Recap

Sun 21^st Feb

Bathgate Thistle 1-1 Royal Penicuik

Goals: Ryan Weir

Subs: Steffan Cassidy, Stephen Mclay, Nathan Charles

Bathgate reversed the fixture against Penicuik to Armadale academy 4G so the game would go ahead after some poor weather. Bathgate started well, knocking the ball around well in the opening exchanges. After the first 10 minutes Bathgate had realised this would be a much tougher test than the previous match and Penicuik started to create chances. Penicuik were looking for the ball in behind the Bathgate defence will both through ball and some balls over the top which caused a few problems for the Bathgate defence but didn’t create any clear chances. At this point Bathgate were using the counter attack and a break away led to the first call for a penalty with Ryan Weir running with the ball into the box and the Penicuik defender pushed him over from behind then slid to win the ball. The referee chooses to ignore the initial push in the back therefore no penalty given but the Penicuik defender was injured in the tackle and had to go off. Penicuik kept the pressure on and were getting a little more joy with the fresh legs up front after a shuffle of players after their substitution. Marcus Havern had to make a couple of good saves and Mark McKenna cleared on off the line before the half came to a close.

HT 0-0

Bathgate came out looking to improve after a poor half by the standards set and hadn’t really played much football. An early charge from Penicuik in the second half saw them carve open a chance and had two on one with the Bathgate keeper but their goal scored was ruled out for off side with the pass in the box deemed to have been played forward with the striker in an offside position. A change for Bathgate saw Brian McAllister go off for Steffan Cassidy with a look at younger and fresh legs against the young fresh legs of Penicuik. The game was pretty end to end with chances for both teams but nothing totally concrete with a great free kick save from Marcus Havern probably the best chance for Penicuik. Bathgate had another penalty claim turned down when Andrew Wood turned two defenders in the box and he was sandwiched and bundled over to what would be a free kick anywhere else on the park but not given. Penicuik were then given a soft free kick on the right hand side of the Bathgate box which was played in and no one picked up the run of the striker who ran in and scored. Bathgate trying to play offside and a lack of concentration had cost them. Bathgate looked to get back in the game straight away and made some changes with Nathan Charles and Stephen McLay coming on. At this point Penicuik began to sit in and Bathgate dominated more of the play. Stephen McLay had a goal ruled offside which was tight as most felt he was level, Kyle Gibson missed an easy chance inside the six-yard box when he shot straight at the goalkeeper. Bathgate also hit the post and had a few cleared panic clearances’ out the box from corners. Bathgate managed to get another corner with about 10 to go and there were two or three attempts at goal well blocked by the Penicuik defence before Ryan Weir finally fired one in the net. The last 10 minutes of the game were pretty scrappy as both teams were eager to win the game but tried to keep tight and not lose the game. A couple of chances for both sides couldn’t be converted and the game ended a draw.

FT 1-1.

MOTM: Mark McKenna