Recap

Friday 29^th January

Bathgate Th 4 – 2 Corstorphine Dynamo

Goals: Wood, Steel, O.G., Mclay

Subs: Chris Glen, Kenny Bates, Steffan Cassidy, Graham Hamilton

Bathgate organised a Friday game on the 4G at Bathgate to catch up on games missed over December and January. Corstorphine came through to Bathgate on a blustery Friday night for the 8pm ko. Bathgate began the game in a positive fashion getting the ball on the deck and playing some nice one touch play but the final ball was a let-down once again. There were a few half chances from corners and some long range efforts but Ryan weir should have opened the scoring when played through one on one with the keeper but his first touch was heavy then the goalkeeper made a good block. Around the 15-minute mark Bathgate had a corner which was easily cleared on a cross field pass set their winger away on a counter attack which the crossed into the box for an easy finish. This came against the run of play and seemed to settle the away side. Bathgate tried hard to get back into the game and had some long range efforts that were easily dealt with. A ball played into Ryan Weir again and with a great turn in the box he had a good strike saved from the busier keeper of the two. As the half came close to the end Bathgate had a corner which was curled in on top of the goal keeper and with no one clearing or attacking managed to find its way in the net.

HT 1-1

Corstorphine started the second half the brighter of the two sides and put some earlier pressure with Bathgate constantly giving the ball away cheaply. A soft free kick given against Bathgate was put into a good area in the 6-yard box which no one picked up the two opposition players and one of them was stronger in the battle against the Bathgate goal keeper for him to head into the net. A change for Bathgate with Graham Hamilton coming on for Reece McBain saw more joy down both wings and started to more grips with the game. A couple through balls were called for offside, one probably correct the other definitely not but a similar through ball played into Ross Steel and he finished well to level the game. Bathgate kept knocking at the door for the winner and that change of Aaron McIlwraith for Steffan Cassidy gave the fresh legs in midfield and he caused problems with his driving runs and balls into the box but the final ball wasn’t good enough. however, a clearance that was fired back at goal was converted into goal by an opposition player which was probably justified with the pressure Bathgate were pilling on and the first bit of luck for Bathgate all night. This came with 10 mins to go in the game and Bathgate made some changes to get fresh legs and see out the match with Chris Glen and Kenny Bates coming on for Andrew Wood and Ryan Weir. With Bathgate looking to just see out the game for the win the ball was cleared long up the line and Stephen McLay drove inside from the left and having a strike on goal, I say strike but this one hit the corner flag. Mclay had a few shots similar in the first half that were closer and had made the keeper work so when he picked the ball up in a similar position he beat the first man and ran inside again then curling the ball round into the bottom right had corner from just outside the 18-yard box sealing the 3 pts for Bathgate and scoring on his debut for the Thistle.

FT 4-2

MOTM Francis Mahon

Good win for Bathgate on a night that we had chances in double figures, maybe more, but shows if you don’t put them away you could be punished.

#MTT   #Importantpoints