted in Thistle keeper Ross Lundy rushing out his box but he collided Petershill forward, and a free kick was given on six minutes. Gold's free kick was palmed away by Lundy at full stretch as Matthew Ashe tucked the ball away for a corner as the home side kept up the early pressure.
The opening goal arrived on 15 minutes as Hardie broke away through the middle but his deflected effort left Lundy helpless and the ball trundled past him into the net.
Hardie nearly scored a moment later as he half volleyed a bouncing ball from 20 yards out which cannoned off the right post.
Petershill made it 2-0 as Crerand scored from close range after Wilson's free kick into the box caused havoc, but Thistle's dangerman Scott Adam pulled a goal back on 29 minutes with a quality strike from the edge of the area.
But no sooner had Largs given themselves a foothold, Petershill went up the other end as Gold headed home.
Things went from bad to worse for Largs on 35 minutes as defender Creag Little saw red for an off the ball incident, after reacting to a challenge, but it was a contentious decision with bitter complaints from the Thistle dug-out. 
Scott Adam sent in a dangerous volley which was blocked by a Petershill defender's head before the interval.
Thistle enjoyed some good possession after the interval, but Petershill notched a fourth on 75 minutes after a clever throughball flick found Crerand free on the right and his first effort was saved but he knocked home the rebound.
Further chances followed for Petershill as Lundy denied Hardie with a good save before sub Barclay blazed a diagonal shot in from the right which flashed past the left post.
Largs finished with nine men as forward Jamie Campbell had to be carried off with a sore looking injury.
It's back to the drawing board for Largs after their second heavy defeat of the season, and at times in that first half, were carved open far too easily. Petershill capitalised on Thistle's uncertain defending, and could very well have added to their tally in the end.
Largs: Lundy, Ashe, McMaster, Little, Gilbride, Fleming, Orr, Muir, Adam, Campbell, McWaters, Subs: Jamieson, Struthers, Kasubandi, Burden, Fisher.
Photo: Ryan Scott Photography