McBookie Super League Premier Division

KILWINNING RANGERS 0

LARGS THISTLE 1

By Calum Corral

LARGS overcame 10-man Kilwinning by a solitary goal in a hard fought encounter with defeat consigning Buffs to bottom spot.

Buffs started well but Thistle gradually took the upper hand.

Before the match got underway, there was a minute's applause in memory of late Buffs' fan Scott 'Basher' McCormack.

Largs had conceded 10 goals in total during their last two visits to Abbey Park, but on this occasion, the visiting defence held firm throughout, although Buffs had the better of the first half action

Indeed, an early curling free-kick over the wall by Carlo Monti was well gathered by the diving Sean Graham in the Largs goal in the opening minutes

James Marks showed great running and ingenuity as he engineered an opening from left back position as a series of overlapping passes and runs resulted in the Largs top scorer firing in a fierce angled shot beaten away by goalkeeper Adam Strain

However, Buffs had two glorious chances to take the lead around the 25-minute mark. Dean Agnew's curling pass from the left wing found Hogg racing on to goal but Graham spread himself well and made an excellent save to deny them taking the lead, and then moments later, ex-Pollok forward Monti sent a good opening skidding diagonally wide of the right post.

Thistle were living dangerously at this point as other chances went a-begging for Buffs but Largs managed to re-group.

In 44 minutes, the industrious Robert Love out on the right pinged over a pacy cross to the back post which Marks latched on to with a quick fire half-volley, catching the Kilwinning keeper unaware and Strain could only fumble the ball into the back of the net.

Again, Largs had Graham to thank for making an astonishing reflex save to turn away Kenny Hogg's pinpoint header which seemed goalbound in 55 minutes.

Both Kilwinning and Largs were getting into attacking positions but were continually foiled by the offside flag, with James Marks in particular pushing forward at every given opportunity, and he should have given Largs a more comfortable cushion but shot straight at Strain after clean through.

And another chance came Marks' way this time with the keeper well off his line, but his 25-yard bouncing half volley flashed just wide of the right post.

Defender Nicky Jamieson wastefully headed wide from a corner, while Love also broke through on the left and managed to fire in a shot which was beaten away by Strain

Kilwinning were trying in vain to break down a Thistle defence which was refusing to budge.

The Buffs were gradually losing their discipline, and Tommy Maitland was ordered off after another foul after a second yellow in 85 minutes. Laurie McMaster for Largs also burst through and was upended, leading to another Kilwinning yellow card.

Thistle really had to dig deep in this display, and after fighting off a strong opening from the hosts, managed to really take a grip of the game, fully deserving to take all three points.

The visitors moved off bottom spot for the first time this season,and look a much improved outfit to earlier in the season, while Kilwinning have to re-capture the form which saw them overcome Scottish Cup champions Beith last month. Already at this stage, the Premiership relegation battle looks like going right to the wire.

KILWINNING RANGERS: Strain; Coleman, McCloskey, Kerr, Maitland, Hanvey, Agnew, McGuinness, Hogg, Lewis, Monti. Subs: Fleeting, Clark, Cashmore.

LARGS THISTLE: Graham; Gilbride, Bennett. Jamieson, Little, McDonald, Thomson, Fleming, Marks, Love, McMaster. Subs: Walton, Little, Littler, McMahon, Lundy (gk).