Beith 3 Largs Thistle 4


Gutsy Largs triumphed in a rip-roaring cup classic at Beith with recent signing David Ramsay popping up with a dramatic late winner to send the Thistle fans into rapturous joy.
This game had stunning goals, mistakes, and pivotal momentum changes, all played on a mudbath of a surface.
The Barrfields side were deservedly two goals up in this 2nd round South Scotland Challenge cup tie but Beith flipped the game on its head in a second half recovery to lead 3-2.
With just a few minutes remaining, a stunning goal from George Sewell wrestled the match back into Thistle's control before Ramsay's last gasp winner.
It was breathless stuff played in torrential rain showers at times on a greasy surface which really tested both sides to the limit.
As Stuart Davidson who was getting married on the day and absent from the dugout, Scott Adam and Laurie McMaster took on the managerial duties from the sidelines.
The win was even more remarkable given Thistle's lengthy injury list as they had only one substitute listed but Largs looked confident from the off and were soaking up any Beith pressure.
The opening goal arrived after a Beith defensive slip up as a long ball by Alan Frizzell was not cut out.
A defensive pass back to the keeper bounced up on the uneven surface as the keeper's fresh air kick left George Sewell with the simple job of tapping in at the left post on 18 minutes.
It was a gift of a goal in the conditions but Largs kept motoring forward and nearly scored again after a corner kick was pulled back for Simon McBryde whose curling shot brought out a great save from the keeper on 31 minutes.
A Beith defender's attempted clearance was blocked as the ball spun forward into Frizzell's path and he showed great composure to deliver a diagonal rocket into the bottom left corner to put Thistle 2-0 up on 36 minutes.
Largs had some more free kicks and corners and striker David Ramsay nearly put Largs three goals up on the verge of half-time as his effort just whizzed wide.
Early in the second half, Thistle were denied by the offside flag as Craig Forbes raced through on goal as the keeper saved.
Largs had stuck to their task and looked commanding but Beith staged a second half comeback.
Beith won a corner kick which Largs disputed but it was to no matter as Carlo Monti had a free header in the box to half the deficit on 66 minutes.
Four minutes later Josh Fowler's dancing feet on the right wing allowed him to cut inside and he delivered a brilliant shot into the far corner of the net for the equaliser.
Thistle keeper Jamie Walker had to receive treatment as play was stopped for a few minutes.
On 81 minutes Beith moved ahead after ashot from the left saw Jamie Walker dive to block.
Cory Hughes then cleared off the line before Monti followed up to thump the rebound into the back of the net in a packed goalmouth in the pouring rain. 3-2 Beith.
A Blair Devine cross on the left was only partially cleared by the hosts, and Sewell picked up outside the right corner of the box and managed to keep the ball up in the air twice before launching a wonder shot into the top left corner of the net to spark massive Thistle celebrations on 85 minutes. Incredibly it was 3-3.
It felt like Thistle had won it and were walking on air after this magnificent goal - and it gave them the lift they needed as a minute later they rampaged up the park again - and scored the winner.
It was a visionary pass from Frizzell which released David Ramsay who managed to take the ball round the keeper before despatching it into an empty net. Video evidence later showed that the winning goal was onside.
There was still work to be done for Thistle as Beith won another corner and Connor McGoldrick made a great volleyed clearance from a Beith attacker who was nearly through.
Walker then made a good diving save to deny an arching header in the dying minutes, while Largs also had a late breakaway to make it 5-3 but were denied by a last ditch challenge.
The final whistle finally sounded three minutes into stoppage time to delirious cheers from the Thistle support as Largs recorded their first win at Bellsdale Park since 2011.
Wins at Beith are few and far between but this was an absolutely superb effort from Largs who kept belief and finished off the job in some style with that dramatic late finale which had Thistle fans singing in the rain.
THISTLE: Walker, Hughes, Devine, McGoldrick, McCreath, Faulds, Sewell, McBryde, Ramsay, Frizzell, Forbes. Subs. Thompson.