Irvine Meadow 1 Largs Thistle 1


Thistle maintained their unbeaten away record but had to settle for a share of the spoils in an exciting and fast flowing encounter at Meadow Park.
There was not much to choose between the sides and the game was very much in the balance during an exciting period late in the second half with chances going a-begging for both sides.
Irvine have a new manager in place in George Grierson and the players seemed eager to impress in the opening exchanges as they took the game to Largs.
Largs were missing the width and speedy running of playmaker Sean McLeod on the right wing, with midfield dynamo Simon McBryde returning to the side, as manager Stuart Davidson had to re-jig.
In between the sticks for Largs, Jamie Walker replaced Jamie McGowan who got injured in the warm-up, and was called into action throughout with some smart saves.
And it was Walker very much to rescue in an early Meadow attack as Callum Graham managed to burst through on the right. 
Graham managed to fend off Laurie McMaster's attentions as he swept in a low shot which was blocked by Walker's legs and turned over the bar.
Paul Byrne hit an effort which trickled wide for Meadow before Connor Boyd also had a good opening which was blocked by Walker at full stretch.
However, after the whirlwind start from the hosts, Largs started to come more into the game and started to create dangerous chances of their own.
Craig Forbes teed up Simon McBryde for the cross but McMaster could not get good control and fired wide from just a matter of yards out on 13 minutes. It was a huge opportunity in the context of the game so far.
Largs won a corner out on the left wing and Stuart Faulds floated in a high ball to the far post which was met by George Sewell who struck the side of the right post with a header on 17 minutes.
There were calls for a Thistle penalty after last week's goal hero Craig Forbes was clearly tugged as he leapt for a dangerous cross into the box at the left post.
Another big opportunity fell to McMaster as he managed to get behind his man but his angled drive beat the keeper and just flashed wide of the left post on 34 minutes.
In the second half, Simon McBryde managed to dispossess Meadow's Kyle Faulds and hit in a low effort from the edge of the area which was saved by Marc Waters in the Meadow goal.
Boyd's probing cross from left resulted in Callum Graham's header which produced a great diving save from Walker.
On 61 minutes Meadow missed the chance of the match as Boyd's turning and twisting in the Largs box resulted in a blazing shot off the bar and Graham inexplicably hit the rebound over with the goal at his mercy.
Thistle made them pay as they raced up the other end and scored the opener as McBryde this time elected to lob the keeper and the ball floated into the net for a top quality finish. It was indication of how the game had ebbed and flowed - and the importance of taking your chances.
A high ball from McBryde found George Sewell at the right post but he cushioned his header just wide as the offside flag was raised.
Walker then made a terrific point blank save from Graham but the referee's whistle was sounded for an infringement - it was a man of the match display from the Largs keeper.
It was Meadow skipper Callum Gow who scored the equaliser with a firm header following a cross from a throw on 73 minutes to level matters.
After a frenetic spell of action, it was a more calming final ten minutes as both sides settled for a point.
There was no doubt about it that Largs keeper Walker made some very important saves.
Thistle will be disappointed not to have taken their chances when they were on top during this match - but overall there was a feeling that a point apiece was a fair reflection on both team's endeavours in an evenly balanced contest.
LARGS: Walker, Hughes, McMaster, McGoldridck, McCreath, Faulds, Sewell, McBryde, Frizzell, Davidson, Forbes: Subs: Thompson, Devine.