Largs Thistle make their mark against Johnstone Burgh in solid showing

Largs Thistle produced a good showing to avoid slipping up on a potential 'banana skin' against Johnstone Burgh in the West of Scotland Cup.

Goals in each half from Craig Forbes and Lewis Davidson secured passage to round three as Thistle put their disappointing South of Scotland Challenge Cup defeat to Ashfield behind them to gain a win which could be a huge morale boost as Stuart Davidson's men head into a massive Scottish Junior Cup clash this weekend.

Skipper Scott Adam and Laurie McMaster returned to the starting line-up on Saturday in place of Liam Devine and Darryl Duffy.

Sewell on the run for Largs (Image: Largs Thistle)

It was a potentially tricky affair, with Burgh having won plaudits in their own South of Scotland Cup win at Musselburgh a week before.

Thistle ran out 5-0 winners when the two sides met in pre-season, but the Renfrewshire side have significantly strengthened since then, with results to match - so there was no doubting that Largs had a much sterner obstacle to get through than otherwise was the case four months ago.

But Thistle made a fast start to this cup clash to put Johnstone Burgh under pressure from the off, and notched the opening goal in only four minutes with Craig Forbes on the scoresheet.

Ex-Rangers forward Darryl Duffy was late sub (Image: Largs Thistle)

The midfielder was quickest to react to head home from close range after a good turn and cross into the box from the right.

And on nine minutes, David Ramsay struck the crossbar as Burgh got lucky.

The first half was not all one way traffic though with Zalewski denying the visitors an equaliser with an important save on 33 minutes.

At the start of the second half, the visitors had another good chance which Zalewski was equal to.

But Thistle cemented their lead with Davidson firing home from inside the box following an initial shot from Will Sewell which was repelled by the Burgh keeper.

It was Davidson's first goal since he netted against the Keanie Park men in that pre-season contest - with an injury in a subsequent friendly forcing him to miss the opening months of the season.

Sewell forces save from keeper before Davidson nets rebound (Image: Largs Thistle)

Ramsay continued to get into dangerous positions for Largs as he went close on 67 minutes, and couldn't convert from another opportunity on 73 minutes.

Darryl Duffy and Jamie Martin entered the fray to replace skipper Scott Adams and Ramsay on 82 minutes after a good afternoon's work.

Thistle's ambition of improving in cup competitions this season is back on course, and after Lochee in the Scottish Cup fourth round on Saturday, can now look forward to an away tie at Premiership strugglers Glenafton in the third round of the West of Scotland Cup on December 9.

LARGS: Zalewski, McLeod, McMaster, McCreath, McGrath, Faulds, Ramsay, Davidson, Sewell, Adam, Forbes. Subs: Duffy, Devine, McBryde, Martin, Cumming, McLean, Johnston (GK)

(Photos: Largs Thistle FC)