Arthurlie 1 Largs Thistle 2

The arrival of second half sub Will Sewell helped turn this game in Thistle's favour after a tight first hour at Barrhead.

There was little to choose between the sides in the opening half hour with the home side putting up a combative display and limiting Thistle's creative players.

 

It was a scrappy first half but Arthurlie hit the post before edging ahead on 33 minutes.

Largs were struggling to break down Arthurlie and on the hour mark Davidson made a change with the arrival of subs Sewell, Scott Adam, and Connor McGoldrick - and Largs suddenly looked like they had some more solidarity and attacking creativity about their play.

Sewell notched a quick fire equaliser as he threaded the ball through a ruck of defenders to spark the Thistle revival.

Suddenly Largs were attacking at Will - quite literally - with the recent signing clattering a shot off the bar after a darting run.

Largs carried on undeterred as they searched or a winner and it came in impressive style with a well crafted goal on 73 minutes.

Stuart Faulds teed up Sean McLeod who dashed down the right channel and curved a high ball to the back post which was headed back across goal by Sewell and Lewis Davidson despatched a cushioned header into the top right corner of the net.

Sewell nearly raced through on two occasions with the bounce of the ball and some good defending thwarting him but the Barrhead side had some late chances with Largs keeper Jamie Walker making some important stops while a hopeful penalty call was never going to happen as Arthurlie forwards struggled to overcome a stubborn Largs defence.

Manager Stuart Davidson played down his tactical substitution and told the News that it was down to the strength of the squad depth and the side's grittiness in battling back which was key to the victory.

LARGS: Walker, McLeod, McMaster, Hughes, McCreath, Faulds, Devine, McBryde, Ramsay, Lewis, Davidson. Subs: Adam, Sewell, McGrath, Nimmo, McGoldrick, Tennant, Martin.