INJURY problems saw Beith field a changed side following good recent league results but they were still too strong for the visiting Largs side in this West tie.

Largs competed well throughout and never really got a break in front of goal while the home side took their chances with two goals in each half securing the win.

The hosts opened strongly, playing down the slope and created some good openings.

Darren Christie curled a free-kick just wide before Donnelly and McGowan blasted shots over the bar from corner-kicks.

Largs gradually worked their way into the match and almost opened the scoring when Fisher picked up a loose ball outside the box and sent in a swerving shot which beat Strain but crashed off the crossbar.

In an open game, play was now swinging from end to end and from a great Christie run Kenny McLean looked a cert to score but fired his shot over and would be relieved to see a late offside flag.

At the other end a defensive tangle let Frizzel advance unchallenged on Strain but the keeper rescued his side with a fine block.

Beith looked the more likely to score and they got themselves ahead after 26 minutes when a clever Frize pass sent David McGowan clear and he shot home from an acute angle after being forced wide by ex-Beith keeper Lundy.

Largs tried to respond and went close with Strain making a good save to touch a Keogh shot over the bar.

The visitors ere forced into a change when Little hobbled off injured and re-jigged their side with Marks replacing.

As half-time approached Beith punished the visitors for sloppy play in midfield when McGowan picked up the ball and fed Kenny McLean for the striker to waste no time before finding the bottom corner with a shot from 20 yards that Lundy got a hand to but couldn’t keep out.

Largs started positively after the break but couldn’t create clear chances and the game became increasingly scrappy as weather conditions deteriorated.

Again Beith looked the more likely to score and a minute after Lundy had made a good save from Christie the Largs defence switched off and allowed McLean time to cross for David McGowan to knock home his second and Beith’s third goal to all but seal the victory. With the Largs heads down Beith soon added another when McLean bagged his second, coolly drawing Lundy to slide the ball past him after being sent through.

With the contest finished Largs made two substitutions and Beith used all three in a move that backfired somewhat when Sean McKenna had to limp off injured after only six minutes on the field and left Beith to play out the last 18 minutes a man down.

However Largs had little left in the tank to do any damage and their frustration boiled over 3 minutes from the end when sub McClure collected a red card for a reckless challenge.

BEITH: Strain; Donnelly, Docherty, S MacDonald, McShane, McGowan, Christie, Frize, McLean, Reid, Bradley. Subs: McKenna, Ryan, Wilson, Hobbs, Kerr.

LARGS THISTLE: Lundy; Fisher, Keogh, Slavin, Little, Jamieson, Thompson, Fleming, Lindsay, Muir, Frizzel. Subs: Pierce, McDonald, McClure, Marks, Weir.

For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.