Kilwinning Rangers beat Largs Thistle in cup dress rehearsal

BUFFS drew first blood between the sides in the McBookie.com Premier Division.
There was heightened interest in this encounter before this weekend’s big Macron Scottish Cup quarter final clash at Barrfields Park, and it was a deserved three points for Buffs.
 Largs started brightly and opened the scoring after the first attack. 
Scott Adam rifled in the first shot which was parried by Adam Strain, but Harkins followed up to whip in a half volley which sailed into the top left corner. 
However, Kilwinning equalised in seven minutes. 
This time ex-Pollok forward Carlo Monti scored a sensational scissor kick volley which flew past Jamie McGowan in the Largs goal and landed in the far right of the net.
Craig Pettigrew made no mistake with a firm header into the roof of the net to make it 2-1 in 35 minutes.
Monti and Garry Fleming combined a minute later as a fast-paced cross from the right was turned into his own net by Thistle defender Ryan Begley’s outstretched leg. 
Largs certainly contributed well to the first half but the two-goal cushion was too much at Abbey Park as Kilwinning held on fairly comfortably.
KILWINNING RANGERS: Strain, Coleman, Syme, Pettigrew, Whyte, Fleming, Monti, Maitland, Curragh, Lewis, Smith. Subs; Taylor, Boylan, Wardrope, Nisbet, McCloskey.