A DEFEAT at the hands of Largs Thistle meant that Sauchie Juniors’ Scottish Junior Cup campaign ended prematurely. 

It was the visitors’ first match in the competition for seven years, relishing at the prospect of facing up against a side who were a previous winner.

Two changes to the starting eleven from the side’s most recent fixture against St. Andrews United, Marc Sludden and the goalscorer David Churchill replacing Aaron Isaacs and Jack Fisher, who were on the bench.

The game started lively with both teams having chances, firstly the home side with defender Blair Devine having a shot at the near post put just over the bar.

Sauchie’s Stuart McDowell then had a charging run into the box but was cleared before the young attacker could get a shot away.

Chances were exchanged, but there needed to be more to trouble to the respective goalkeepers, Joe Wilton or Sean Robertson.

Largs broke the game’s deadlock 10 minutes before the break, Jamie Martin having several shots blocked by a resilient Sauchie defence before one found its way into the net.

Manager Fraser Duncan spoke of the goal and how his captain Lucas Williamson had been fouled in the build-up: “It’s extremely frustrating to go into the break 1-0 down due to a mistake from the referee.

“The striker has clipped Lucas’ heel, how the referee and the linesman have not seen that is unbelievable.”

Largs started the second half with a one-on-one chance, Lewis Davidson’s opportunity in front of goal sailing past the far post.

The Theesel doubled their lead when a Will Sewell shot cracked the post, allowing teammate Davidson to make no mistake with the rebound, heading home into the empty net.

Sauchie rang the changes for the last 20 minutes, bringing on youngsters Josh Cairns, Martyn Hamilton and Flynn Severin, with all three making their first-team debuts.

Duncan mentioned to Advertiser Sport the continuous development of the club’s young talent: “Great to get the young players in at the minute, while we’ve got a lot of players injured, they’ll get their chance.

“They’ll continue to push, it’s great for the club as well and we want to keep that going.

“I will give young boys as much of a chance as I can.”

Trying to get something for his team, striker Ross Kavanagh had a chance from outside the box, only for the shot to be held by Wilton. 

With no further goals in the tie, it was the Clackmannanshire side who were eliminated at their first hurdle on the sound of the referee’s whistle. 

On the game as a whole, the Sauchie boss admitted: “I think the result flatters them.

"I felt the first-half we were much the better side, we were the ones that got the ball down and played football.

“We kept Largs to very few chances, although we didn’t give ourselves any cutting-edge chances to go in front.”

Despite the defeat, there were some positives for Duncan: “It’s great to be back in the Junior Cup, it’s a big part of our history, so it’s good to be back involved in it.

“I do think the game has come too quick for us, too many injuries but I do think with a fully fit squad, we’d have been fine down here.”

Newly promoted side Dunipace visit Beechwood Park on Wednesday as the team hosts their first home game since 3rd August, this is a 7:30pm kick-off.

SAUCHIE: Robertson, Willaghan, Hutchison (Severin 71’), Thomson, Collumbine (Hamilton 71’), Caves (Cairns 71’), Kavanagh, McDowell, Sludden (Isaacs 65’), Williamson, Churchill (Fisher 26’). UNUSED SUBS: Liczba, Smith