Thistle fight back from 2-0 down to sting‘town’

Larkhall Thistle turned on the second-half style to snatch a 5-3 Super First Division win at Shettleston, after a poor first half saw them trail 2-0 at the break.

Liam Mushet headed down a corner for Ryan Innes to smash into the net, and after Shettleston were reduced to 10 men, Mark Canning’s cross down the right was headed on by sub Craig Forbes for Graham Gracie (right) to beat a handful of defenders and drill in the equaliser.

Gracie put Thistle ahead at the second attempt after the Shettleston keeper got a hand to his chip but couldn’t keep the rebound out. The striker then turned provider, crossing for Brian Jack to head in a fourth.

Shettleston pulled a goal back, but Gracie sealed his hat-trick.

Manager Duncan Sinclair said: “The first half was abysmal. The second half was a big difference. This time we rallied to turn a 2-0 deficit

into a 5-3 victory, our second win of the season.”

Lanark United played their part in knocking Gartcairn off the top of the Central Second Division with a 3-3 draw.

Gartcairn took the lead through a Ryan Donnelly penalty but Shaun Gallagher equalised from a spot-kick awarded to United after Ronan Kearney had been fouled.

Jack Stubbs netted his first goal in 71 minutes before Donnelly and sub Kevin Ross put Gartcairn 3-2 ahead, but Peter O’donnell secured a point three minutes into stoppage time.

Newmains United’s Niall Carslaw traded goals with Paul O’brien and Paddy Cullen before Lee Shankie nicked a goal to give them a 3-2 half-time lead over Ashfield.

However, Ciaran Friel equalised and Steven Dymock gave the visitors a 4-3 win.

Bellshill lost 4-1 at home to St Anthony’s and Carluke Rovers’game at Johnstone Burgh was postponed.