Largs Thistle boss Stuart Davidson says he believes the club's new signings are helping to lay down the foundations for a bright future at Barrfields.
Thistle's unbeaten start to the new campaign came to an end at the hands of defending champions Beith Juniors at Bellsdale Park on Saturday, though Davidson's men put on a strong showing and only the crossbar was the difference between the sides in the visitors' 2-1 defeat.
Carlo Monti opened the scoring for the home side just a minute into the game and added a second just before the hour mark.
Lewis Davidson pulled one back for Thistle late on, while Jamie Martin was unlucky to see his curling strike come bouncing off the crossbar.
The result leaves Largs in eighth place in the Premier Division, with two wins, two draws and one defeat leaving them with eight points so far.
This Saturday, Thistle travel to Glasgow to face a Benburb side who are struggling in second bottom place with just one point so far, and who parted company with manager Martin Campbell last week.
Thistle drew 0-0 on their last visit New Tinto Park back in January, and Davidson will be looking for another strong showing on the road to back up the impressive 3-0 win at Cumnock in their first away game of the campaign, when Will Sewell scored a hat-trick.
Writing in the match programme about how the new signings are settling in this season, Davidson said: "I am very happy with the new lads coming into the team.
"Kieran Brady came in and did well against his former team Johnstone Burgh in the opening game of the season. The same goes for Conor Bradley at left back; he has continued to show the good form from pre-season.
"Travis Stracey has also come on and shown what he can do. Over time he will get the chance to do that for extended periods.
"He just needs to keep learning and working hard at training, and grab the opportunity when it comes, by creating and scoring goals, and doing his bit for the team."
Davidson will be keen to see his players recreate the positive approach that saw Largs end Drumchapel United's unbeaten start to the campaign last Wednesday, when Stuart Faulds' stunning eighth-minute strike and Sewell's second-half header earned Thistle a 2-0 win.
Thistle dominated the game from start to finish, and could have won by a good few more if it wasn't for some near misses and the excellent form of Drumchapel keeper Ryan Scully, who was kept busy throughout the game.
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.
The floodlit conclusion to the game gave 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.
* Congratulations to Paul Lamont who won August's Largs Thistle Lotto and wins £310. For more details about joining next month's Lotto competition, go to largsthistle.info/lottery/
* Largs Thistle AFC won an eight goal thriller on Saturday in a 5-3 victory over Crosshill Thistle AFC.
The goalscorers for Thistle were Ross MacKay, Glen MacTaggart, Andrew Monk, Jack Petrie and Fraser Russell. The man of the match award went to Ross MacKay.
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