Recap

Dunalba AFC 4-5 Bathgate Thistle

Goals: Andrew Wood, OG, Ross Steel, Ryan Weir, Graham Hamilton

Subs: Nathan Charles, Brian Currie, Reece McBain, Corey McGill

Bathgate looked to bounce back after last week’s poor Scottish cup result and travelled to Edinburgh to play Dunalba. The game was on 4g and this would be Bathgate’s first game on the surface however we do train on it every week. Bathgate came out the blocks right away and within a few minutes had a chance to score, a ball played over the top fell to Andrew Wood who volleyed into the corner to make it 1-0. Bathgate continued to put pressure on and try get the second but the final ball just wasn’t there. Bathgate then got a corner which was crossed in by Francis Mahon who curled the ball to the back post almost scoring but the ball came off the bar but then bounced off a Dunalba player and in 2-0 Bathgate. Bathgate continued to push for goals, and possibly should have scored with another corner and also a few other chances. Bathgate then had a penalty claim turned down after the Dunalba defender tripped Kyle Gibson in the box, other fouls similar had been given but not given this time as it was in the box. The game started to change after that with Dunalba coming into it and they really knocked the ball about well and we playing from the back. Bathgate had a couple of warning signs with not being tight enough to the two strikers or them running past to easily. A ball then lost in midfield was threaded through to the striker, Kenny Bates tried to clear but the strike rode his challenge to finish well in the Keepers nearside corner, 2-1. Dunalba got confidence from the goal and really dominated the play for the last 15 of the half. The got the equaliser from a corner when no one picked up the smallest guy on the park and their striker nodded away for 2-2. Dunalba should have been up 3-2 after two one on ones with our keeper with a good save and a poor finish wide keeping the score a draw.
HT 2-2
Second half started the way the first ended with Bathgate very slow to get going and Dunalba putting on early pressure. Their pressure paid off as a poor mistake from a throw in from Mark Mckenna gifted the ball for their striker to run through and score. At this point it looked like Dunalba would go on to win but Bathgate began to get a grips of the game and some better play created a few chances. A through ball wide was cut into the middle which was picked up by Ross Steel who turned and shot just outside the 18yd box to score. 3-3 game on.
As the weather began to get worse both teams looked for the win, there was chances at both ends and if it wasn’t for some good saves from Marcus Havern in goal and some embarrassing misses in all honesty from Dunalba the game would be over but a change for Bathgate with Reece McBain coming on for Aaron gave us some new life and a good exchange of passes starting from the back with Reece getting passed the ball out wide which he then ran passed the defender and passed inside for Ryan Weir to finish. With Dunalba pushing for an equaliser Bathgate countered and a ball passed back to their injured keeper was knocked out for a corner then corner was cleared to the edge of the box with the ball then passed to Graham Hamilton who shot in the bottom corner to score. A fit goalkeeper probably would have got it but the ball was in the net and that’s what happens when you PLAY games at amateur football. Bathgate up 5-3. The weather was pouring down with rain and a heavy wind in favour of Dunalba which made it difficult for Bathgate to get out there own half the last 10 of the game. From our goal kick it was headed back and Francis, who had been moved back for the injured McKenna, missed the header and let the striker in for another one on one which he finished. The last few minutes were very scrappy but Marcus pulled off two great saves the latter an excellent one to tip round the post from a decent effort.

FT 4-5

A good 3pts not pretty at times but had to battle and puts us top of the league.

MOTM: Marcus Havern