Largs Thistle Match Preview – Troon Football Club

After what seems like a multitude of Cup weekends, it is a welcome return to league duty as we make our most popular away trip for the supporters when our bus heads up the coast to face Largs Thistle in the WOSFL Premier Division.

⚽️ Largs Thistle versus Troon F.C. ⚽️
Saturday 5^th November 2022
PDM Buildbase WOSFL Premier Division
Barrfields, Largs
Kick-off 2pm

Troon defeated Blantyre last Saturday to reach the 4th round of the Scottish Junior Cup, with a powerful first-half display proving too much for their hosts to close off a very satisfying month of October.

Jimmy Kirkwood’s men have made a quietly confident start to the season, garnering 4 wins from 7 matches in what was a tough looking start. A strong 7th position in the WOSFL Premier Division, with games in hand over some of those above, and into 4th round of the Scottish Junior Cup the 3rd round of the South Challenge Cup.

Largs were frustrated that their home match against Cambuslang last weekend was abandoned due to high winds, so we’ll be hoping the weather is a little kinder this Saturday! Form-wise, they are coming off the back of two excellent cup results with wins over Beith and Ardeer & they will be hoping to convert that form into league results.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s match…

Logan Smith’s hip complaint is improving & he is expected to come back into contention for this week’s match. Mark Morrison returned to the starting XI last week with no side-effects.

Tommy Maitland misses out, after being made available for transfer after last week’s match.

Other than that, we have no new injury concerns to contend with, and the squad is looking hungry with competition for starting jerseys looking fierce.

Two very professional performances from our lads the last couple of weeks, did exactly what we needed to do & got some good goals into the bargain. We told the players at the start of the season we wanted good runs in the Cups, and they are doing exactly that now. St. Cuthbert Wanderers & Hurlford will be very stern challenges in the next rounds, but we’ve shown we’re more than capable.

The league is the bread & butter though, and that’s where we want to prove our worth. As much as we all love a Cup run, it’s been difficult to keep any momentum in the league with so many Cup matches. But if we can carry the results into the league that we’ve been getting in the Cup, we’ll achieve our goals for the season, that’s for sure.
Jimmy Kirkwood (Manager)

⚽️️ STUART FAULDS ⚽️

A hugely underrated member of this Largs side, Stuart is an excellent midfielder & offers great protection to the defence.

Following the departure of several key players from Largs’ Scottish Junior Cup Final appearance of 2019, Stuart’s importance to this side is increasingly apparent & he leads by example.

⚽️️ ALAN FRIZZELL ⚽️

A popular player amongst the supporters & a popular member of the dressing room from his time at Portland Park, “Frizz” has proved a very shrewd signing for the Theesel.

Previously top scorer in two consecutive seasons at Greenock, he is the focal point of their attack & will no doubt have a point to prove against his old side this weekend.

Largs Thistle

WIN	v	Ardeer Thistle	(A)	0-2	Saturday 22^nd October	WOSFL League Cup
WIN	v	Beith	(A)	3-4	Saturday 15^th October	South Challenge Cup
LOST	v	Clydebank	(A)	3-2	Saturday 8^th October	WOSFL Premier Division
LOST	v	Kilwinning Rangers	(H)	0-2	Saturday 1^st October	WOSFL Premier Division
DRAW	v	Irvine Meadow XI	(A)	1-1	Saturday 24^th September	WOSFL Premier Division

Troon F.C.

WIN	v	Blantyre Victoria	(A)	0-3	Saturday 29^th October	Scottish Junior Cup
WIN	v	Fraserburgh United	(H)	4-0	Saturday 22^nd October	Scottish Junior Cup
WIN	v	Forth Wanderers	(H)	5-0	Saturday 15^th October	South Challenge Cup
WIN	v	Cambuslang Rangers	(H)	1-0	Saturday 8^th October	WOSFL Premier Division
LOST	v	Darvel	(A)	5-0	Saturday 1^st October	WOSFL Premier Division

If you can’t make it along to the game , you can keep up to date with all the latest info via the club’s social media channels:

Live updates from the official Troon F.C. Twitter feed: @Troon_FC

Team news pre-match
Goal alerts
News flashes
Real time alerts

Match news via the official Troon F.C. Facebook page

Team news pre-match
Half-time score & update
Full time results

Unlike in previous seasons of late, Troon had the hex on their coastal rivals last season & secured the maximum 6 points from our encounters as well as a South Challenge Cup victory.

Largs were the visitors to Portland Park in November, running out 3-1 winners in an entertaining game at the seaside.

The following week, Troon played themselves into the 4th round of the South Challenge Cup thanks to a very narrow 2-1 away win at Barrfields, with Ben Black & Tommy Maitland scoring the goals.

For the return match in the league, Troon headed up the coast last February and ran out 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Dale Moore & Jack Sherrie.

(before Saturday’s matches)

Referee: Steven MacDonald
Assistant Referee One: Liam MacDougall
Assistant Referee Two: Christopher Palmer

Referee Observer: Kevin Toner

For travelling supporters, follow the Google Map below for directions to Barrfields.

🚌 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗕𝗨𝗦 🚌

Our supporter’s bus is booked and ready for the trip to Largs on Saturday!

⏱	11.30am	Departs Troon
⏱	1pm	Arrive at Barrfields, Largs
⏱	2pm	Kick-off!!
⏱	5.30pm	Departs Largs

To confirm the bus, priced at £15 per seat, you 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗧 reserve your place. Please contact John Redmond on: 07793 420968 💺

🚍 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝗕𝗬 𝗕𝗨𝗦 🚏

To plan your journey from Troon to Largs, visit the “Journey Planner” section of Stagecoach’s website.

🔗 STAGECOACH.com

🚝 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝗕𝗬 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡 🚉

For train times from Troon to Largs, or to book tickets, visit Scotrail’s website.

🔗 SCOTRAIL.co.uk

Tickets are available at the turnstiles at Barrfields:

Adult:	£8.00
Concession:	£4.00

A detailed match report will be posted in the match centre after the game, with the team line-ups, scorers & bookings on the specific match page for the fixture.

To visit the match centre, CLICK HERE.