Beith beaten by Largs in penalty drama

LARGS THISTLE 1

BEITH JUNIORS 1 (Largs win 5-4 on penalties)

OUT- of-sorts Beith continue to be unable to get over the line in matches that they really should have won and were duly dumped out of the West Cup in a penalty shoot out by a resilient Largs side who hung in and frustrated them.

The strength of the wind nearly convinced the referee to postpone the match but it went ahead with the hosts having the elements at their backs.

The first opportunity fell to Thistle when Robert Love broke onto a long ball but Steven Grindlay sprinted out to block his shot on the edge of the box. Beith settled after the scare and they played the ball well on the deck and began to create openings and duly took the lead in 14 minutes when Thomas Collins quickly capitalised on a poor touch by centre back Nicky Jamieson to find the net at the second attempt after keeper Ross Lundy had blocked his initial shot.

Beith's three-pronged attack of Kenny McLean, Darren Christie and Collins continued to cause problems for the hosts and they went close to adding to the lead. Despite having the wind advantage Largs were creating little and it was 10 minutes before the break when Love got another sight of goal but shot tamely wide of the target.

With half-time approaching the visitors missed a great chance when a fine passing move led to Christie teeing up David McGowan in front of goal but with the goal gaping, he shot straight at Lundy.

Christie had an opportunity himself a minute later but he also found the keeper but from a tighter angle. The closing minutes of the half produced more action with the home side equalising out of the blue from a corner. Largs defender Jamieson atoned for his earlier mistake when he reacted quickest when the ball was delivered into the box to head over the line via the crossbar and a last touch off of Conor McGlinchey as the rest of the Beith defence spectated. Beith almost regained the lead in the very last action but Collins volleyed over after Laurie McMaster had made a fine tackle in the box to deny McGlinchey.

Despite the wind losing some of its force most observers expected Beith to have a clear advantage for the second half and Collins threatened again early doors. McLean also steered a Nicky Docherty cross the wrong side of the post. The visitors retained most of the possession but were creating few chances in the box and Largs seemed to gain confidence from this with Eddie Walton marshalling his defence well.

Any threat Thistle posed inevitably came via Robert Love and he got a snapshot on target forcing Stephen Grindlay to make a save.

Jamieson did well to block a shot from McLean before Beith made changes to try to break the deadlock. The visitors upped the pressure with the clock ticking, but a number of corners came and went with Largs surviving an almighty goalmouth scramble and Mark McLaughlin heading wide when a goal seemed certain. Largs had their sights firmly set on taking their chances on penalties and they defended resolutely to achieve this.

In the penalty shoot out the home side duly prevailed with Struthers, Thomson, Tennent, Love and Jamieson all finding the net. Beith scored through Paul Frize, Ross McPherson, McGlinchey and Gary Wilson, but Scottish Cup hero Richie Burke's effort with penalty number three unfortunately hit the post.

LARGS THISTLE: Lundy; Ashe, McMaster, Walton, Jamieson, McDonald, Tennent, Thomson, Love, Struthers, Bennett. Subs: Littler, Little, Paterson, Reid, Graham.

BEITH: Grindlay; McGlinchey, Docherty, McLaughlin, Sheridan, Wilson, Bradley, McGowan, McLean, Christie, Collins. Subs: Watt, Frize, McPherson, Burke, MacDonald.