Largs Thistle 1 Heriott Watt University 1


Thistle had to battle back to gain a draw in this entertaining tussle with Heriott Watt University in their final pre-season game of the season on Saturday.
Both sides engineered chances in a game which ebbed and flowed, with Stuart Faulds notching the equaliser, as Largs were denied a last gasp victory by the woodwork.
Heriott Watt University are an East of Scotland second division side with quick attacking forwards who managed to stretch Thistle at times with their brand of fast flowing football.
In the first few minutes, Largs keeper Jamie McGowan had to get down to block an early opening, before the ball was hurriedly cleared.
Thistle responded as a trialist on the left was off balance as he blazed over the bar from good positioning.
On 15 minutes, some quick passing released a Heriott Watt University forward whose angled shot was beaten over the bar by McGowan in the Largs goal.


The first real chance for Largs came from Simon McBryde who managed to take a touch before launching a 22 yard effort which resulted in a sprawling save from the keeper.
Jack Haggerty's free kick teed up McBryde who again tested the keeper from distance before Thistle had their best move of the half.
Winger Sean McLeod's deep cross found Alan Frizzell who was in a great position but his volley was heroically blocked by a defender when a goal seemed certain.
The East of Scotland side tested McGowan from distance with a good curling effort, and then a fleet footed move opened up the Thistle rearguard.
A quick range of short passes resulted in a Heriott Watt forward slicing wide with the goal gaping to Thistle's relief.
A great defensive challenge then denied Scott Lewis as he was thwarted when racing though to meet McBryde's diagonal through ball from the left - and the ball flashed wide of the left post.
Early in the second half, a Heriott Watt University winger cut in from the right and took on the Largs defence before blasting an angled effort across the face of goal. It was a narrow escape.
However, the same player was not to be denied as he cut in again from the right, and launched a low piledriver which finished up in the the near corner of the net to put the university side in front on 48 minutes.
The arrival of Largs defenders Connor McGoldrick and Ryan McCreath added stability to the Thistle defence - and the Largs midfield and frontline looked like they had room to breathe as Thistle's attacking game came to the fore.
And the equaliser duly arrived as Lewis's initial shot was blocked but midfielder Stuart Faulds followed up to power home on 73 minutes.

On 86 minutes, Thistle opened up the Heriott Watt rearguard as midfield sub David McGrath fed the ball to the onrushing McLeod whose shot was on target but frantically cleared off the line.
And on 88 minutes, Reid nearly won it for Thistle after he cracked an angled free kick off the base of the right post.

 

Manager Stuart Davidson was happy with the test and believes his players made the grade as they head towards tomorrow's big match with Glenafton.
THISTLE: McGowan, McLeod, Trialist, G.Sewell, Hughes, Faulds, McBryde, Frizzell, Lewis, Haggerty. Subs: McMaster, McGrath, McGoldrick, McCreath, Trialist, Trialist, Walker (GK).