For the second week in succession, Maryhill failed to extend an early lead and were forced to settle for a draw in a home game they dominated for long stretches. Last week it was a freak swerving 40-yard free kick that did the damage, whereas this week it was self-inflicted as the Hill finished the game with nine men.

Maryhill started brightly, with Ryan Scobie narrowly failing to convert a rebound from the crossbar as early as the third minute. Mark Sideserf opened the scoring in 11 minutes with a clinical left foot shot after some great work from Leyton Slack cutting in from the right. The Hill looked likely to add to their lead with Larkhall appearing to wilt in the Lochburn sunshine - now there's two words you don't often see together! - and only managing a couple of speculative shots throughout the half. Kevin Howe had the ball in the net in the 18th minute but was adjudged to have fouled in the process. For all their sustained pressure, the Hill were unable to add to their lead, with the last action of the half seeing Scott Banks place a cross just behind an unmarked Ryan Scobie in a scoring position.

HT Maryhill 1 Larkhall 0

Larkhall looked a more purposeful team after they had (finally!) emerged for the second half, with Maryhill looking content to soak up their pressure and hit on the break. In the 58th minute, Mark Maxwell had a good chance, but shot well over, while Ross Barr went narrowly wide soon after. At that point, it looked like the Hill would comfortably close out the win and perhaps add to their lead. The madness was yet to descend however. Already on a 63rd minute yellow card, Scott Banks saw fit to get involved in a spot of handbags on the stand side ten minutes later, and was handed a second yellow for his troubles. The Hill were forced to reorganise, but unfortunately the man advantage was soon to tell, with Larkhall equalising in the 76th minute when Menelaws forced home after a rammy in the Maryhill area. Ross Barr was next to be dismissed after a rash tackle saw him awarded a straight red in the 81st minute. The game ended with a backs-to-the-wall rearguard action by Maryhill with Larkhall coming close on several occasions to nicking all three points.

We still have to visit Larkhall's Gasworks Park in the league this season; if we can't rid ourselves of our habit of drawing games we should have won out of sight, next season we may well be visiting there to play their tenants Royal Albert in the second division.

MARYHILL
MONTGOMERY, CUNNINGHAM, WRIGHT, McINNES, BARR, BANKS, SLACK (TOLLAND 76), SIDESERF, SCOBIE, MAXWELL (FERGUSON 74), HOWE (McGOLDRICK 57)
SUBS NOT USED:
TRIALIST, CALDER
BOOKED:
HOWE (55), BANKS (63)
SENT OFF:
BANKS (73), BARR (81)

LARKHALL THISTLE
BUDINAUCKAS, HARVEY, SHANKS, CARSON, McANENAY, DOYLE, CAMPBELL (DONAGHY 58), DUNSMORE, CARR, MENELAWS, SLOEN
SUBS NOT USED:
WATSON, CLARKE, MATHHEWS, EARLIE, McDOUGALL, ROGERS
BOOKED:
CARSON (18), McANENAY (49), CARR (59)
SENT OFF:
BANKS (73), BARR (81)

MAN OF THE MATCH:
LEYTON SLACK

OPPONENTS' MAN OF THE MATCH:
KEVIN CARSON

REFEREE:
NICK WALSH