Larkhall Thistle thrash Forth to climb table

Apr 14 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

GRAHAM Gracie put in a five-star performance as he hit all of Larkhall Thistle’s goals in a thumping win over Forth Wanderers to climb into second spot in the Central League Second Division.

Gracie struck first in six minutes as he scrambled the ball in from close range, then netted from the spot.

A couple of good efforts in between Craig Crawford’s strike for Forth put Thistle 4-1 up before Gracie (right) put the icing on the cake with a superb free-kick into the top corner.

Tom McLaughlin, Thistle stand-in boss while manager Duncan Sinclair recovers from illness, said: “It was a fantastic showing and a superb result from a great team performance.

“Young Graham hits the headlines for his five goals but all credit goes to a superb team effort, otherwise Graham wouldn’t get the chances to tuck away.

“Graham is a smashing lad with great potential. A few weeks ago when his form shaded I dropped him to see how he would react, but he has come back and showed the right attitude.

“We’re trying to keep his feet on the ground as we constantly work with him, trying to improve his game, but it becomes a bit more difficult when he keeps hitting fours and fives!”

Disappointed Forth manager John McGhee said: “For us, it was a case of missed opportunities.

“Craig scored a screamer of a goal to make it 3-1, then John Borris had a great chance. If we had made it 3-2 then we could have shocked a Larkhall side that I think is probably the best I’ve seen this season.”

Elsewhere, LESMAHAGOW didn’t have their troubles to seek when they took on leaders Yoker on Saturday.

Following the 1-0 defeat manager Robert Irving groaned: “We only had 11 fit and available players and Andy Brown and Jordan Moore agreed to play although they were carrying injuries.

“Recent signing James Lawley limped off after 15 minutes and Richard Cairns, whom I had just signed from amateur football, was pitched in at centre-half and did well.

“Young Steve Rooney was red-carded for denying a clear goal-scoring chance then Kevin McDade conceded a penalty, from which Yoker scored the only goal.”

NEWMAINS UNITED and ROYAL ALBERT shared the points and four goals at Victoria Park.

Joe Roy put United ahead with Scott McLachlan equalising off a Davie Dickson pass.

Clark Rafferty made it 2-1 to United 10 minutes from time, with Peter Smith levelling late on with a back-post header. United player-manager Thomas Devine said: “It was good to get a point but I felt we had done enough to take three points before losing a sloppy late goal.”

Albert boss Iain McCluskie said: “We played well in the first half and could have scored a half-dozen goals instead of just the one we did get – the chances we missed were frightening.”

Wishaw were missing seven players in the 3-2 defeat to Maryhill, with Paddy Hughes returning to the side after a lengthy spell out injured and recovering casualties Darren Docherty and Paul Airth on the bench.

Co-boss Alex Young said: “We were 3-0 down after 37 minutes and, after John Paul McBride and James Coffey had pulled it back to 3-2, I thought we were going to snatch the equaliser, which I thought we deserved.”

CARLUKE ROVERS are still in the Central League Second Division promotion hunt despite a heavy defeat at home to Benburb dropping them down into third.

Rovers had the ‘welcome’ mat unceremoniously whipped from under their feet as their debut fixture at the new John Cumming Sports Complex saw them well beaten.

“Basically we just didn’t turn up,” admitted Rovers boss Whitey Moffat, who watched Stewart Arnott grab his side’s only goal. “Our ball retention, which is normally the strongest part of our game, was absolutely disappointing.

“Our defence was suspect, our midfield weren’t getting the ball and passing it, and our two strikers suffered because of the lack of service.

“This was our first game at our new park and it felt like a big disappointment when I saw that there were about 150 people there to see it.

“Now we have league leaders Yoker at home and will have to improve dramatically.”