Largs Thistle 1 Troon 2


Thistle suffered a bodyblow as Troon deservedly took full points in an energetic encounter at Barrfields Park.
It was a frustrating match for Stuart Davidson's side after taking the lead from the spot in the first half - and they did have their chances.
Largs have worked hard to get themselves in a good position to escape relegation but have still to beat a team in the top half of the 20 team league. 
The opener arrived on 12 minutes as Stuart Faulds prodded a high ball down the left to Adam who raced into the box only to be tugged back by Troon's Darren Miller. 


Referee Ross Birrell had no hesitation and pointed to the spot as Largs top scorer Will Sewell converted.


Four minutes later, it should have been two for Largs as Jack Haggerty turned a defender on the left before sending over a probing ball into the box as Sewell's glancing header went inches wide.


Former Largs winger Ben Black showed a burst of pace on the half hour mark and dashed to the byeline before blazing an effort across the face of goal narrowly missed by Samuel Jamieson at the near post.
Moments later Jamieson darted through to meet a high ball on the left hand side and his direct volley had to be well captured by Largs keeper Jamie McGowan.
Jamieson then turned provider as he entered the box and set up the ooncoming Dale Moore whose rising drive had to be parried over the bar by McGowan.


Largs responded with Haggerty on the left wing jinking his way past a defender before sending in a surprise 20 yard effort which nearly caught Troon keeper Patrick O'Neill off guard but he managed to palm wide.


The South Ayrshire side won a barrage of corners in the second half and it was through this route in 51 minutes that they notched the equaliser.
A flying ball into the box from Black ricocheted off the back leg of McGowan and Ross Love's attempted clearance was partially intercepted by a Troon boot as the ball reached Moore.
He sent a fast paced chip back over McGowan's outstretched fingertips as it landed in the net.


Determined Haggerty responded with a curling effort which just evaded the right post.


As per usual Will Sewell was causing a nuisance for Largs and sparked a yellow card for the opposition after he was hacked down by Jack Sherrie.
And Sewell went close with a flying volley following Haggerty's corner which was frantically cleared off the line after going through a tangle of legs.
Troon were continuing to win a number of corners with one being headed off the crossbar.
Largs were running out of creativity as Troon were dictating the pace as the game reached its later stages.
Adam showed some ingenuity with a clever turn with defenders around about him on the right and lobbed the keeper only for the ball to come back off the crossbar - but the referee ruled that the wind had actually carried the ball out of play.
Troon were searching for a winner as Fulton forced McGowan into a low diving parry before Largs cleared it.
The game was getting narky too with a lot of fouls in midfield but it was the visitors that scored the winner in spectacular fashion.
Cherrie sent in a powerful effort from 20 yards out which blazed into the bottom left hand corner of the net on 81 minutes. 


It was a hammer blow for Largs who were unable to break open the Troon rearguard.
Largs did win a late free kick but Blair Docherty's swerving wind-assisted effort was a comfortable save for the Troon keeper and that was that.
Ultimately it was a very disappointing result as Largs couldn't find a way through the Troon rearguard despite creating several good chances.
LARGS: McGowan, G/Sewell, McMaster, Love, Ballantyne, Faulds, MacIntyre, McBryde, W.Sewell, Adam, Haggerty. Subs: Docherty, Duffy, Lindsay, Coll, Lapsley, Farrell (GK).