Junior football: Bathgate's glory of last term seems long gone

Oct 9 2008 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

AFTER five games the Bathgate Thistle ship is in big trouble in the choppy waters of the Super League.

Just four months after bringing the Scottish Cup to Creamery Park, Thistle have been dumped out of the competition and are toiling in the lower reaches of the Super League table, in real danger of sinking.

Camelon, Bonnyrigg Rose, Forfar West End and now West Lothian neighbours, Linlithgow Rose, have all beaten Willie Hill’s men, who have only one win to show from their five outings.

They are just two points off the foot of the table – but have played a game more than bottom-placed Tayport.

On Saturday they led county rivals Rose but they lost their lead and with it the points.

Linlithgow took a 17th-minute lead through Stuart McArthur who lifted the ball over Carlin in the Thistle goal.

But two quickfire goals in four minutes turned the game around for Bathgate.

Brian McPhee bagged the equaliser after tapping home a Harvey cross, and the ex-Livingston and Airdrie striker edged Livi ahead, heading home his second of the day.

Chances came and went at both ends with Bathgate giving their hosts a fright.

But after the break Rose began to take control of the game and only the width of the post denied Mark Tyrell an equaliser.

Bathgate’s cause was not helped when Craig Gutwell — a recent capture from Motherwell FC — was sent off for a last-man challenge on Ian McSween, but the Thistle defence held out until 14 minutes from the end.

Substitute Aaron James was sent scampering up the left flank and his low cross was slammed home by McSween for the equaliser.

And with just two minutes left on the clock Rose grabbed a sensational winner when Chris Geddes went on a slaloming run, in and out of three defenders, before firing home from 12 yards.

Linlithgow: Pinkowski, Robertson, Waugh, Gallacher, King, Bradley, Livingstone (McSween 66), Tyrell, Grady, Herd (Geddes 82), McArthur (James 66).

Subs not used: Wilson, Trialist.

Bathgate: Carlin, Nicolson, Neill, Love, Gutwell, Riley, Easton, McPhee, McGrillen, Harvey, McColligan. Subs: Blaney, Menmuir, Lorek, Fallon, Longmuir.