Recap

Sunday 24^th January

Tranent At 4 – 2 Bathgate Thistle

Goals: R McBain 2

Subs: Chris Glen, Corey McGill

Bathgate travelled to Tranent for their first game of 2016 in the quarter final of the Edinburgh cup. Bathgate started very well and probably should have scored from a corner, a stronger touch would have put the ball in the net but the ball fizzed across goal. Bathgate were controlling the game, getting joy in the wide areas but could not get the final ball needed to score. Bathgate finally scored after good work on the right wing by Reece MacBain to dribble into the opposition area and after the first strike was saved he finished at the second attempt. Bathgate were comfortable at this point and dealt easily with the long balls being played by Tranent. Bathgate continued to win most balls in midfield with high pressing and had some good exchanges to get forward but couldn’t find the final ball. A well worked move starting from the back with one two passing went all the way up the park then putting Ross Steel through, he struck into the opposite corner of the goal with the ball bouncing off the post and back out. Reece then missed an easy chance from a corner inside the box scooping the ball over the bar from 6 yards. The half finished with a few chances from Tranent that were defended well with interceptions from Mckenna and McAllister with the corners then cleared after that.

HT 0-1

Bathgate started the second half sluggish but were still creating chances. However, from a Bathgate throw in the ball was cleared over the top, the Bathgate Defence left it for their goalkeeper who didn’t get out quick enough and their striker knocked it round him to score. Bathgate didn’t learn from their mistakes and Tranent were putting more ball in behind the defence, the high pressing had stopped and Bathgate backed off their wide midfielder who put a great ball into the back post for the Tranent striker to peel off the full back to score his second. The lead wouldn’t last long as Bathgate pressed and won a free kick just inside the Tranent half which was crossed into the back post for Reece McBain to time his run perfect and fire a header in to make it 2-2. The game was very open from then on in as both teams looked to win. Bathgate we punished for some soft fouls and within a few moments the Ref seemed to give them a free kick for every tackle. This was putting pressure on the back four and it finally paid off for Tranent as a cross from their free kick to the back post was headed back in the middle for Tranent to score. Pretty poor for Bathgate as the seemed to lose both battles in the box. Bathgate looked to raise their game as with taking the lead had really given Tranent confidence and with Bathgate pushing bodies forward they were causing problems on the counter attack. This was the cause of the fourth goal as Tranent had a chance which was cleared to the edge of the box no with too many forward he had the space to touch and shoot. The remaining minutes had Bathgate pushing for a goal but Tranent defended well and seen the game out.

FT 4-2

MOTM Reece McBain

So positive stuff in the first half but the team talk half time was we needed to kill the game and we didn’t which cost us with poor defending in the second half. Things to learn but good luck to Tranent in the next round.