Neilston gift Thistle maiden victory
Larkhall Thistle put Neilston to the sword as the visitors recorded their first win of a sorry season.
The Farmer’s Boys were confident welcoming a Thistle side who had picked up just a solitary point so far this season. How wrong could they be following a torrid 90 minutes.
Neilston started well and could have been ahead through Paul Stewart after the striker saw his effort saved by Ryan Cooper in goal.
But Thistle gradually asserted themselves more and gained the upper hand in the midfield battle.
Their efforts were rewarded in 44 minutes when Bartosz Mackiewicz latched on to a poor clearance, rounded Nathan Brown and slotted home.
Larkhall should have then had a penalty on the stroke of half- time after Craig Forbes was dragged down by a Neilston defender but the referee somehow waved play on.
A rollicking at the interval saw Neilston return to the pitch in determined fashion and it came as no surprise when Stewart lashed home following a scramble in the Larkhall box.
However, the equaliser failed to have the desired effect and Larkha l l continued to push forward in a bid to get themselves back in front.
They again got their reward through Mackiewicz as he headed home beyond a stranded Brown following Forbes’ inch-perfect cross into the box.
The striker should have then had a third as the visitors attempted to put the game beyond doubt but he scuffed wide with the goal at his mercy.
A couple of late chances kept Cooper busy as denied Stewart, but somehow the goal just never came as Larkhall clung on for their first victory of the campaign.