Gartcairn 4 Largs Thistle 4

LARGS had to settle for a share of the spoils in Airdrie on Saturday afternoon in a dramatic eight-goal encounter against Gartcairn.

Thistle, who started the day in second place, moved into an early two-goal lead, and again went 4-2 up in the second half, but couldn't kill off a Gartcairn side who refused to lie down. A point apiece at the end of this breathless encounter means that both teams keep their recent unbeaten runs in the league.

Gartcairn have proved to be a surprise package in the GreenVersity West of Scotland Premier Division, and indeed could have overtaken Largs if they had won at the weekend, but Thistle looked determined not to let that happen by moving into an early lead.

Thistle opened the scoring within six minutes of action as Jamie Martin netted to get the Barrfields men off to a positive start.

Midfielder Lewis Davidson went very close to putting Thistle two up on seven minutes as he came inches away from doubling Thistle's advantage.

Top scorer Will Sewell hit double figures for the season on 24 minutes to double Thistle's advantage but the deficit was halved on 36 minutes as Caldwell pulled a goal back for the hosts.

Sean McLeod then fired just wide for Largs on 41 minutes as Thistle stayed ahead at the interval.

Kieran Brady scored his first goal for Largs within three minutes of the restart to give Largs a 3-1 lead.

But Gartcairn again held on to Thistle's coat tails with Hutton scoring on 52 minutes in what was quickly turning out to be a breathless encounter as he walloped the ball home after a corner into the box.

And on the hour mark veteran Ryan Deas scored his first league goal of the season to make it 4-2.

Thistle then made a substitution as Chris McGeown replaced Davidson on 68 minutes, and then Conor Bradly replaced Laurie McMaster on 71 minutes.

Gartcairn reduced the deficit to one again on 73 minutes to set up an exciting finale, with Ferguson tapping home after pinball in the Largs box, as Deas hit a shot just over the bar two minutes later as the drama continued.

The home side levelled matters on 77 minutes as Gavin Millar equalised after a one on one with Joe Wilton in the Largs goal, to make it 4-4.

Largs manager Stuart Davidson then made more changes as David Ramsay and Ryan McCreath entered the fray for goalscorers Martin and Deas.

It finished a point apiece after a frenetic encounter as Largs Thistle now prepare for another big away clash as they take on the might of East Kilbride under the lights on Tuesday night in a winner takes all clash in the South of Scotland Cup.

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

Gartcairn: Cowie, Boyle, MacDonad, Rumsby, Krol, McShane, Wood, Hutton, Thomson, Stirling, Caldwell, SUBS: Hughes, Millar, Mitchell, Bronsky, Ferguson, Barr, Kennedy.