Largs Thistle 1, Irvine Meadow 0
A stunning first half free kick from Jamie Martin proved enough for Largs Thistle to edge out Premier Division bottom dogs Irvine Meadow at a drookit Barrfields Park on Saturday.
Thistle's North Ayrshire visitors worked hard throughout the game and created some good chances of their own, but Largs had the touch of quality when it mattered as Stuart Davidson's side racked up back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.
Largs now have the chance to make it three in a row when they travel to Holm Park to face leaders Clydebank this Saturday - the first of three testing away games in successive weeks for Davidson's men.
Both teams and supporters observed a minute's applause in memory of Largs supporter and stalwart Don MacKillop, who died recently and whose family were at the game.
With their tails up after beating Pollok seven days earlier, Meadow made the brighter start, with a dangerous cross flying across the face of the Largs goal in the opening moments before Greg Cree let fly from distance with a shot which skidded off the surface and flashed past Joe Wilton's left post.
But it was Largs who drew first blood midway through the half when they were awarded a free kick on the left wing, and Martin stepped up to curl a high ball into the danger zone which flashed straight into the top right corner of the net.
Thistle livewire Will Sewell, up against his twin brother George in the Meadow side for the first time since the big defender made the move from Cumnock, then tried his luck with a long range curler from the left wing which was comfortably saved by the Medda keeper.
But Meadow were determined not to throw in the towel and Cree again came close with shot from 20 yards which curled just around the right-hand post, with Wilton beaten.
Meadow made a strong start to the second half, and Ben Carson's men thought they'd equalised with a firm Davidson header from a free kick, only for the referee to disallow the goal.
Largs got a better grip on proceedings after the interval and were unlucky not to double their lead when a relatively straightforward shot from distance was spilled by Bysouth in the Meadow goal and David Ramsay's follow-up shot was blocked.
Martin also forced Bysouth into a good save, and a Will Sewell header went flying over the bar from a Largs corner as Thistle took command.
Sewell's stretched out a leg to divert a Largs free kick on the right towards goal, but the ball flashed past Bysouth's right-hand post.
The game became something of a midfield battle in the final 30 minutes, with Largs largely in control; Darryl Duffy and David McGrath entered proceedings to replace skipper Scott Adam and Ramsay as Davidson looked to freshen things up for the closing stages.
A late chance fell to Duffy, who headed over the bar as Thistle looked to see the game out, while Blair Devine and Craig Forbes replaced Martin and Liam Lapsley.
The full-time whistle was met with cheers from the home support as Thistle secured their first home league win since Benburb were put to the sword at the end of October.
It was well deserved given the hard work and application which Largs put into a highly disciplined performance, and they managed to subdue a revitalised Irvine Meadow side who were dangerous with the chances created in the first hour.
It was therefore, fitting that trusty defender Cory Hughes received the man of the match award, a bottle of Montaudon champagne, donated by the McKillop family.
LARGS: Wilton, McLeod, McMaster, McCreath, Hughes, Faulds, Martin, Lapsley, Sewell, Adam, Ramsay. Subs: Duffy, Devine, McGrath, Cummings, Forbes, Johnston (GK).
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