Bathgate Thistle 2 v 2 Broxburn Athletic Colts

Monday 5 May 2014

Simpsons, Bathgate

Team; Jake, Leon, Shaun, David, Ryan, Lewis, Connor, Sam, Harry, Robbie, Aidan

Subs; Harry, Ryan, James

Bathgate continue their good form and have gone 4 games unbeaten, but today is going to be a tough test of their resilience. Broxburn sit second top of the league and came out well on top in the last encounter by beating the Blues 6-3.

We’re back on the grass at Simpsons and it’s a lovely evening, perfect for football. Leon sits this one after a shoulder injury in the last game and David is unavailable

Bathgate make a strong start to the match with the majority of possession in the first 5 minutes. Most of the game is being played in Broxburn’s half and Bathgate almost break the deadlock in 7 minutes. Connor breaks down the left and hits a cross, low and hard across the face of goal. Aidan stretches and gets a foot to it, but it’s not quite enough to deflect it on target and the ball just flashes past the post.

The blues take the lead on 17 minutes. Shaun breaks up play and wins the ball, he finds Connor with a neat pass who in turn, plays a long ball over the top of the Broxburn defence. The ball takes a deflection and Robbie pounces on it. He shows a burst of pace and hits it into the net. What a finish. Bathgate 1 v Broxburn 0.

The goal spurs Broxburn into action with 3 successive chances. They win a free kick in a dangerous position. It’s hit well by the no. 24 and is over the wall, heading for the bottom corner but Jake scrambles across his line and shows good hands to keep a hold of it. Then Jake pulls off a great save, a defensive error allows the no9 a run on goal, it’s one on one but Jake comes out on top with a one handed save. The Broxburn no. 24 is having a big influence on the match and is driving forward at every opportunity. He’s released down the right wing, then shows a turn of speed to cut inside. He lashes a hard shot from the edge of the box high into the net. It’s a great finish, there wasn’t much Jake could have done about that

It’s end to end stuff now and Aidan directs a cross on target but the Broxburn keeper make a great save. Connor has the next strike, which looks like it’s heading in until a defection takes it wide for a corner.

Ben does well to defend a Broxburn attack but concedes a corner. We’re in injury time but there’s just enough time to take it. It’s cleared at the front post but Broxburn get to the loose ball at the edge of the box. It’s hit early with power and flashes through the crowd and into the net. That’s tough on Bathgate. Bathgate 1 v 2 Broxburn. There’s only enough time to take kick off before the ref blows for half time.

2 minutes in to the second half and Bathgate are level. Lewis plays in Aidan with a defence splitting pass who shoots past the keeper. Bathgate2 v 2 Broxburn.

Neither team is allowing the other much space and it’s becoming a midfield battle with each team trying to tip the game in their favour, but without making much headway. Broxburn are on top but can’t break a strong defensive performance, with Bathgate getting bodies behind the ball.

Broxburn have an appeal for a penalty in the closing minutes after the ball strikes a hand, but that would have been a harsh decision. It’s followed by another appeal for a free kick for a similar offence. Their sense of injustice spurs them on for a final push to find the winner but it’s a direct ball each time which the Bathgate defence are dealing well with.

The referee blows for full time and the match finishes 2-2. Broxburn have had more of the ball but a draw seems the right result and Bathgate continue on their unbeaten run. Well done boys. Next up is Kirkfield at Lanark on Saturday.