Largs pay price for early lapse as they fall to Beith

A sucker punch first minute goal by Beith was the foundation of an unlucky defeat for Thistle at their bogey ground at Bellsdale Park, writes Drew Cochrane.

Your correspondent was still writing down the team lines when a shot hit the Largs crossbar, spun in the area and Rough put the rebound past bemused keeper Joe Wilton.

Kicking up the slope, Thistle pushed for an equaliser but were often caught offside and it developed into a physical midfield battle where new signing Chris McGeown made his debut. McGeown was sent clear in the box midway through but messed up his effort.

At the other end Ryan McCreath made a goal-line clearance and when the ball went forward, Blair Devine had a good shot saved by keeper Stott. (Image: Newsquest)

Jamie Martin was unlucky to see effort come crashing off the bar (Image: Newsquest)

Winger Jamie Martin was buzzing around the home defence and just failed to get on the end of a through ball, before minutes later smacking a great effort off the bar.  Will Sewell then had a header blocked for a corner.

A half-time pep talk had Thistle taking the game to Beith at the start of the second half with a Sewell shot deflected into the keeper's arms and then his 20 yard screamer was tipped over the bar by Stott.

Cory Hughes (Image: Newsquest)

However, just when Largs were getting on top they conceded another goal when Beith star man Carlo Monti rifled home a cross on the hour mark.

Apart from a diving save by Wilton from a Lovering effort, it was all Largs in the final 20 minutes with substitutes Deas, Stracey and McMaster coming on.

Lewis Davidson's spectacular strike brought Largs back into this game (Image: Newsquest)

Sewell put a header wide from a good position before Lewis Davidson smashed a 20 yard shot low into the net, and in the final minute McCreath headed over the bar for unlucky Thistle who should have had a draw at least.

At the end of the day, they were left to regret the first minute lapse.

Thistle: Wilton, McLeod, Bradley, McCreath, Hughes, Faulds, McGeown, Davidson, Martin, Sewell, Devine.