Arthurlie into next round of cup
Arthurlie progressed to the third round of the Central League Cup with a nailbiting penalties victory over Larkhall Thistle.
The Barrhead side headed to Gasworks Park, hoping for an easy afternoon, which turned out to be anything but. Thistle’s nine- game unbeaten run had reached as far back as November, but Chris Mackie’s side were eager to burst their bubble – albeit with a youthful side.
It was the hosts who raced out of the traps and got off to a dream start as they opened the scoring inside the opening three minutes. Garry McStay took a great touch before rolling the ball through to Graham Gracie to coolly nod beyond Grant Hay in goal.
Grace then spurned a glorious opportunity to double his side’s advantage two minutes later, but he could only fire wide of goal.
Arthurlie took their time to find their feet but managed to restore parity inside 18 minutes, following a mistake in the Larkhall backline. Ryan Deas was the man to seize the opportunity before slotting low beyond the keeper from just inside the box.
The first chance of the second half fell to the hosts from a corner, but Liam Mushett could only head wide of goal from a David Reid corner.
But Larkhall almost shot themselves in the foot after Niall Reynolds brought down McKie inside the box. However, keeper Robbie Thomson was on hand to save Gary Smith’s resulting penalty kick to keep the scores level.
Going into the final 10 minutes, both sides were looking at finding a way ahead, and Arthurlie thought they had clinched out as Smith outmuscled Andy Brown before playing in Eddie McTernan to slot under the keeper.
Thistle kept pushing for the equaliser they had deserved on the day, and it came in the last minute of normal time when Payne score direct from a corner kick.
The tie went straight to penalties, but it was the Barrhead side that kept their cool to book their spot in the next round.
Arthurlie: Hay. Convery, Brennan, Chisholm, McGregor; Deas, McKie, Leyden, Carroll, Smith, McTernan.
Subs: Graham and Mundy.