McBookie Super League First Division

LARGS THISTLE 1

TROON 4

By Calum Corral

LARGS may have been full of Vikings on Saturday for its local festival, but it was Troon who carried out a daring raid to seal all three points at Barrfields Park.

And it was the visitors who got off to the perfect start in the battle of the Seasiders. There was no stopping Scott McLean's 22 yard bullet volley after only four minutes as the South Ayrshire side caught Largs cold after a dangerous corner-kick into the box was only partially cleared and McLean who responded in spectacular style.

Largs tried to find an immediate equaliser with Creag Little's header going close, but Troon were swarming forward with pace and were unlucky not to move 2-0 up as Paterson's jinking run down the left and looping shot bounced off the base of the right post with Largs keeper Ross Lundy beaten.

The roof started to cave in for Largs though in 36 minutes as Laurie McMaster was adjudged to have professionally fouled dangerman McLean, and saw red. Dale Shirkie converted the resultant penalty for Troon.

Midfielder Stephen Burden blazed a 25 yard effort over the visitors' crossbar as Largs tried to find a way back into this encounter.

Home keeper Ross Lundy made some important saves either side of half-time, but Thistle halved the deficit in 66 minutes as striker Scott Adam was pulled down in the box. Adam dusted himself down to convert the spot-kick.

Largs were on the ascendancy but couldn't convert their possession into anything meaningful, with Dean Keenan calling on his team-mates to rally round, as some nerves were beginning to show after Troon had thrown away a two-goal lead to Irvine Meadow recently.

However, Troon continued to look dangerous on the break with Paterson hitting the frame of the right post.

And the South Ayrshire side scored twice in the last four minutes to finish off Largs. Barbour showed some fleet footed moves to tuck the ball under the outrushing Lundy after a good set-up from the right hand side, before a slick passing move resulted in McLean scoring a low, drilled effort into the net for his second of the afternoon on full-time.

So it is full marks to Troon, who have notched 11 goals in two games, with a fast and mobile midfield and strikeforce, which stifled Largs for much of the afternoon, and have responded very well since that opening day disappointment.

LARGS THISTLE: Lundy; McMaster, McVey, Little, Jamieson, Campbell, Orr, Burder, Adam, Kasubandi, McWaters. Subs: Muir, Gilbride, Ashe, Graham (gk).

TROON: McInnes; Barbour, Clark, Keenan, Chisholm, McCreadie, McCrea, Maley, Shirkie, Paterson. Subs: Dempster, Lamont, Barbour, Vance.