Glenafton 0 Largs Thistle 1


Thistle moved up into ninth in the table with an important win over Glenafton which was heaven sent.
Management and players were determined to get the victory in memory of match secretary Derek Scott who sadly passed away just before Christmas - and he was very much uppermost in the the thoughts of everyone as a minute's applause was held just before kick-off.
Glens deserve credit for ensuring the game went ahead last Friday evening after the nearby River Nith burst its banks, and a major clear-up operation took place before the pitch inspection which received the all clear.
The game kicked off under the lights with Largs fielding a number of players who had to fight off viruses during the previous week. 
Thistle's patched up squad included John Tennant coming in as a trialist in defence.
It was good to see midfielder Laurie McMaster back in midfield after a lengthy lay-off, while Jamie McGowan played in goal and put in a calm and composed display.
The conditions made it a difficult first half for both teams with little in the way of opportunities.
There some half chances falling for either side but nothing clear cut other than Glenafton striking the bar.
Largs kept pressing at the start of the second half and nearly took the lead on 49 minutes as David Ramsay's back header from a swirling cross came off the post.
Thistle kept pushing and managed to edge ahead after a comedy of errors at the back for Glenafton with conditions playing a part.
With 15 minutes to go, a pass back to the Glens keeper after good pressure from David Ramsay resulted in a kick-out which hit off a defender's backside and the ball spun back into the net to everyone's amazement.
It was an incredible fluke goal but Thistle weren't prepared to let their good fortune be compromised and saw out the final 15 in determined style and managed to restrict Glenafton from creating any important chances of note.
The goal certainly seemed to give Largs added spring in their step and they looked the stronger side after that with Dario Nimmo putting one just past the post.
Another pleasing sight was seeing Sean McLeod come on the pitch as a sub for Tennant after an injury lay-off while Alan Frizzell replaced Ramsay for the final stages.
This was very much a battling win as both sides were looking for the breakthrough and while it was Largs who just managed to nick ahead in the most fortunate of circumstances it was an important rub of the green which has sometimes gone against them this season, and Largs were well positioned after that to cement the victory with a stubbornly effective defensive display to keep the East Ayrshire side at bay.
Largs clearly enjoy playing under the floodlights after wins now against Glens and Darvel, and play Petershill in an evening fixture in early February.
But the most important thing was getting the three points and moving up the table - and it was very much a fitting tribute to Derek Scott who has done so much for the club over the years and was very much a guiding light.


THISTLE: McGowan, Sewell, McMaster, Tennant, McCreath, Faulds, Nimmo, McBryde, Ramsay, Lewis, Davidson. Subs: Frizzell, McLeod, Devine, Thompson, Walker (GK)
* Derek Scott's funeral takes place on Monday January 9, Clyde Coast & Garnock Valley Crematorium at 3pm followed by a get-together at the Masonic Lodge, Largs thereafter.
Derek's family kindly request that Largs Thistle ties be worn by anyone attending that has a tie.