Recap

Sun 6^th March

Victoria Park Rangers 2-5 Bathgate Thistle

Goals: Steffan Cassidy, Ryan Weir, Aaron Mcilwraith, Stephen Mclay, Mark McKenna

Subs: Stephen Mclay, Kyle McBain, Mark McKenna, Kevin Goldie

Bathgate travelled to saughton sports complex looking to bounce back after a disappointing defeat to Meadowbank the previous week. Bathgate made four changes and also changed to a 3-5-2 formation for the game. Bathgate started bright, knocking the ball around well but looked nervous at the back and a couple of small mistakes could have been costly early on but VPR could not capitalise on this. Bathgate took the lead when a ball was played out wide to Steffan Cassidy instead of playing the ball into the box he cut inside and smashed the ball into the far away corner. Bathgate began to control the game and had settled at the back and they began to prod at the VPR defence looking to use the wide areas. A ball was played into Ryan Weir at the edge of the box and he managed to pass a couple of VPR defenders to slot the ball past the keeper to increase Bathgate’s lead. VPR tried to get back into the game and upped their play creating a few chances but the final pass let them down. A cheap free kick given away just inside the Bathgate half allowed VPR to put in a cross into the box which a good run from their no 9 allowed him a header to pull it back to 2-1. Good movement from the striker but poor tracking from the Bathgate defence and no one seemed to own up to who’s man it was. This seemed to kick start Bathgate again and the game was very open in the last 15 of the half. Bathgate played the ball out from the back and passed it all the way into the VPR half eventually being played wide which was put into the box and Reece McBain knocked it down for Aaron Mcilwraith to knock home after his driving run from midfield into the box.

HT 3-1

Bathgate started the second half very slow and continued to give the ball away too easily but VPR could not turn this pressure into a goal. Bathgate made a change with Reece McBain going off and Stephen Mclay coming on. The fresh legs were not long in getting rewards and a few good driving runs got Bathgate up the park and into good areas but the chances came to nothing. Bathgate made a run down the left right side of VPR with Ryan Weir once again beating players and his shot which was placed across the goal hit the post but good following in from Stephen Mclay allowed a simple tap in. Bathgate freshened things up again and Aaron Mcilwraith and Andrew Wood made way for Mark McKenna and a debut for Kyle McBain. Mark gave more of an aerial threat up front and got on the end of a few to knock on into good areas but Bathgate failed to add to their lead. VPR were pushing for a goal and were rewarded when some poor defending let them through into the Bathgate box to score. Bathgate responded by upping their game again and extended their lead when Stephen Mclay was passed the ball out wide, he then cut inside and passed a couple of VPR players to then slot in Mark McKenna who slide the ball into the back of the net.

FT 2-5

MOTM: Ryan Weir