WEST LOTHIAN YOUTH LEAGUE: Tuesday 19 April, 2016, Bathgate Sports Centre

Bathgate hit top form for the second game running to record an impressive victory over Petersburn. The North Lanarkshire side are second top of the table but couldn’t cope with the hosts’ performance on a balmy summer’s night in West Lothian.

Leon opened the scoring after only a few minutes with a raking left-footed drive which soared into the top corner from 20 yards. Bathgate then conceded an equaliser, albeit against the run of play, but recovered quickly. Within a few minutes, centre-forward Bailey prodded Kieran’s low cross from the left into the net at the near post. That goal was to spark several more.

Billy controlled a cross from the right on the six-yard line and spun to drill the ball beyond the goalkeeper. Then came the fourth goal before half-time, which was the pick of the bunch. Bailey ambled forward on the right with the ball and cut inside his marker to curl a perfect left-footed strike into the top corner.

The hunger of the boys in blue continued after the break. Within minutes of the restart, Billy struck again to claim his second of the night with a driven shot on the run. Sean then got in on the act with a goal of his own after venturing forward from centre-back. He shot on the turn and claimed a goal which seemed to go through the unfortunate Petersburn goalkeeper.

Bailey completed his second successive hat-trick to make it 7-1, and David produced a fine finish near the end to round off a victory which left everyone in the home dressing room smiling.