Largs Thistle 2 Beith 3 Beith played their get out of jail card as they overturned a 2-1 scoreline with 12 minutes to go, but it was a self-inflicted defeat from Largs Thistle’s perspective.

Thistle, who won the tournament two seasons ago, were the first team to take the game by the scruff of the neck, and pressed Beith early in this game.

And it was an excellent opening goal as Alan Frizzell showed great vision to send a curling lob with pace over the Beith keeper’ Strain’s head from 20 yards. It sailed into the top left corner of the net on 27 minutes as Strain was motionless and could only watch.

However, the Bellsdale Park men conjured up an opener after Largs conceded possession in midfield. Frize raced on through and tucked the ball into the bottom right corner for a quality finish on 38 minutes.

But Largs edged ahead just before the break as a throughball found Sean Pierce scampering through to round Strain, and send the ball into an empty net.

Beith nearly equalised after a wayward pass in the box found McKenna but his diagonal effort was kicked away by Thistle keeper Ross Lundy.

Striker Sean Pierce had the ball in the back of the net for Largs but was ruled out for an infringement, and was released again but couldn’t beat Strain, before hitting a deflected drive over the bar.

Midfielder Glenn Thomson’s dangeous free kick into the box wasn’t picked up, and defender Alan Gilbride glided in at the back post but couldn’t get his header on target as the chances were mounting for Thistle. Pierce went even closer with a silky move before crashing an effort off the crossbar.

Largs had further chances with McClure going close, but Beith, managed to draw level on 78 minutes as the pacey Bradley speedily galloped past two challenges before firing in a shot which caught defender Willie Kinniburgh’s arm. Penalty awarded for Beith, and converted by Reid. 2-2.

And with five minutes remaining, ex-Beith keeper Lundy’s rushed throw out to McClure was intercepted by Frize who quickly dashed through on the right, and crossed for Reid to pull off a sensational scissor kick winner into the top right corner. Beith were given an inch, and they scored. It was ruthless stuff.

Was it cruel on Largs? Very much, but it was a lesson in not taking your chances, and Beith, who were far from their best, made Thistle pay for some costly errors at the back in clinical fashion.

Beith now go forward to the next round of the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup to play Dalry on Wednesday evening. and Thistle can take heart that they pushed a mid-Premier League team all the way, and arguably should have had the game won out of sight before Beith’s late turnaround.

Largs: Lundy, Fisher, Murray, Kinniburgh, Gilbride, Thomson, Muir, Lindsay, Pierce, Frizzell, McClure. Subs: Jamieson, Little, McDonald, Marks.

LIsten to Kicktalk Reboot below ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJLxSkYbMRI