Bathgate Thistle 8 v 1 Victoria FC

23 August 2014 – Simpsons, Bathgate

Team Jake, David, Ross, Sean, Leon, Sam, Bally, Connor, Scott, Robbie, Bailey

Subs; Aidan, Harry, Lewis, James

 

Bathgate U14s made a great start to the season in their opening fixture with an 8-1 home win. Their opponents, Victoria, finished a place above them in the league last season and were undefeated with a draw and a win in previous meetings. However, the blues made up for those past results with an emphatic win this time.

Bathgate have a full squad to choose from and are in good form after winning the Cumbernauld tournament.  They get off to a dream start when after just 2 minutes Robbie breaks the deadlock. Picking the ball up on the right hand side of the box, he chips the keeper with a strong finish 1-0.

Bathgate are working hard as a unit and are making it difficult for Victoria to get out of their half.  David wins the ball high up the pitch. It’s played out wide to Connor who crosses the ball in and it’s met by Robbie on the penalty spot, who races and beats two defenders to the ball to smash it past the keeper

Robbie’s on for a hat trick and goes close with a hard shot across the face of goal but the keeper can only parry it and it leaves a tap in for Bailey to make it 3-0. He’s in the right place at the right time.   There’s just 10 minutes on the clock. It’s an amazing start by Bathgate and Victoria don’t know what’s hit them.

There’s 16 minutes on the clock before Jake is called on to make his first save, Bathgate are well on top and looking dangerous with every attack. On 18 minutes, Robbie gets his hat trick, it’s a race to the ball between Robbie and the keeper. The keeper gets to it first but Robbie sticks out a leg to deflect it into the net to make it 4-0.

On 21 minutes Victoria pull one back, Jake parries a hard shot which bounces up acqwardly. It falls to a Victoria striker to side foot it home 4-1. Bathgate are frustrated with themselves as there were some chances to clear it before the shot came in.

David is taken off injured after 26 minutes. There’s a clash of legs after a competitive challenge and he’s in too much pain to carry on. Lewis is his replacement.

Victoria are starting to get back into the game and are starting to win the 50/50s in midfield, but they can’t break down Bathgate and the referee blows for half time. Bathgate 4-1 Victoria

There are no half time changes, nor is there a let up in Bathgate attacks. In a repeat of the first half, Bathgate increase their lead after just 2 minutes in the second period. Bailey shows some great skill to hold the ball up at the edge of the box until he wins a free kick after a poor challenge by a Victoria defender. Connor takes the free kick and he gets the ball up and over the wall, it’s on target and the keeper can’t get near it. Bathgate 5 v 1 Victoria

Bathgate take the opportunity to make some changes to see the game out with Baillie, Scott and Sam making way for Aiden, James and Harry

On 51 minutes, Lewis takes a corner. It breaks to Connor who shoots but it’s blocked by a defender. Connor is back on it in a flash, he strikes it again and this time it hits the net to make it 6-1.

Leon shows great composure to take the ball down on his chest in his own box. Moments later he’s bursting down the wing with a great run checking past two midfielders and powering forward.

Leon bursts forward

Goal of the day comes on 57 minutes. It’s a great team effort which starts at the back from Leon who then passes to Aiden, who quickly moves it on to Connor and it’s finished with a great header by Robbie to make it 7-1

It wouldn’t be a Saturday at Simpsons without rain and sure enough a heavy rain storm passes through soaking players and spectators alike. There’s only moments left on the clock but there’s still enough time to get number goal 8 from who else but Robbie.  The ref brings to the game to an end and allows the spectators the chance to get some shelter.

Next up is a home tie versus newly promted Blackburn in the Scottish Youth Cup