Talbot edge out Thistle in seven goal thriller

Thistle just ran out of time in the end as Auchinleck held off a late comeback from the Barrfields men in an engrossing 90 minute encounter.
Stuart Davidson's side was full of youngsters up against a powerful and experienced Auchinleck who looked to be heading to a comfortable victory as they eased to a 3-0 lead in the sunshine after 37 minutes play - but despite Talbot's dominance, Largs refused to stop battling.
Thistle's pace was clear from the off as Ben Black attempted to wriggle through the Talbot defence only to be chopped down and an early free kick was awarded within goal range, but Black's curler deflected off the wall and to safety.
The opening goal arrived with ten minutes on the stopwatch as an initial shot had been blocked but the ball was picked up by Mark Shankland at the left edge of the area and he coolly curled the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.
It didn't disrupt Thistle's early rhythm going forward and Talbot were being forced into uncharacteristic mistakes with young on loan Morton signing Ben Eardley cleverly rounding a Talbot defender on the right wing before sending in a sizzling cross but unfortunately there were no takers.
Talbot didn't waste the free ball and sent it far down the right wing where Jamie Glasgow picked up and dashed diagonally into the box, and under pressure from Thistle defender Ross Love, quickly converted as Ross Lundy came rushing out his goal on 21 minutes.
The visitors were in typical bullish mood and scored a third goal as Shankland's deep cross from the left during another Talbot breakaway was met by Jamie Glasgow who glided home a header into the top right corner to put Auchinleck on easy street... or so we all thought.
Largs kept winning corners and it was perhaps no surprise that George Sewell powered in with a header to reduce the deficit before half-time.

The killer goal which in most circumstances would have finished the match off as a contest came from the boot of Shankland within minutes of the re-start.
Out on the left wing he looked up and sent a powerful cross into the top right corner of the net to make it 4-1.
On-loan Morton youngster Kieran Brophy steamed on through to fire under Leishman to net on his debut.
Largs refused to give up and won a late penalty kick as the match went into stoppage time after Brophy was taken down as he sped in from the byeline. 
Jamie McKenna stepped up to net for his first goal in a Thistle jersey but play had only re-started for around 30 seconds when the referee brought the encounter to an end with the full-time whistle.
Largs can take credit for pushing Talbot as not many teams score three against Auchinleck in an entertaining seven goal encounter.
It was definitely a steep learning curve for Stuart Davidson's young team but they need to take the positives after running the top team in junior football so close.

LARGS: Lundy, Eardley, McMaster, Love, G.Sewell, Faulds, Forbes, McBryde, Adam, Sewell, Black. Subs: George, Brophy, McKenna, Harkins. McGowan (GK).. 
Auchinleck: Leishman, Lyle, Pope, McPherson, Young, White, S.Wilson, Armstrong, G.Wilson, Shankland, Glasgow. Subs: McKinlay, Hyslop, Healy, A.Wilson, Samson.

Referee: Paul Timmons 
Pics: John Keachie.
Next Game: Saturday 14 September, Rossvale (H), 2pm kick-off.