Beith 4 Largs Thistle 1


Largs may have suffered a heavy defeat on paper - but on grass it was anything but.
Three pivotal refereeing decisions in quick succession at the start of the second half changed the outcome of this game.
Thistle are still wondering how two penalty decisions were awarded against them which turned the match on its head following the red card of Cory Hughes for a professional foul.
Largs still battled and created chances before Beith rounded off the victory with a curling free kick.
It was never a 4-1.
But the cold reality of the shrill of the full-time whistle from referee Paul Timmons on a bitter winter afternoon was that was indeed the final score on the day.
Thistle could well have done with VAR at Bellsdale Park as video footage showed that there was minimal contact on both occasions - and if penalties were given for this kind of thing - then there would be spot-kicks awarded all afternoon. 
Indeed, on several occasions, Largs players were given a clip or a body check at the other end and nothing was awarded much to the consternation of the visiting support. 
It was an open game with both sides having chances in the opening phase with Beith dangerman Fowler forcing an early save from Largs keeper Jamie McGowan.
On 16 minutes, Lewis Davidson managed to hold off a defender and set up Scott Lewis whose initial shock was blocked by the keeper.
The ball bounced back to the centre forward and as he turned his man in the box to get another chance he was brought down and a penalty kick was awarded which was stuck away by captain Stuart Faulds.
The equaliser arrived on 23 minutes and it was a similar route down the left wing which Largs lost their goal to Cambuslang as the Beith winger made it to the byeline after overcoming a challenge and sent a high ball into the box which was powerfully headed home by Monk.
On 36 minutes another promising attack from Beith down the left hand side teed up Nimmo at the near post but he struck the left post.
Watt showed good running and sent in a piledriver from the edge of the area which was well handled by Jamie McGowan in the Largs goal as the half-time whistle sounded.
The second half was only five minutes old when the referee issued a red card to Cory Hughes who was deemed to have brought down Fowler on the edge of the area.
The free kick came to nothing but Monk tested McGowan a minute later with a fierce angled strike that was beaten away.
Dario Nimmo was then adjudged to have brought down Monk in the penalty box despite minimal contact on 55 minutes and Connor McGlinchy netted from the spot. 2-1 Beith.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Largs nearly equalised as Scott Lewis made it to the byeline and his sweeping cross narrowly evaded Lewis Davidson's outstretched boot.
Thistle's George Sewell and Kian Burns were both racing to the ball in the Largs penalty box and Burns went down as the ref again pointed to the spot to the disbelieving Largs management and supporters who were incandescent with rage.
Fowler's penalty shot with power was nearly saved by McGowan as it rocketed into the net on 70 minutes.
Another good move from Largs saw Faulds dance past some challenges in the mud on the right wing and set up David Ramsay whose deflected effort narrowly flew over the bar with the keeper beaten. 
The frame of the goal and some good saves from McGowan kept Largs in this as a contest.
Scott Lewis was tenacious again as he broke away from defenders and could have had a shot himself but pulled the ball back for Ramsay whose shot was heroically blocked by a Beith defender and Simon McBryde slammed the rebound over the bar on 83 minutes.
It was just not to be Thistle's day.
Largs could have no complaints with the free kick awarded against them on 84 minutes as Watt was chopped down, and Beith converted with a curling effort over the wall from McGlinchy into the top left corner.
Thistle really were unfortunate in this encounter as victories at Beith are hard to come by - with no league wins since 2011 at Bellsdale - but two soft penalties were really the turning point in this encounter.
Stuart Davidson's side deserve credit for still battling and creating chances right up to the end of this encounter.
Largs put a lot into this game with no reward.
THISTLE: McGowan, Sewell, Devine, Hughes, McCreath, Faulds, Nimmo, McBryde, Ramsay, Lewis, Davidson. Subs: Thompson, Frizzell, Tennant (T), McMaster, Walker (GK).