Grangemouth 2 v 8 Bathgate Thistle

Rannock Park, Grangemouth

Wednesday 14 May

Team; Jake, Leon, Shaun, David, Ryan, Lewis, Connor, Ben, Harry, Robbie, Scott

Subs; Aidan, Ross, Sam, Bally

Our last league match of the season is the re-arranged fixture versus Grangemouth. The original game was postponed because of torrential rain, with the match finely balanced at 2-2. It’s a perfect night for football on a decent surface

The match kicks off and both teams look up for it with competition in every tackle. Bathgate get their first real chance on the 7 minute mark, when Shaun goes close with a free kick from distance. Bathgate are wearing their black & yellow away kit today and are buzzing around and creating lots of chances. Their pressure pays off on 9 minutes when Harry opens the scoring. Lewis plays a ball over the top, Harry’s onto it in a flash and strikes a powerful shot over the advancing keeper high into the net, what a goal to open the game. Grangemouth 0 v 1 Bathgate. Bathgate keep up the pressure and Scott tries to get in on the act with a couple of efforts which are just off target

Ben does some great work down the wing and flights in a beautiful cross which falls to Connor who hits a powerful shot through the keeper’s legs. Grangemouth 0 v 2 Bathgate. Bathgate take the opportunity to make a couple of changes with Harry & Ben being replaced by Aidan & Bally

There’s some great football being played with neat, short passing; this is Bathgate at their best. 20 minutes have been played and Bathgate are now 3 up. Lewis floats in a lovely corner it’s met by Connor who nets his second goal of the day. Grangemouth 0 v 3 Bathgate. Bathgate make another couple of changes and it Lewis & Ryan who make way for Sam & Ross

Ross is involved in the action straight away and the ref awards a penalty for shirt pulling in the box, that’s one of the softest decisions all season. There’s some debate amongst the Grangemouth players as to who is going to take it. The central defender, no.4 steps up and strikes it high and wide to Jake’s left.

Half time

There’s some half time changes with David & Ryan being replaced by Harry and Ben. The swap has an immediately impact when Harry wins a free kick after beating the Grangemouth number 4, who then takes him out with a rough tackle. Shaun steps up to take it from 35 yards out and puts it straight into the net with pin point accuracy.  Grangemouth 0 v 4 Bathgate.

Grangemouth pull one back on 45 minutes, a looping ball is played into the Bathgate goalmouth. Indecision in the defence allows the Grangemouth striker to shoot on goal unopposed and he hits the net. Grangemouth 1 v 4 Bathgate.

It takes just 2 minutes for Bathgate to get back that 4 goal advantage. The Grangemouth keeper can only chest a heavy passback, Robbie and Harry chase the ball in. Robbie does some great work to dispossess the keeper which allows Harry to nip in and deftly chip the ball over him from the edge of the box. Grangemouth 1 -5 Bathgate

Grangemouth counter attack and nearly pull one back but for a great save by Jake, there’s more goals in this game yet.

Harry gets his hat trick on the half hour mark. Connor burst down the left and hits a low hard cross, it just evades Aidan’s outstretched foot but Harry’s just behind him and he bundles the ball over the line. Grangemouth 1 v 6 Bathgate.

Connor’s on fire now and scores one of the goals of the season. He bursts at pace down the left and strikes a stunning shot across the face of goal in to the top corner on the opposite side. That was a wonder strike for his hat trick and Bathgate’s second hat trick of the day. Grangemouth 1 v 7 Bathgate.

Grangemouth pull another goal back in the last minute but there’s still time for another Bathgate goal. Harry gets his 4^th goal of the game, he side foots a shot towards goal, it’s on target but it takes a deflection up and over the keeper . Grangemouth 2 v 8 Bathgate.

The final whistle brings to an end our league campaign for 2013/14 and what a season it’s been. It’s particularly pleasing to end it with a 7 game unbeaten run, well done boys; it’s been a great journey.