Match Report - Saturday, November 17
LARGS THISTLE 2 WHITLETTS VICTORIA 2
A goal three minutes into added time denied Whitletts Victoria their first league victory of the season. Vics looked to be heading for all three points after goals from trialist Ryan Murphy and Man of the Match Craig Main had given the Ayr side a 2-1 lead but deep into injury time, the Vics defence failed to clear a Largs free kick and as the ball was swept back across goal Graham Muir stabbed the ball home from close range to snatch a point for the Barrfields club.
Manager Brian Delaney gave a debut to new signing Scott Fulton and trialist Ryan Murphy and in the opening minute they showed their potential as Murphy tested Largs keeper Grant Weir from 20 yards.
Stevie McKissock then did likewise as Vics started strongly but they had keeper Darren Johnston to thank in the 11th minute when Largs striker Andy Monaghan latched onto a long ball and tried to beat the Vics keeper with a lob.
Vics' still looked the more threatening and in the 16th minute Scott Fulton brought out the best in Weir with an angled drive that the Largs keeper parried to safety. Two minutes later Fulton saw his driven byeline cross come back off the post before returning the ball to the danger zone where Elliot Duffy headed over.
Largs carried an aerial threat at set pieces and Eddie Walton went close for the home side from a corner as he headed inches wide but it was Vics who made the breakthrough in the 38th minute. The two new boys combined as Fulton broke down the left and his low cross was swept home by Murphy.
Sadly for Vics, Ryan Murphy received an injury moments later and although the visitors played with only 10 men until the interval as physio Joe Morton worked on the youngster, Liam Walker replaced him upfront for the second period.
Largs started strongly in the second half but it was Vics' who created the chances and in a breakaway Weir denied the Ayr side a second as he cut out Rab Patterson's pass when Walker was ready to pounce. Moments later Weir denied Walker again as he dived at full stretch to deny the Vics' substitute.
The Barrfields outfit almost drew level on the hour as Gordon Lapin was unlucky to see his volley from the edge of the box crash back off the post. At the other end Weir beat out a Craig Main free kick and the Vics' midfielder went close again from the resulting corner after Patterson set him up but his shot on the turn flew inches wide.
Largs drew level in the 65th minute. Iain Fisher broke down the left wing and fizzed a cross across goal when he found Muir who netted from close range.
In past weeks that set back might have undone Vics' but this side showed a great desire and determination and got their reward in the 73rd minute. Stevie McKissock broke down the left and picked out Craig Main with a delightful delivery and the midfielder beat Muir from eight yards.
Largs went in search of the equaliser and former Cumnock defender Robbie Cochrane headed just over from close range.
Vics' looked as if they had survived the home sides late onslaught when Johnston made a superb reaction save in injury time to deny Cochrane only for their hearts to be broken from Muir's late, late equaliser.
Largs Thistle 1. Weir 2. Lawrence 3. Fisher 4. Black 5. Cochrane 6. Walton 7. Lapin (Little 78) 8. Gault 9. Muir 10. Struthers (Stanton 56) 11. Monaghan
Subs (not used) : 15. Cameron 16. Kane GK. Connick
Whitletts Victoria 1 Johnston 2. Longair 3. Duffy 4. King 5. B.Paterson 6. Main 7. McKissock (Boyle 78) 8. Cameron 9. R.Patterson 10. Murphy (Walker HT) 11. Fulton
Subs (not used) : 16. Barr GK Anderson
Referee: Sean Carr
A goal three minutes into added time denied Whitletts Victoria their first league victory of the season. Vics looked to be heading for all three points after goals from trialist Ryan Murphy and Man of the Match Craig Main had given the Ayr side a 2-1 lead but deep into injury time, the Vics defence failed to clear a Largs free kick and as the ball was swept back across goal Graham Muir stabbed the ball home from close range to snatch a point for the Barrfields club.
Manager Brian Delaney gave a debut to new signing Scott Fulton and trialist Ryan Murphy and in the opening minute they showed their potential as Murphy tested Largs keeper Grant Weir from 20 yards.
Stevie McKissock then did likewise as Vics started strongly but they had keeper Darren Johnston to thank in the 11th minute when Largs striker Andy Monaghan latched onto a long ball and tried to beat the Vics keeper with a lob.
Vics' still looked the more threatening and in the 16th minute Scott Fulton brought out the best in Weir with an angled drive that the Largs keeper parried to safety. Two minutes later Fulton saw his driven byeline cross come back off the post before returning the ball to the danger zone where Elliot Duffy headed over.
Largs carried an aerial threat at set pieces and Eddie Walton went close for the home side from a corner as he headed inches wide but it was Vics who made the breakthrough in the 38th minute. The two new boys combined as Fulton broke down the left and his low cross was swept home by Murphy.
Sadly for Vics, Ryan Murphy received an injury moments later and although the visitors played with only 10 men until the interval as physio Joe Morton worked on the youngster, Liam Walker replaced him upfront for the second period.
Largs started strongly in the second half but it was Vics' who created the chances and in a breakaway Weir denied the Ayr side a second as he cut out Rab Patterson's pass when Walker was ready to pounce. Moments later Weir denied Walker again as he dived at full stretch to deny the Vics' substitute.
The Barrfields outfit almost drew level on the hour as Gordon Lapin was unlucky to see his volley from the edge of the box crash back off the post. At the other end Weir beat out a Craig Main free kick and the Vics' midfielder went close again from the resulting corner after Patterson set him up but his shot on the turn flew inches wide.
Largs drew level in the 65th minute. Iain Fisher broke down the left wing and fizzed a cross across goal when he found Muir who netted from close range.
In past weeks that set back might have undone Vics' but this side showed a great desire and determination and got their reward in the 73rd minute. Stevie McKissock broke down the left and picked out Craig Main with a delightful delivery and the midfielder beat Muir from eight yards.
Largs went in search of the equaliser and former Cumnock defender Robbie Cochrane headed just over from close range.
Vics' looked as if they had survived the home sides late onslaught when Johnston made a superb reaction save in injury time to deny Cochrane only for their hearts to be broken from Muir's late, late equaliser.
Largs Thistle 1. Weir 2. Lawrence 3. Fisher 4. Black 5. Cochrane 6. Walton 7. Lapin (Little 78) 8. Gault 9. Muir 10. Struthers (Stanton 56) 11. Monaghan
Subs (not used) : 15. Cameron 16. Kane GK. Connick
Whitletts Victoria 1 Johnston 2. Longair 3. Duffy 4. King 5. B.Paterson 6. Main 7. McKissock (Boyle 78) 8. Cameron 9. R.Patterson 10. Murphy (Walker HT) 11. Fulton
Subs (not used) : 16. Barr GK Anderson
Referee: Sean Carr