Murieston United 4 v 5 Bathgate Thistle

Saturday 22 February 2014

Venue: Bankton Mains Livingston

Team Jake, David, Ross, Shaun, Leon, Bally, Robbie, Scott, Sam, Connor, Aidan.  Subs; Harry, Ben, Ryan, Danny, James

Bathgate make a positive start to the match and are matching up well to a strong Murieston Blues team who are second placed in the league table.  Within the first 5 minutes, Connor has 3 shots in succession each one going closer than the last without managing to beat the Murieston keeper

The spine of the team is looking strong today and Shaun and Robbie are both looking good on their debuts.  Bally wins a challenge at the edge of the box and slides a neat through ball to Aidan on the penalty spot.  Aidan calmly knocks it last the keeper.  Goal 0-1

Goal 1-1.  Whether it’s a great piece of skill or pure luck is debatable, but Murieston get a goal back. What’s not in debate is that the goal has come after a period of pressure from Murieston and a series of corners.  The ball is floated in but it’s knocked out of the box straight back to the corner taker.  Bathgate are slow to react to the second ball and from the corner spot the Murieston player floats the ball high over Jake and in the net 1-1

Anything you can do, we can do better.  Connor makes a burst down the left wing and from the touchline replicates the last goal.  It’s a great strike which travels across the face of the goal and hits the net.  Goal 1-2.  The keeper had no chance.

Murieston are creating chances too, their strong number 15 is proving a real handful but Leon, David, Shaun and Ross are doubling up to keep him out.  Despite this, he’s still managed to evade them on a couple of occasions but not managed to hit the target.  The game could still go either way.

Leon creates a great opportunity for himself; he beats a couple of players and throws a dummy to get away a shot, that was close.

The referee has blown for a couple of soft fouls and he does so again just as Bathgate win a 50/50 tackle.  Unfortunately for Bally his wonder strike, which goes in the top corner, is disallowed.  No goal

The game is being played today on 3G and Bathgate are playing some very good passing football.  They’re moving the ball quickly and creating space.  Murieston are struggling to keep up. What a great performance.  The referee blows for half time and its Murieston Blues 1-2 Bathgate Thistle.  That’s arguably our best 35 minutes of football all season

The team is unchanged for the second half and Bathgate pick up where they left off, building from the back and moving the ball around quickly.

Sub – Ryan comes on to replace Sam and he quickly makes his presence felt.  The ball breaks free at the edge of the Murieston box and it falls to Robbie who hits a thunderbolt.  The Murieston keeper isn’t expecting the shot but recovers quickly to tip it up on to the cross bar.  Goal – Ryan is on hand for the follow up to score 1-3

Just 1 minute later and Bathgate further increase their lead. Connor picks the ball up on the left wing and cuts inside for the box. He’s weaving through traffic and beats 3 players before striking it into the opposite corner.  Goal 1-4, what a great strike. It crosses the face of the goal and hits the inside of the net

Sub – Harry’s on to replace Aidan.  The goals are coming thick and fast now; the next one is the pick of the bunch.  Murieston clear their lines but the ball falls to Robbie, who is in the centre of the pitch between the half way line and the Murieston box.  He composes himself and calmly loops the ball over the keeper who can only watch it sail over his head.  Goal 1-5

Subs – Danny replaces Scott and Ben replaces David.  Robbie is struggling with an injury and comes off to be replaced by James

It looks like the game is over but Murieston have different ideas.  A powerful run from inside his own half by the Murieston number 15 leaves both the Bathgate midfield and defence in his wake. He slots it past Jake and scores Goal 2-5.

Murieston have got their tails up now but there’s not much time left.  They’re giving it their best shot though and quickly score 2 goals in succession.  Its 4-5 now and as Bathgate kick off for the restart, the referee blows for full time.  What a great match capped by a first class performance from Bathgate Thistle.  The difference this week was hard work blended with some quality football and some great finishes