It was great fun to see the Largs Thistle legends of 20 years ago strutting their stuff on the Barrfields 3G on Sunday afternoon for Prostate Cancer charity.

A great laugh, good banter, and the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. They gave so much to the town in the 1990s, and now they are giving something to a great cause too.

The charity legends match was between the West of Scotland Cup winners of 1991, managed by Dick Brock, and the Scottish Cup winners of 1994, managed by John Crawford, with both sides getting some help from the modern day crop of Thistle stars of now and yesteryear.

The West of Scotland team took a grip of this game from the off but the cup winners of 94 defended valiantly. with Jimmy Murray and Barclay Feeney, keeping Brock’s men at bay.

However, the defence was breached by current Stenhousemuir defender Ross McMillan who headed home from a cross on the left to put the ‘91 cup winners 1-0 up.

Kenny Barnstaple in goal for the 94 side had his work cut out, and made some important saves to deny a hungry Andy Monaghan who came very close to scoring in the first half, and was at the heart of their best moves.

Sweeping up with confidence at the back for the ‘91 side was George Wall - a member of the Scotland over 50s squad - who seemed to take the match in his stride.

Barnstaple had to come off after around 25 minutes due to a shoulder injury after one good save to many and was replaced by Supersonic Stephen Connick who came on to big cheers from the Thistle support.

Stephen’s first job though was to pick the ball out of the net after an angled strike from the right from George Wall, after Connick was tackled on the left edge of his area, as the West of Scotland team moved 2-0 up.

However, it was the midfield dynamo David Elliot, who set up the winning goal in the Scottish Cup final at Ibrox 20 years ago, who pulled a goal back for the 94’ side to make it 2-1.

But in the second half, the West Cup legends moved 3-1 up thanks to Andy Monaghan who drilled in an effort from the edge of the area into the bottom right corner.

However, the 94 cup team came back with a vengenance. It was like the Reebok tv commerical from 2007 when Bobby Charlton passed to George Best, and on to Ryan Giggs, as for a surreal moment, you watched captain Jimmy Murray supply David Elliot down the right who passed on to James Marks, and then Iain Fisher would race through. It really was a celebration of Thistle through the ages.

Robert Burns made a series of top quality saves, with David Elliot again going close, hitting the crossbar.

The Thistle 94 side reduced the deficit to 3-2 with ten minutes to go as Iain Fisher following a 1-2, blazed an effort in under Burns and into the net. And Largs 94’ side came so close to netting an equaliser as Andy Scott’s header was cleared off the line.

Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the day out, and an awards presentation took place at the end for the two top players of each side, with Barclay Feeney and Andy Elliot for Largs’ 94 side, and George Wall and Robert Burns taking the honours for the ‘91 side. The medals were presented by Evelyn Pratt, the wife of former President George who sadly passed away earlier this year.

The match was particularly poignant for Thistle’s Scottish Cup winning manager John Crawford, - as he himself has successfully battled prostate cancer not once, but twice.

He said: “I was first diagnosed in 2003, and had my prostate taken out, and three and a half years ago, I had a recurrence of it.

“I attended the Beatson in Glasgow and had 33 treatments of radiotherapy, and gone through the process. What a great hospital, it makes you very humble.

“We are very fortunate to have these places like the Beatson, and Yorkhill.

“It is great to interlink the great memories we have of the Scottish Cup victory, with raising money for an important charity like this, and even if it can help a small number of people, it will be very worthwhile.” Over £1000 was raised for the charity.” Full marks to both George Wall, and Taffy Dicks, for putting the occason together.

The squads for the day were: Scottish - Kenny Barnstaple, Andy Elliot, Frank Morrison, Jimmy Murray, Barclay Feeney, Adam Russell, Alan Rodgers, Davie Elliot, Pat McCurdy, Stephen Phaires, Gary Armstrong, Derek Love, Creag Little, James Marks, Liam McRaild, Marc Breslin, Steven Connick. Dug-out - John Crawford, Ossie Findlay, Jim Deveney. West - Robert Burns, Jim Wilson, Clancy, George Wall, Jackie Rafferty, Mick McLaughlin, Frank Lovering, Stephen McCafferty, Ted O’Rourke, Alan McCafferty, Andy Monaghan, John Robertson, Jack Chalmers, Robbie Burns, Ross McMillan Dug-out: Dick Brock, Ossie Loudon, Iain Cuthbert. Referee: Graham Gilchrist.