Largs Thistle 1 Rob Roy 5


Largs suffered an unlikely demolition job at the hands of old foes Rob Roy at Barrfields Park on Saturday.
Thistle unravelled after putting in a solid competitive hour of action but a goalkeeping blunder was the turning point in this league clash which ultimately resulted in this game getting away from their grasp.
With Stuart Davidson's side chasing the game at 2-1 down, the roof caved in after keeper Jamie McGowan put the ball down on the pitch in front of him to clear but was dispossessed.
Rob Roy couldn't believe their luck as they were gifted the third goal, and then rallied to score two more as Thistle wilted in the heat, suffering their heaviest home defeat in eight years.
There was little hint of what was to follow in the first half as both sides went at each other hammer and tong, and although Rob Roy had the bulk of the play, it was Largs who created the better openings in the early stages.
On three minutes, Largs won a corner kick which Stuart Faulds directed to the back post and was headed back across by Ryan McCreath.
Defender Cory Hughes, returning from suspension, sent a flying header over the bar with shouts for a penalty that he was impeded to no avail.
George Sewell got a crucial touch to divert a dangerous Rob Roy header out for a corner with a striker waiting to finish it off at the left post on 15 minutes.
And it was Sewell who converted defence into attack with a 40 yard pass to Scott Lewis who dashed through the middle but his lob finished just wayward. It was the best opportunity of the game on 23 minutes.
Simon McBryde delivered a probing ball to the back post which Craig Forbes narrowly missed contact with at full stretch as Largs looked lively.
On 39 minutes, Rob Roy scored the opener in controversial circumstances as David McGrath was charging forward but was dispossessed as both players got their legs in a tangle.
Rob Roy managed to rapidly manoeuvre the ball down the right wing as well delivered cross was immediately fired into the roof of the net by McNab for a real striker's finish.


In response, Laurie McMaster's run and cross from the left was cleared at the near post before Hughes then had to head off the line from a spectacular volleyed effort from Rob Roy at the other end.
As both teams headed in at half-time there was a sense that the game was far from over.
Lewis Davidson replaced the injured McGrath at half-time as Largs notched a quick equaliser on 51 minutes as the roving McMaster threaded the ball across to Liam Coogans who showed composure and fired an excellent diagonal shot into the net.


Thistle looked the better side at this point with Scott Lewis's cross from the right nearly finding McBryde who just missed contact at the far post.
Another high ball from the left was delivered into the box and this time Forbes with all his muster launched a terrific header which eluded the keeper and just went inches wide. 
A determined effort to stop the ball going beyond the touchline from Rob Roy saw a quick exchange of passes which split open the Largs rearguard as McNair despatched the ball under McGowan on 59 minutes to make it 2-1 Rob Roy.
Thistle had a great chance to equalise after a high ball from the right and Hughes headed on but Scott Lewis couldn't keep it on target as he blazed over the bar on 67 minutes.
On 79 minutes, disaster struck for Largs though as McGowan was caught out and Robbie Young couldn't believe his luck to fire the ball into the net.
On 85 minutes, Largs were again caught on the counter as a quick ball was played down the right to Young who managed to turn his man before delivering a low rifled shot into the bottom right corner from 15 yards.


Moments later, Davidson cracked a 25 yard free kick off the crossbar as there was a sense that nothing was going Thistle's way on the afternoon.
And right on full time, Rob Roy scored a fifth as a substitute McPherson managed to win the ball on the edge of the area and sent in a piledriver into the far left of the net eluding McGowan's grasp.


There was a great feeling of deflation after such a relatively positive opening hour and Thistle did have their chances to turn this game around before being floored by a Rob Roy side who proved clinical on the counter.
Thistle: McGowan, Sewell, McMaster, Hughes, McCreath, Faulds, McGrathm McBryde, Coogans, Lewis, Forbes. Subs: Frizzell, Davidson, Devine, Thomson and Walker (GK).