Largs Thistle end Drumchapel's winning start to campaign

Skipper Stuart Faulds opened the scoring with a stunning strike inside the first 10 minutes at Barrfields on Wednesday night, and Will Sewell doubled the hosts' advantage early in the second half.

The Glasgow side had won their first four games of the season in convincing fashion, but their 100 per cent record was shattered by a Largs team who hit the top of their game and could have won by more in one of their best performances in Davidson's time in charge.

Largs players celebrate their opening goal against Drumchapel. (Image: Newsquest)

Thistle took the game by the scruff of the neck from the outset and thouroughly deserved their win - though they had cause to thank the training floodlights at Barrfields, which had to be switched on for the last 25 minutes as darkness descended and without which the game might have had to be abandoned.

Largs started on the front foot and opened the scoring with just eight minutes on the clock as Faulds, who has a habit of popping up with spectacular midweek goals at Barrfields Park, did it again with a strike that will live long in the memory.

This time he seized a loose ball after two Thistle attempts at goal were blocked outside the box, with the former Ayr United man taking the ball in his stride and making a clever turn before delivering a laser-like strike into the top right corner.

Sewell went close to making it 2-0 on 11 minutes against a rattled Drumchapel side who didn't register their first shot on target until the game was well into its second quarter, though Largs keeper Joe Wilton was right on it and made a solid catch.

But Largs were still the dominant force and David Ramsay headed over at the near post after the Drumchapel keeper lost the flight of the ball in the wind, before Sewell slammed another effort wide after a spell of pinball in the Drumchapel box.

And with the visitors' goal leading a charmed life in the closing stages of the first half, Sewell had not one but two more efforts before the break, the keeper denying his first attempt before the second was deflected narrowly wide.

Thistle also struck the woodwork as the interval approached - and though the seemingly inevitable second goal didn't arrive before half-time, the Largs supporters didn't have too long to wait in the second 45 to see their favourites double their advantage.

Will Sewell was a handful for Drumchapel throughout Wednesday's clash. (Image: Newsquest)

Seven minutes after the restart, substitute Ryan Deas, on to face his former club after replacing the injured David McGrath, blasted a clearance deep into opposition territory to set up a lightning-quick counter attack, and though the first shot was blocked by the Drumchapel goalkeeper, Sewell headed the rebound into the empty net.

With more than a quarter of the game still to play, the gathering gloom meant Thistle had to switch on their training floodlights to allow the game to reach a conclusion - but there was no sign of any let-up in Thistle's energetic display, with Davidson's men continuing to control play and hustling the Drumchapel defence into mistakes.

Sewell again tested the Drumchapel keeper before David Ramsay's rebounded effort fell agonisingly wide of target on 75 minutes.

Twenty years on from his Largs debut, former Thistle striker Jamie Marks came on as a substitute for the visitors in the closing stages, with Cory Hughes denying the 41-year-old a sight of goal in almost his first involvement after coming on.

And Drumchapel's torrid time continued into the final moments with the visiting keeper forced into yet another fine save to prevent Thistle adding a third.

Sewell saw a free kick well held in the third minute of stoppage time in what turned out to be the final attack of a very satisfactory night's work for Davidson's side.

Largs now sit in seventh place in the Premier Division standings and remain unbeaten after their first five games, while Drumchapel, who had begun their campaign with impressive wins over Benburb, Shotts, Beith and Hurlford, are demoted to second place.

The final 24 minutes were played under floodlights on Wednesday as Largs overcame Drumchapel. (Image: Newsquest)

Clydebank are now three clear at the top thanks to a 2-1 win on Tuesday at home to a Darvel side who are still looking for their first point.

The floodlit conclusion to the game gives Largs players, officials and fans a tantalising glimpse of what could lie in store if plans to install full-size floodlights at Barrfields, as confirmed by club chairman Ali McMaster in Thistle's latest matchday programme, become reality.

Thistle secured planning permission for the floodlights from North Ayrshire Council in March 2022.

In the shorter term, next up for Largs is a trip to face reigning champions Beith at Bellsdale Park on Saturday, August 17 (KO 2pm).

Thistle haven't won at Bellsdale in the league since 2011 but look in very good shape for the tantalising clash with Chris Strain's side.

LARGS: Wilton, McLeod, Hughes, Faulds, Bradley, McCreath, Devine, McGrath, Davidson, Ramsay, Sewell, Subs: McMaster, Brady, Martin, Stracey, McGeown, Deas, Johnston (GK).