Longniddry Villa Colt 1 v 9 Bathgate Thistle

30 August 2014

Meadowmill, East Lothian. Sports Assist South East Region Cup

Team Gareth, James, Ross, Sean, Leon, Lewis, Bally, Connor, Robbie, Bailey, Aidan

Subs; Sam, Harry, David

Today is the second cup game in two weeks and it’s an away trip to East Lothian. Bathgate are in great form, scoring 8 goals in each of the previous two matches. There’s a couple of changes in the Bathgate line up, Jake is unavailable so Gareth makes his debut in goal and Scott picked up an injury in the warm up so sits this one out.

The pitch is flat, the surface is good and it’s great day for football….game on. Bathgate take the initiative and are playing a neat passing game, Longniddry are penned in and the match is being played in their half. The blues take the lead in 10 minutes, a Baillie back heel sets off Connor down the wing. Connor hits a low hard cross which flashes across the 6 yard box, it just evades Aidan but Robbie arrives with perfect timing at the back post to side foot it home. A great finish to make it 0-1

It’s all Bathgate, but Longniddry are well organised and are keeping a tight shape. On 20 minutes, Bally lays the ball off to Leon at the edge of the box and Leon lashes it home with a great left foot strike into the opposite corner. 0-2

Bathgate win a series of corners and the third one brings a goal. Lewis floats it in and Baillie is on hand to head it home. It’s 0-3 on 32 minutes. It’s a full 33 minutes before Longniddry manage to build an attack which reaches the Bathgate penalty box, but Gareth still doesn’t get his first touch of the ball

On the stroke of half time Bathgate get a fourth goal. The ball breaks off a Longniddry defender. Robbie is first on it and scores with a great shot across the keeper into the net 0-4.

There’s only time to restart the game before the ref blows for half time. Bathgate are well on top, with a well organised Longniddry side trying to stifle wave after wave of Bathgate attacks.

The second half kicks off with one change, Baillie makes way for Harry. Longniddry are giving away needless free kicks with some niggling challenges, but there’s no intent or malice in them.

We reached an important milestone on 38 minutes, Gareth manages to get his first touch of the ball with a confident save, despite his inactivity thus far. On 41 minutes, Sean takes a quick free kick from his own half. He lifts the ball over a couple of defenders and finds Connor with a great pass. Connor knocks it inside to Aidan, who passes it square to Harry. Harry slots in Robbie who finishes confidently to make it 0-5. Quick passing and a superb finish, what a great team goal

Just 1 minute later Aidan puts Harry through on goal, with two defenders and the keeper closing in, Harry puts the ball right in the postage stamp between post and cross bar to make it 0-6.

Bathgate make a couple changes with James & Robbie making way for Sam and David

Aiden does some great work from a throw in and slides it through for Connor who sprints forward and beats the keeper to make it 0-7

On 48 minutes Harry gets his second goal, Bathgate have a corner and the ball breaks across the face of goal. Harry is first to it on the back post and powers the ball home 0-8.

Gareth has been patient but he is called into action 3 times in succession. He comes off his line to make a great save at the feet of a Longniddry striker. On the resulting corner he makes another good save.

On 50 minutes Gareth saves a certain goal with a stunning save to tip the ball over the bar. Longniddry pull a goal back on 63 minutes. They counter attack and break free, Gareth gets a hand to the shot but not enough to keep the ball out 1-8.

Aiden gets number 8 for Bathgate. Baillie it lays off and Aiden beats the defender and keeper to score 1-9.

There’s 3 minutes left and Bathgate get another from a corner with Baillie on hand to score 1-10.

Many thanks to Longniddry for their hospitality after the game