Largs Thistle 5 Saltcoats Vics 0 Thistle’s pre-season got off to a five star start with an impressive demolition of Saltcoats as trialist Matthew Santos sealed the deal with a sizzling performance last Wednesday evening.

The 25 year old ex-Saltcoats player ran rings around his former team’s defence, and was signed up by Thistle boss Bryan Slavin after the game.

Thistle notched the opener after a goalmouth scramble as skipper Kevin Struthers’ razor sharp finish on 40 minutes was as sharp as his new haircut.

Forward Sean Pierce crashed an effort off the crossbar, and the subsequent corner from Santos was headed home by sub Jamieson on 50 minutes.

James Marks burst forward through the middle, had a clear sight of goal, and curled in a 20 yard curler which was too hot to handle for the Saltcoats keeper for number three on 55 minutes.

Santos got his just rewards as his glancing header from Friels’ cross out on the right put Largs four up, and Fleming rounded things off with a fifth goal on 89 minutes, having gone close midway through the second half with an outrageous angled drive which just flashed past the left post.

It was a sublime start to Thistle’s pre-season in a throughly entertaining friendly encounter for supporters.

Largs: Matthews, Friel, Murray, Gilbride, Little, Thomson, Santos, Muir, Struthers, Pierce, McClure, Subs: Jamieson, Fleming, McMahoon, McDonald, Marks, Jacks (GK)