West of Scotland Cup - 1st Round.
Largs Thistle 5-1 Lugar Boswell Thistle
A cold day, only 5c and although there was little wind it felt colder.
In the distance there were streaks of blue sky but above Barrfields Stadium the high, dark clouds gave a menacing atmosphere which could be seen through the rust edged holes in the corrugated iron shed roof.
The Largs Thistle flag was flown at half mast and there was a minute’s silence before the match to acknowledge Armistice Day and the sacrifice made by all casualties of war everywhere.
Largs Thistle started the match as 1/100 odds-on favourites against Lugar Boswell Thistle who are three leagues below them and have only accumulated six league points out of a possible thirty three. They are currently 13th in the West Region League Two out of 15 teams.
Lugar turned the teams round for the start and Largs played the first half hitting towards the tea bar and strips of blue sky far away to the east.
The downbeat feeling was quickly dissipated by both teams as the match started brightly with attacks at both ends.
The immaculate 3G pitch allowed a free flowing game and Largs went ahead in the 14th minute through Scott Adam.
Largs stepped up the pace and started to overwhelm the Lugar team, who, although they were well organised could not stop Largs scoring through Faulds in the 29th minute.
Largs started the second half brightly and scored in the 48th and 53rd minutes which gave Scott Adam his hat trick and a penalty put away by McKenna in the 68th minute.
Coasting at 5-0 and looking to add to the total, the Largs goalie had a brain storm and Lugar scored. They celebrated like it was the winner!
Largs continued to press and the Lugar keeper had two great saves. The metalwork of the goalposts was also rattled twice.
An entertaining match in front of a small crowd and through to the next round.
The draw for the second round will be made on Sunday, 10th November after the Greenock v Gartcairn match.
The lentil soup was very good and the special today was chilli and rice which was a popular choice today to ward off the winter chill.
Mon the Theesel!
PS On a personal level, your correspondent, with yellow ticket number 155, won the half time draw! I have, however, asked for no publicity as I believe Mr and Mrs Weir, the £161,000,000 lottery winners from Largs still get begging letters and I couldn’t be bothered with all that.
My first prize got me a used and crumpled £20 note. New Jade Chinese here I come!