Largs Thistle 4 Irvine Meadow 1


Terrific Thistle roared to victory over high-flying Irvine Meadow and have set the yardstick for the remainder of the season with arguably their best display so far.
Largs have undergone a transformation in terms of squad re-building but consistency has been a problem in recent months with a surprise Scottish Cup exit resulting in the manager questioning how far the players could go.
They answered that question with real gusto - but it is vital that Largs carry on this fantastic form specially going into two tricky away trips.
In the reverse fixture, Irvine edged a 2-1 victory on the opening day at Meadow Park but nobody expected the demolition job which followed in the second half on Saturday as Thistle threatened to run riot.
Last year, Largs hit a sensational seven against a sorry Meadow outfit who were then bottom of the table.
Very few expected a similar feat against a transformed Irvine side sitting pretty in second spot - including manager Stuart Davidson who described it as a one-off - but Thistle showed their class with a second half to savour as young sub Will Sewell lit up the Thistle display with his energetic running, while his twin brother George was also instrumental in Thistle taking the lead in the second half.
Largs rung some changes while influential ex-Meadow winger Ben Black was missing from the squad.
Forward Jamie McKenna and defender Ross Love returned as Thistle's young bucks made an impressive start, and on six minutes, McKenna's clever through ball took out three Meadow defenders as top scorer Scott Adam raced on to goal.
As he attempted to round the keeper Patrick O Neill, a stray foot sent the striker tumbling to the ground and referee Graham Grainger pointed to the penalty spot as a yellow card was served out. Adam dusted himself down to score.
Largs keeper Jamie McGowan then made a splendid save to deny Meadow an equaliser as Darren Jones wicked turn and shot from ten yards was agilely punched away before the keeper saved after Laurie McMaster ushered the ball to safety.
A double effort from the Irvine side resulted in McGowan parrying away, and George Sewell then throwing himself to block 
Meadow were starting to turn the screw before half-time as they put pressure on the Largs backline. A couple of free kicks were given away in dangerous areas by the home side as the visitors looked to capitalise.
McGowan blocked a dangerous free kick but had no chance with the Meadow equaliser which arrived on 43 minutes as Slooves nodded down a curling free kick from the left courtesy of Andy McLaughlin.
Thistle came blazing out of the blocks after the interval and engineered an early second half lead as defender George Sewell showed a burst of pace down the right which caught Meadow on the backfoot.
He supplied a dangerous low cross across the face of goal for midfielder Simon McBryde, also restored to the team, to dive in and slot past O'Neill at the second time of asking.
The arrival of subs William Sewell and Paul Harkins breathed fresh life into Thistle, and Sewell showed some clever tricks on the right wing as he back heeled a ball over a Meadow defender before racing to the byeline and slotting over a cross.
He was continuing to be a real handful for the Meadow defence and he raced on to round the keeper and slot home to make it 3-1 to Thistle on 78 minutes.
Thistle were not finished and Sewell again knocked the stuffing out of Meadow with another pacey run from the centre and threaded the ball through to Craig Forbes who bombed forward to tuck the ball under the outrunning O'Neill for a top quality finish.

Thistle mowed the Meadow once more and now move two points behind the Irvine side who had been rejuvenated after last year's 7-0 hammering at Barrfields.
A new look and hungry Largs side proved themselves to be just as ruthless in pursuit of victory, and it certainly echoed memories of last year's dominant display as they downed Meadow in style.
LARGS: McGowan, G.Sewell, McMaster, Mitchell, Love, Faulds, McKenna, Forbes, Adam, McBryde, McIntyre, Subs: Harkins, Brophy, George, W.Sewell, Lundy (GK).
Photo: J Keachie