Bathgate Thistle 0 v 4 Armadale Calcio

Saturday 1 February / Jim Brady Cup /  Simpson Primary School, Bathgate

Starting line Up; Jake, Leon, Ryan, David, Cammy, Danny, Lewis, Ross, Scott, Sam, Aidan.  Subs; Harry, Connor, Bally, Ben

It’s cold and the wind has been building up all morning.  By kick off it’s blowing strongly across the pitch.  The first five minutes sees end to end stuff with both teams creating chances.  Jake is tested early and makes a good driving save to his left hand post, then Aidan gets an opportunity at the other end.

An injury to Cammy forces a change, it’s a painful one with the Armadale player catching him with his studs down the back of his leg.  Ben comes on to replace him

Goal….Armadale break the deadlock after 25 minutes.  The ball is knocked in to the box after a corner, Jake punches it off the line but it drops in the 6 yard box and an Armadale player reacts to it first to bundle it over the line. 0-1

Half time – Bathgate Thistle 0 – 1 Armadale Calcio .  The conditions aren’t great, the wind is strong and it’s bringing in rain with it.  As a result, much of the first half is played against the touchline in a narrow strip.  With so many players in such a constrained space, it’s been difficult to make passes and build moves

Three changes are made for the start of the second half Harry, Connor and Bally replace Aidan, Danny and Ross

Armdale make a strong start to the second half and are probing the Bathgate defence.  Jake is called in action and makes a clean save at the feet of the striker.  Armadale win a corner, it’s sent in but hesitation in the Bathgate defence allows the Armadale player to control the ball and strike a right footed shot high into the net.  Jake had no chance with that 0-2

Our opponents are making much more of the conditions.  Despite the wind, they’re playing a much more expansive game, are using the full width of the pitch and moving the ball around

Sub Cammy comes on for Ryan

Goal, it’s now 0-3.  Even Armdale are surprised by that one, they didn’t expect to go 3 up without reply.  It’s a poor clearance and the ball falls to an Armadale player who strikes a hard left footed  looping shot from outside the box and into the net

Sub Ross is on for Bally, who is struggling with an injury

With virtually the last kick of the ball, Armadale heap on the pain with a 4th goal.  The ball is played across the box and no one is able to intercept it. Armadale meet it at the back post to knock it home.

This has been a tough result, the strong wind and driving rain didn’t help………but it was the same for both teams.  Armadale moved the ball quickly, played to a shape and took their chances.  All too often we tried to beat the man, when space didn’t afford it, and as a result play frequently broke down.  We didn’t find our passes and with very few shots on goal, we weren’t able to test the Armadale keeper.