Largs Thistle 4 Maryhill 0

Largs Thistle got their league campaign off to a solid start with a convincing win over Maryhill on Saturday.

Alec McWatters, who was on loan from Morton last season, started for Largs and was a constant threat throughout the day.

And it was great trickery from McWatters on the left which carved open the visitors' defence, and his curling cross to the back post was spectacularly lashed home by the onrushing Martin Orr on eight minutes.

And Orr turned provider as he teed up Joel Kasabundi for a sprinting run down the right wing, and leaving defenders chasing, and he slotted across for McWatters who smashed home from the second attempt from eight yards. 

Largs 2-0 up on 13 minutes, and already it was looking a long afternoon for Maryhill.

Thistle refused to let up and added a third after Iain Fisher's high curling ball from a free kick was dropped by the Maryhill keeper giving Nicky Jamieson the easy opportunity to slam into an empty net on 25 minutes.

More chances followed for Largs with Kasubandi going close with a long range drilled effort, while Largs keeper Sean Graham dived full stretch to palm away an ambitious effort from Maryhill outside the box.

Maryhill's Banks was red carded for his second caution for a bad challenge on Scott Adam, and Largs rounded off matters on 84 minutes as Orr notched his second of the afternoon. It was more great work from McWatters on the left to release Laurie McMaster and his pinpoint pass to Orr resulted in the former Greenock Juniors man blasting a diagonal effort into the roof of the net, with the aid of a slight deflection.

This was a morale boosting start for Largs in a league which traditionally has plenty of twists and turns throughout the season. This Saturday, Largs travel to Kilsyth on league business.

Thistle: Graham, Fisher, McMaster, Little, Jamieson, Campbell, Orr, Muir, Adam, Kasubandi. Subs: Ashe, Burden, Fleming, Lundy, Gilbride. 

* Largs Thistle have booked a quarter final slot in the Ardagh Glass Cup after Beith's 3-3 draw with Kilbirnie. Thistle travel to Hurlford on Wednesday evening, 6.30pm kick-off.