WEST LOTHIAN YOUTH LEAGUE: Sunday 22 May, 2016, Bathgate Sports Centre

A controlled and efficient Bathgate performance was enough to secure a second-place finish in this season’s Under-15 West Lothian A League. Beating Larkhall took Thistle joint-top of the table with Broxburn Colts, but the Albyn Park side have one game left to play.

After a disappointing result in Larkhall last November, Bathgate were eager to atone in this return fixture. They fell behind, though, to a dipping 20-yard effort on 15 minutes.

Billy produced an equaliser ten minutes later and then put the home team ahead from Kieran C’s low cross shortly before the break. Bathgate were in control but required a third goal to kill the game in the second half.

It arrived when Bailey climbed off the substitutes’ bench. He converted Kieran’s header from a corner to make the game safe, but was not finished there. A penalty conceded at the opposite end was converted calmly by Larkhall. That reduced the deficit to 3-2 and interrupted Bathgate’s momentum temporarily.

Jay’s timely run and precise finish low into the corner of the net put Thistle 4-2 ahead, and at that stage they could have seen the game out. Bailey wasn’t to be outdone, though. The centre-forward struck again from six yards to out claim a double and put a more convincing slant on the morning’s work.