Match Report: Largs Thistle 3-0 Morton

Largs Thistle 3 – 0 Morton

Adam (31), Burden (40), Jamieson (75)

A youthful Morton side suffered a 3-0 loss to local junior outfit Largs Thistle in a pre-season friendly at a rain-soaked Barrfields last night.

Bossed by Darren Barr in his first public outing in charge, the Under-20s took on a Theesel side replete with former Cappielow youth academy kids as part of their preparations for the Development League West campaign.

There were starting debuts for promoted Under-17s starlets Reece Lyon and Nathan Durham, who was partnered by Australian trialist Jack Iredale at the heart of the back four.

It was the more experienced hosts that forced the issue in the first half, though, with Scott Adam steering Jamie Campbell’s outswinging corner inside the left post with a glancing header to open the scoring on 31 minutes.

Ex-Partick Thistle player Campbell was also heavily involved as Largs doubled their advantage nine minutes later, swapping passes with Stephen Burden before the latter drilled an accurate angled drive past McGowan.

The visitors came out for the second half with a renewed sense of purpose, and skipper Ruaridh Langan threatened Ross Lundy’s goal on a number of occasions.

Morton, however, didn’t quite manage to make their pressure count, and Largs added a third to wrap up the scoring 15 minutes from time.

Former Cappielow defender Nicky Jamieson, an unused sub for the first-team in a 1-1 draw with Queen of the South in January 2014, was the scorer, planting a firm header into the net after meeting a Burden free-kick.

In spite of the result, this was a valuable workout for Barr’s team, who also have fixtured against Dunoon Amateurs and Greenock Juniors lined up, before the big kick off at the end of August.

 

Morton (4411)

1. McGowan
2. Hynes 4. Trialist 5. Durham 3. Strapp
7. Duffy 6. Lyon 8. Langan (c) 11. Trialist
10. Purdue
9. Armour

Subs used: 17. Trialist (for Durham, 67), 15. Miller (for Purdue, 67), 19. Docherty (for Strapp, 71), 12. Eardley (for Duffy, 82), 14. Anderson (for Lyon, 82), 18. McGrattan (for Langan, 82), 20. Trialist (for McGowan, 83).

Largs Thistle (442): Lundy; Ashe (Karenzi, 78), Jamieson, Little, McMaster; Orr, Fleming, Burden, McKie; Campbell (Byrne, 70), Adam.

Subs not used: Gilbride, McVey, Graham (gk).

Referee: Calum Scott

Attendance: TBC

 

Images: Gary Bradley

Full Gallery: GBR Photos