Recap

Sun 13th Aug 2017

League – Premier Div

Duddingston Athletic vs Bathgate Thistle

Goals: Weir x4, Mahon, Stevenson

Subs: McAllister, Cammie King, Steel, McBain, Innes

Bathgate started the season against the league champions from last season and who we ended the season against, getting defeated 2-1 at home on the final game. The game started open with both sides not really making any impression but after 10 mins a ball played wide into the Bathgate half was closed down and won by Calum Kelly who tried to clear the ball but just as he was about to the Duddingston player nicked it away and Calum fouled the player for a penalty. Duddingston scored the penalty to go up 1-0.

Bathgate now needed to lift themselves and Ross Stevenson and Ryan Weir were getting in behind the defence with their pace but the final ball was lacking or well blocked. Ryan’s persistence was rewarded as Dane Kapila picked up the ball and crossed in perfectly for Ryan to score with a header. 1-1.

Bathgate had their tails up now and started to create more chances but were restricted to long shots as we couldn’t find a way through. Ryan always had pressure on the Duddingston defenders and a nothing ball the defender should have cleared with ease was pounced on and the ball was stolen and slotted home from within the Duddingston 18-yard box. 2-1 Bathgate.

Shortly after this another mistake in the Duddingston defence saw a poor back pass pounced on once again by Ryan weir for him to round the last defender and score for his hattrick after around 30 mins played. 3-1 Bathgate
Duddingston couldn’t handle Stephen Gardiner, Ryan Weir and Ross Stevenson and more opportunities were being created but some good saves from the Duddingston keeper and some poor decision making kept the score the same.

HT 1-3

As the second half started Bathgate looked to ensure victory where Duddingston were trying hard to get back in the game. The next goal was going to be crucial and when Ryan Weir took the ball of a Duddingston defender at the half way line then went on a run towards goal, he could have cut back to Stephen Gardiner but went alone to score his fourth of the day. 4-1 Bathgate

Ross Stevenson got reward for his hard work with a great header to make it 5-1 and really kill the game off. A few minutes later Francis Mahon was played in through the middle of the park and had both Ryan, Stephen and Ross in front of him but as he dribbled forward the defenders tried to close the wide area pass which left a gap open for Francis to slot in the bottom corner. 6-1 Bathgate

At this point Bathgate made some changes with Andrew wood and Ross Stevenson being replaced by Craig Innes and Reece McBain and Francis Mahon being replaced by Ross Steel. Duddingston started to come into the game more after making their own changes and started finding space in the wide areas. Bathgate lost the ball cheaply in midfield and the drove forward with the ball eventually playing in the striker at the back post for an easy tap in, some slack play and lack of concentration cost Bathgate a cheap goal. 6-2 Bathgate

Ryan weir was then replaced with Cammie King to receive the well-deserved plaudits with around 10 minutes to go. Bathgate’s play began to be very slack and earlier efforts were showing as there was a few looking tired. A ball played in behind the Bathgate defence had the defence on the back foot and with tired legs Craig King gave away a clumsy penalty. Duddingston converted the penalty again to reduce the Bathgate lead. 6-3 Bathgate

Brian McAllister replaced Aaron McIlwraith as Bathgate moved to a back for and shut the game down and managed to see the rest out with little trouble.

MOTM: Ryan Weir