Larkhall 4 - Reds 5

Larkhall 4 - Reds 5

Veo link : https://app.veo.co/matches/20260117-17-jan-2026-142453-cda7acbd/

Last 16 of the Scottish Cup today saw us travel to Larkhall. Joint top of the A league with ourselves (and Lenzie), and the only team to beat us in the last 14 games - we knew it was a really tough assignment. We thought this had the potential to be a cracker and so it proved - much better entertainment than most EPL TV games these days!

The lads started really well, on the front foot, playing good quick attacking football. We took an early lead when Tyler beat a couple of opponents and slipped in Dan who finished really well with his left foot. Not long after we made it two - Dan and Adam with an energetic press which saw their keeper knock his clearance to Adam who smashed in a curling cracker into the top corner.

Instead of settling we coughed up a bad goal at the other end. 40 seconds after Dan had a 1 on 1 with their keeper to make it 3-0 - a few passes later and some poor defending from us and the Larkhall number 10 finished calmly into empty net.

Full credit to this bunch of lads who didn't let it affect them. We again won the ball high - Adam whipped in a great cross and Dan guided an excellent header onto the crossbar, he reacted sharply to the rebound and pulled off a perfect overhead kick to make it 3-1.

The same combo made it 4-1 - Fin won the ball back well and reversed it to Adam who hit a beauty that looked in all the way. The Larkhall keeper pulled off a worldie save to flick onto crossbar but Dan was there to nod in his 3rd - perfect hat-trick - left / head / right.

We should have seen it into half-time from there but again lost a bad goal from our perspective. A few chances to clear our lines before number 22 hit a great volley from edge of box into the corner.

As expected Larkhall started like a house on fire 2nd half with a change of shape - however we kept them out well in first 10minutes. We then scored what we thought might be the winner - another nice combo between Eman and Tyler before the keeper did well to palm his shot out. Dan swopped again for his 4th of the day.

Massive credit to Larkhall who instead of chucking it - re-intensified their effort and kept coming at us. Runners from deep and high energy causing us problems as we faded. Number 11 made it 5-3 around the 60 minute mark and the momentum changed again. When Larkhall deservedly grabbed a 4th in the 70th minute we were up against it but credit to the lads who actually saw out the last 10 minutes well.

Congrats also to Larkhall Thistle 2010 on a top game of football - they will be in the running for trophies this year.

This bunch of lads never ceases to amaze us - their Scottish Cup record is incredible:

Quarter Finalists in 2023 (as a B League team),

Winners in 2024,

Winners in 2025 and now back in the QF in 2026.

The determination is there to kick on again.

MOTM - probably 4 worthy of a mention today. Firstly Tyler with a hand in 2 goals and another powerful display, Adam with a great performance off the right - a goal, an assist and unlucky not to get another. However the award is shared between Evan, who tackled everything that moved today, and helped shepherd a stretched defence, and of course Dan with a stunning 4 goal display. Striker play of the top order. Well done lads.