Clydebank 3 Largs Thistle 2


It might not be Halloween yet but this was another Jekyll and Hyde performance from Largs who had a first half horror show.
Thistle put up a grandstand finish to this encounter after seemingly being completely outplayed in the first half - and came very close to gaining a share of the spoils.
With a regular support of 600 cheering them on, Clydebank were two goals up after only ten minutes and had barely broken sweat.
Indeed, the hosts had more chances to put the game well out of sight of Largs before the interval.
It was a completely different second half as Thistle staged quite a turnaround and really put pressure on Clydebank who were breathing a big sigh of the relief come the full-time whistle.
However, despite the resilience on show, manager Stuart Davidson feels that it is now too many hard luck stories for Largs who can't afford to just turn up in the second half of matches.
Hard luck stories aren't going to keep you up.
And the brutal fact of the matter is that Largs have now won only once in eight league games and that is basically nowhere near good enough.
Davidson's had work in trying to bring in new signings in at last bore fruit with the arrival of striker David Ramsay who was slotted straight into the side after he was released by Irvine Meadow last Friday.
And in the opening minutes Largs had a fair bit of play on the ball and were looking to make inroads to the Clydebank goal when they were caught on the counter. 
A fleet footed passing move saw Higgins turn his man and send in a low shot which beat Jamie Walker from the edge of the penalty area on three minutes.
It was a shock to the system but Bankies broke clear again in ten minutes in almost a carbon copy of the first goal and split open the Thistle defence.
Former Thistle striker Nicky Little, making his 200th appearance for Clydebank, supplied Higgins who delivered a crisp shot into the bottom corner from 18 yards out.


Thistle's Ryan McCreath was on hand to clear off the line after another dangerous move on 21 minutes.
Largs had some possession but were unable to make any breakthrough as Clydebank were comfortable and indeed looked confident going forward but spurned some good openings.
On 41 minutes, Clydebank blasted an effort off the woodwork and the rebound was swept wide with the goal gaping.
It was as one sided a first half as you are likely to see with Largs really struggling to carve out anything.
However it was a robust response from Largs who looked a completely different side after the break with Craig Forbes heading wide from a deep cross.
Ramsay showed some magic on the right as he turned his man and sent in a vicious shot which had to be parried over the bar by the Bankies keeper.


Largs won a free kick on the edge of the area which was floated into the box and Ramsay threw himself at the ball but missed contact while Laurie McMaster at the far post looked certain to score but was dragged to the ground.
The referee pointed to the spot and Stuart Faulds calmly stepped up to despatch as Largs pulled a goal back on 61 minutes.
However, despite Thistle having the bulk of play, Higgins scored his hat-trick as he slid in to flick the ball over the line from a good cross on 66 minutes.


Thistle put that setback behind them through fairly quickly as they went right back up the back and put more pressure on Bankies which paid off.
Two minutes later, a corner kick from the right was cleared only as far as Connor McGoldrick and his low shot was flicked home by Ramsay for a goal on his debut.


It set up an exciting finale with Laurie McMaster going close as he turned his man inside out before curling a dangerous cross come shot which just drifted wide.


Ramsay fired a good driving cross across the face of goal but there were no takers while George Sewell burst clear but was unable to get away from a Bankies defender who managed to divert.
A bad injury to a Clydebank player Liam McGonigle saw play held up for five minutes though as Largs sub Scott Lewis was cautioned, and the home side then saw out the game in the final minutes as Largs couldn't find a way through.
This was a much improved second half display but Largs cannot afford to be a 45 minute team any longer - as Thistle showed in the 2nd half that they were capable of much more - and ultimately deserved a draw but their first half performance cost them the points.
LARGS: Walker, Hughes, McMaster, McGoldrick, McCreath, Faulds, Sewell, McBryde, Ramsay, Frizzell, Forbes. Lewis, Devine, Thomson, McGowan (GK).