Bathgate started brightly and created a couple of half chances. Whitletts took the lead on 18 minutes when hesitation between 3 Bathgate players allowed Balfour to nip in and lob Reid in the Bathgate goal.

Bathgate struggled to get into the game due to enforced changes in midfield. After 30 minutes Whitletts went 2-0 ahead. Balfour picked up a long ball on the right and cut inside Lawson to fire low into the net. Ht 2-0.

Bathgate started the second half better and got back into it after 60 minutes when Swan burst down the left and hung a cross which was headed in by Stewart. Bathgate couldn’t capitalise on this and Whitletts went 3-1 ahead when they were awarded a penalty following a handball in the box. Balfour stepped up for his hat-trick.

A well deserved victory for Whitletts against a disjointed Bathgate side.

Whitletts – Callaghan, Kerr, Holland, McCulloch, Buchanan, Boyle, Simpson, Allan, O’Connor, Balfour, Lawrie
Subs. Davidson, Barr, Patterson, Duffy, Cameron.

Bathgate. Reid, Bodel, Lawson, Coyle, Robinson, Drummond, Thomson, Byle, Lurinsky, Stewart, Swan.
Subs. Easton, Welsh, White, Nicol, Tugman.