Largs Thistle 1 Benburb 0
As Hallowe'en approaches, it was a horrifying challenge on Thistle forward Will Sewell that saw this game explode into life in a dramatic second half finale.
An 88th minute winner by sub David Ramsay, who dinked the ball over the keeper before forcing the ball home, was ultimately the difference between the sides.
But just before that, it was a horror-style challenge on Sewell which changed the nature of this game, and while the Benburb player may have got the ball, the referee deemed that dangerous play was in evidence as Sewell was sent flying.
Robbie Halliday, who picked up a shoulder injury in his own challenge, was shown a straight red card, as a colleague helped him off the park.
Largs, who have now been unbeaten for two months, went into the game in ninth spot, as they faced recently promoted Benburb who have made an encouraging start to the season, sitting in fourth spot.
However, the 'wind machine' was on as the gusty conditions meant that there were few chances for either side as the first half had little in the way of incident, other than a few yellow cards. Stuart Faulds had the only notable chance on 42 minutes but his hopeful effort from distance never seriously tested the Benburb keeper.
An early sub saw Simon McBryde enter the fray and he nearly made an immediate impact as his 20 yard effort on 47 minutes required a good stop by the Benburb keeper at his right post.
Largs had an even better chance to go ahead as Sewell blazed down the right and hustled a defender before he sent over a rifled cross into the box which Lewis Davidson turned over the bar from yards out when it should have been nestling in the back of the net on 65 minutes.
Benburb's Ryan Livingston went very close for the visitors as he had a free header in the box which he just diverted wide and it was undoubtedly a scare for Largs, with chances few and far between.
Thistle claimed for a penalty as Scott Adam wriggled his way through the Bens defence and tumbled under a challenge as a deflected effort went wide but the referee instead pointed to a corner after a stoppage.
The dramatic red card incident happened on 72 minutes as Benburb were reduced to ten men, and Largs brought on fresh legs with Darryl Duffy and David Ramsay.
Both midfields were cancelling each other out and it was a well worked move on 88 minutes that eventually saw the breakthrough for Largs as Duffy's defence splitting pass teed up fellow sub Ramsay who neatly chipped the outrushing keeper.
But with the powerful wind, it was far from certain of going in and Ramsay had the wherewithal to follow it through by rounding the keeper to force the ball home and as Thistle fans cheered a Bens defender got his foot to the ball and cleared.
No VAR was necessary on this occasion though as the assistant referee decreed that the ball had crossed the line - and Thistle fans celebrated - with the accompanying war cry of 'See it out!'
But Benburb, to their credit, showed why they have been in the higher echelons of the Premier League and kept battling to the very end and carved out some late chances, but good defensive work and an important save from Joe Wilton, was enough to see Thistle over the finishing line.
LARGS: Wilton, McGrath, McMaster, McCreath, Hughes, Faulds, McLeod, Davidson, Sewell, Adam, Forbes. Subs: Duffy, McBryde, Ramsay, Martin, McLean, Trialist, Devine.
Photos: Largs Thistle FC
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