YOKER Athletic’s relegation concerns deepened after a defeat to table-topping Largs Thistle – with some controversial refereeing decisions infuriating the Whe-Ho.

Manager Steven Reilly reinstated Michael Bailey and Gary Arbuckle to the starting line-up for the visit of the league leaders. John Harvey was absent.

Arbuckle’s impact on his return was instant as he latched onto a clever Kenny Marshall free kick to slot past Lundie in the Largs goal after just four minutes.

The striker could have doubled his tally moments later when his shot on the turn was blocked by Lundie.

Shaun Kelly then struck the junction of crossbar and post from just six yards out with a quarter of an hour played as the Whe-Ho started on the front foot.

But those early missed chances would come back to haunt the home side.

Both teams contested the first half keenly at a high tempo and it was a hard-fought contest.

James Marks and Ciaran Friel has the visitors' best chances whilst Bailey almost doubled the Whe-Ho’s lead.

The second half began at the same frantic pace as the first and the visitors levelled on the hour mark. Bailey failed to clear his lines, allowing Friel to cross to Muir who sneaked the ball past Liam Campbell at his near post.

The Whe-Ho got back in front almost immediately as James Ross rose highest to power home a Marshall cross. David Crerand and Arbuckle then both had efforts blocked by Thistle player-boss Brian Slavin before Marshall’s free-kick went narrowly wide.

Thistle striker James Marks might have received his marching orders for an elbow on Jamie Carson.

The referee stopped the game on the advice of his linesman but failed to even produce a caution for the forward, who was subsequently cautioned later in the game.

The referee then infuriated the Whe-Ho further when he penalised Ross for a handball in the box when the big defender had little chance of getting his arm out the way.

Campbell got a hand to Kevin Struthers’ penalty but he couldn’t keep it out and the sides were level again.

Both teams were then chasing the winner and it was the visitors who took all three points when Gary Fleming curled home into the top corner late on.

Yoker will feel aggrieved not to have taken anything from the match, but they will no doubt take heart that from the performance against the league leaders and know that similar levels of performance will get the results needed to steer them clear of the relegation zone.

Ashton Building Systems Man of the Match: Kenny Marshall

Yoker Athletic: Campbell, Rankin, Bailey, Carson, Ross, Marshall, Crerand, Henry (Sharkey), Arbuckle, Kelly, Bissland. Watson, Fyfe, Cairns, McManus.