Recap

Sun 20^th Mar

Bathgate Thistle vs Edinburgh Caledonian

Goals: Nathan Charles 2, Andrew Wood 2, Ryan Weir, Stephen Mclay, Reece McBain

Subs: Reece McBain, Kyle Gibson, Corey McGill, Kenny Bates

Bathgate were looking to make it 3 wins in a row in the sunshine at Bathgate against Edinburgh Caledonian. Bathgate started the game well and were playing some nice football getting down both wings and in behind the Edinburgh defence but couldn’t carve open the opportunity to score in the first 10-15 minutes. Bathgate were knocking the ball around well and when the ball was plated wide for Ryan Weir he ran at the Edinburgh full back and fired a ball across the box picking out Andrew Wood at the back post and he volleyed the ball back across the keeper to make it 1-0. Bathgate kept pressing for the second and were very comfortable at the back with the Edinburgh attacks only coming from silly free kicks given away. Bathgate increased their lead when the wide area was once again attacked but was cut inside for Nathan Charles who had a shot blocked, the ball then fell to Ryan Weir where he fired the ball through an Edinburgh defender and goal keeper with the deflection probably aiding it into the keeper’s bottom corner. Bathgate continued to dominate the game but couldn’t increase their lead before the break.

HT 2-0

Bathgate started very well in the second half and were looking to improve after some recent poor starts to the second half of games. The next goal was going to always be important and it was not long into the second half when Bathgate made it 3. A ball played through from Aaron Mcilwraith  to Nathan Charles was took forward after a good touch past the defender he then rounded the goal keeper and shot across goal away from the defender trying to get back to score in off the post for his first of the day. Bathgate were starting to dominate again and the wide areas were targeted with most attacks, Nathan Charles played Stephen Mclay wide near the edge of the 18-yard box which he ran past an Edinburgh defender to then chip over the oncoming goal keeper for a nice finish to make in 4-0. Bathgate dropped their performance level after this and a slight lack in concentration allowed Edinburgh to get a corner, the ball was played long to the back post where the Edinburgh player headed back across at goal and the ball looped into the top corner. Centre back Ryan Stevenson held his hands up as he had just come off the post and would have most likely headed over the bar. Bathgate upped their game and with the fresh legs of Kyle Gibson coming on for Steffan Cassidy he was really driving the team forward with some good runs into the box which eventually lead to Bathgate getting a penalty which was put away by Andrew Wood putting the keeper the wrong way, making it 5-1 to Bathgate. Some more changes were made with Kenny Bates and Corey McGill coming on for Andrew Wood and Ryan Weir. Shortly after these changes Kenny Bates was played in out wide which he drove past the defender with the ball into the box and cut the ball back perfectly for Nathan to strike home for his second of the day from 6 yards out. Bathgate were pilling on the pressure and Edinburgh seemed to be just clearing their lines but this was giving Bathgate plenty of chances, with Kyle Gibson putting one just over the bar from long range and Francis Mahon the same with a late dipping strike from far out. Kyle should probably have had a penalty but stayed on his feet and shot straight at the keeper rather than go down. The seventh goal finally came when Corey McGill picked the ball up in midfield and turned to then play in Nathan who run at the defence and then cut the ball across just inside the 18-yard box which Corey missed but the ball ran through to Reece McBain who took it around the oncoming keeper and fired in between two defenders. A good win today with a great performance from start to finish. Disappointing to lose a goal but every player played well today.

MOTM: Aaron McIlwraith