Saturday, November 9th, 2024
EAST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE SECOND DIVISION
@ Creamery Park, Bathgate
BATHGATE THISTLE 6
Finlay MacKay 10′
Ryan Wilson 26′, 34′, 47′, 87′
Ryan McGill 90
TWEEDMOUTH RANGERS 1
Christian Temple 24′
( H.T. 3-1 )
Team: Aaron Jones, Evan Smith, Craig Heath, Rhys Dixon (capt.), Christian Temple, Rhys Bloomfield, Riley Lightfoot, Griffin Sabatini, Sam Straughan, Craig Bell, Ciaran Nisbet
Changes: Dylan Gruter for Griffin Sabatini 72′
TJ Adebayo for Sam Straughan 72′
Matty Bauld for Craig Bell 85′
Unused: Troy Gruter (GK), Euan Duff, Keiron Wood
Yellow card: Griffin Sabatini, Christian Temple, Craig Heath
Red card: Rhys Bloomfield ( foul ) 60′
Keiron Wood ( language ) 90+
Man of the Match: Riley Lightfoot
Referee: Stuart Christie
Attendance: 88
On their first ever visit to Creamery Park, Tweedmouth were warmly welcomed by Bathgate officials. Unfortunately, on field, the welcome proved too hot as Rangers crashed to their heaviest league defeat so far this season.
Keeper Aaron Jones was deceived by the bounce of the ball enabling Finlay MacKay to give the hosts an early lead. Rangers’ equaliser was of better quality, Christian Temple rising above the defence to head Rhys Dixon’s free kick into the bottom corner of the net.
Ryan Wilson exemplified Thistle’s sharpness in front of goal with the first of four goals in succession just two minutes later. He completed his initial hat trick shortly after half time.
Tweedmouth’s hopes of a revival were further dented by having to play the final half hour a man short after Rhys Bloomfield was shown a straight red. They held out until the final five minutes during which Bathgate added two further goals. Wilson’s fourth was followed by one from Ryan McGill seconds before the final whistle.
For the second week running, Riley Lightfoot took Rangers’ Man of the Match award for a battling performance in midfield in which he frequently disrupted Bathgate advances. Tw
Bathgate Thistle 6 Tweedmouth Rangers 1