Largs Thistle 1 Irvine Meadow 0

A VITAL header from defender Connor McGoldrick was enough to seal all three points on Saturday as Largs continue to keep their Premiership hopes alive. 


Largs are looking to produce another ‘Great Escape’ as they bid to avoid the relegation trapdoor which will see six teams definitely go down, maybe seven.
The Barrfields side passed up a series of chances in the second half and then had to see out the final phases as this match felt much more like the proverbial ‘cup final’.
Thistle nearly went ahead after 15 minutes as Stuart Faulds’ swerving corner to the back post was headed back across goal by Cory Hughes which kissed the top of the bar.
Meadow’s Jared Willet’s dangerous cross from the left got a touch in the box requiring Danny Farrell to get down well to make a solid stop after the ball was left sitting waiting to be pounced on.
Largs were pressing with Craig Forbes and George Sewell continuing to push forward at every opportunity and got the deserved opener on 43 minutes, as Connor McGoldrick rose above the Meadow defence to head home at the right post from a corner.


Meadow had a free header but Connor Boyd’s effort was guided directly at Farrell on 53 minutes after a good cross into the box.
Thistle went on to enjoy their best period of the game as they looked for a second to put the contest beyond doubt.
A good attacking move saw the influential Laurie McMaster felled in the box by ex-Thistle midfielder Ryan McKie on 55 minutes.
Will Sewell’s penalty kick was saved by keeper Marc Waters, and he then managed to block the rebound which hit the crossbar.
Sewell burst forward again moments later from McBryde’s through-ball, turned a defender and then curled it wide of the post with the goal gaping. He couldn’t have been much closer.
Then on 65 minutes Sewell was again centre of attention as he feinted his way though defenders and threaded the ball to Scott Adam in space but his shot was blocked by Waters.
Largs should have made it more comfortable as sub Blair Docherty raced on to another flick from McBryde but rifled wide of the left post.
The final minutes saw Largs running down the clock as they kept the ball at the corner flag as Thistle defended their lines well.
It felt a nervy final ten minutes having dominated the match with only one goal to show for their efforts — but the important thing was that Largs got over the finishing line and chalked up another three points. 
On another day, Largs probably could have had four or five goals — and the fact that they are creating so many chances is a real positive going into their final stages of the season but equally important was keeping that clean sheet too.
LARGS THISTLE: Farrell, Hughes, McMaster, McGoldrick, Ballantyne, Faulds, G.Sewell, McBryde, W.Sewell, Adam, Forbes. Subs: Haggerty, McLeod, Lapsley, Love, Duffy, McGowan (GK).