THISTLE made heavy weather of overcoming a Saltcoats Vics side who refused to give up in an unpredictable encounter at Barrfields Park on Monday evening.
Two goals in the first ten minutes for Largs seemed to indicate that the Barrfields side were on their way to a comfortable win against a side who had conceded nine to Kilwinning Rangers at the weekend.
Credit to Saltcoats who at 2-0 and 4-1 down refused to give up the ghost and kept running to the very end of this fluctuating contest.
A mix up between the Saltcoats keeper and defence allowed new Largs signing Paul Harkins the chance to fire home from the edge of the area into an empty net within the opening minutes of this contest. 
Thistle were two up on ten minutes as a quick interchange of passes put Saltcoats on the backfoot and Ryan McKie feinted past two defenders before cleverly sliding the ball past the outrushing keeper for a quality finish from the edge of the area.
Abdullah stepped up to take the free kick and spotted a gap in the Thistle defensive wall to fire into the roof of the net on 42 minutes.
However, Largs made it 3-1 moments after the second half kicked off as Kevin Struthers wrapped his right foot around a fast paced cross from the left hand side and delivered a first class volleyed effort into the roof of the net. A high quality strike.
There was an element of fortune to Thistle's fourth as Carter's close range effort ricocheted off defender Dominik Chiedu to give keeper Derick Moore no chance on 54 minutes.
But yet again Saltcoats showed their resilience and a rampaging run along the byeline on the left from former Kilbirnie forward Bembo teed up Abdullah to tap home at the far post on 61 minutes.
Largs sub David Ewing made it five goals in three games with the best finish of the lot on 63 minutes as he spied the Saltcoats keeper off his line and burst the net with a laser beam style strike on the angle from the right hand side after cutting in from the wing.
Thistle had late chances to extend their lead with Harkins half volley forcing a late save, and a couple of headers from Nicky Jamieson following corners somehow evading the goal.
Largs had too much firepower for Saltcoats in the end up, and could have won by many more.

Largs now face Kilwinning tonight at 7pm at Abbey Park in a winner takes all clash to decide the League Cup group.
Largs: Cousar, Orr, McVey, Little, Jamieson, Faulds, McKie, Muir, Struthers, Harkins, Carter. Subs: Ewing, Mills, Graham (GK).