Published: Monday, 9th November, 2009 11:19am

Bad Marks in top class finish!

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Arthurlie 1 Largs Thistle 1

A draw was the least that Thistle deserved for their efforts after dominating play in the first half, squandering a series of good openings. However, the match flipped in the second half as Arthurlie scored a marvellous opening goal and went on to torment Thistle as it was their turn to miss some fantastic opportunities.

It was a cracking junior game which had drama aplenty right from the off as Thistle nearly scored early on as Ross McMillan rose highest in the penalty box to head an effort off the crossbar.

Top scorer Andy Monaghan made a good turn on the edge of the box on the right and fired a dangerous shot which had the keeper beaten but agonisingly trickled past the left post.

There were calls for a penalty as John-Paul Dow seemed to be man-handled in the box as he tried to break free during a dangerous cross into the box but the Largs appeals were to no avail.

At this point in proceedings, it just looked a matter of time until Thistle scored the opening goal and Dow came closest before half-time as he dragged an effort just wide of the left post again with the keeper rooted to the spot.

However, at the start of the second half, Arthurlie were stepping up the gears and beginning to have more of an influence on proceedings. The goal when it came was out of nothing but it was a superb finish from Joe Andrews, who had his back to goal, and hit his shot on the turn as it sailed high into Stephen Connick's right hand corner of the net.

Frustration was building as some decisions went against Largs but McCabe saw red as he was ordered off for a late challenge on the keeper but the player insists that he did not make any contact with the keeper. A three game suspension now awaits the Thistle midfielder who had an excellent game.

Time was running out for Thistle but they won a late corner and Deas whipped a great effort across and Marks was on hand to fire a powerful header into the roof of the net.

Marks rushed off to the Thistle management in a show of unity and looked like a prized boxer as he swaggered over to celebrate with the management and fans amid euphoric scenes.

It was an incredible conclusion and probably, in the end, a fair result. Sandy MacLean's prediction of a 6-6 might not have been too far off the mark if both sides had taken their chances during their domineering periods of the game.

The opening goal from Arthurlie changed the whole dynamics of the game though as Largs had looked like gaining a possible victory up until that point and as Thistle chased the game, the Barrhead men blew some great chances of their own.

However. Largs can be satisfied with the final result as a defeat would have been an ultimate travesty such was Thistle's great play in the first half and fully deserved their share of the spoils for their fighting spirit up until the final whistle. It could not have been scripted any better as bad boy turns good with Marks having the final say.

LARGS: Connick, Davidson, Jamieson, Walton, Barnes, McMillan(c), McCabe, M.Dow, Monaghan Deas, J-P. Dow. Subs: Black, Marks, Robertson.