Largs Thistle face Scottish Cup test in Lanarkshire

Boss Stuart Davidson has urged his side to maintain their good run and play to their strengths as they take on a side who made life difficult for Largs in the opening league game of the season when Thistle needed a late Jamie Martin equaliser to secure a point.

Thistle have also been boosted by a new signing to provide more defensive cover.

John Cumming  played in the Lowland League with Dalbeattie and Gretna 2008 and with Johnstone Burgh's first team and under-20s, and he was immediately installed into the squad against Ashfield on Saturday, and could make his debut this weekend.

Signed, sealed and delivered: John Cumming is a new face at Barrfields Park (Image: Largs Thistle)

Largs, who are unbeaten since the end of August, have targeted improvements in the cup competitions this year.

Davidson said: "We started well against Ashfield on Saturday and netted the early goal. It was a good run from Stuart Faulds who laid it off to David Ramsay who scored with a great finish.

"Ashfield are a decent side so we had to battle and be patient as they changed their shape after we scored the goal, and they netted the equaliser courtesy of a deflection.

"The penalty was an important moment as Will Sewell beat the fullback and put in the cross and Scott Adam managed to get the ball past the Ashfield defender who caught him, and Will struck home the spot-kick.

"Scott Adam and Lewis Davidson combined to set up Will and he finished with a low shot into the corner of the net to make it 3-1 and Darryl Duffy was unlucky not to make it four as he crashed a header off the bar. 

"It was a good afternoon's work and give us food for thought before we play them again in two weeks time in the South of Scotland Cup."

But first boss Davidson is turning his attention to the tricky trip to Gartcairn.

He said: "Gartcairn will be the proverbial hard nut to crack. We got a point in Airdrie in the opening league game of the season and as league results have now shown it wasn't the worst place to go and get that kind of result.

"This is a big game for us and we need to be at our best to come away with a win.

"We dominated a good period of the game on our last visit but they proved difficult to break down and I am fully expecting that it will be a different side as they have made a number of signings but I expect much of the same from them and we have to be ready.

"Gartcairn like to get the ball down to play and we will have to work hard to stop them and they defended really well against us so we have to be patient."

In terms of injuries, both Liam Lapsley and John Tennant (hip) are out, with Laspley awaiting the result of an MRI scan. But he has made a return to some light training, and keeper Matt Johnston is recovering from a hip injury also.

Davidson continued: "We want to continue to do well in the cups which bring confidence and a feel good factor to the club."

* Largs Thistle are hosting a Race Night at the Masonic Hall in Frazer Street on December 2, only £5 to join in. Phone 07986 079240 for a ticket.