Bathgate Thistle fire five past Glenrothes in Scottish Cup romp

Feb 11 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

JIM LISTER gunned down Glenrothes with a four-goal wonder show then fired a warning that he has his sights trained on old boss Allan McGonigal.

The Bathgate striker blasted his side into the Emirates Scottish Cup last 16 where the Jags will come up against Bo’ness – who are bossed by Lister’s former Camelon gaffer – on Saturday.

Lister is desperate to earn a Scottish Cup medal and he will go into the weekend’s cup clash with the Superleague leaders in sensational form.

Glenrothes simply couldn’t handle him as he bagged four stunning goals to take his season’s tally to 24.

“Awesome,” was how a breathless Lister described his side’s display at the end of the match.

“We were let loose on Glenrothes after a seven-week gap without a game and it was the start we had which blew them away.

“After that it was simply the task of making sure they didn't get back into the game.

“Everyone played their part in what was an awesome performance.”

The Jags were 3-0 up inside the opening 10 minutes as they exploded out of the traps.

Alex Lurinsky opened the scoring after barely 120 seconds from the penalty spot after Brian McColligan was hauled to the ground.

And just three minutes later Lister got in on the goalscoring act.

Gary Fallon sent Lister through on goal who skipped round the keeper before side-footing into the empty net from 10 yards.

He grabbed his second and Bathgate’s third on 10 minutes when he rose highest to head home a Fallon free-kick.

Glenrothes threatened to spoil the party on 15 minutes when they pulled a goal back courtesy of a John Martin 25-yard thunderbolt.

It proved to be a brief moment of hope for the visitors who lost two further goals in the second-half.

Lister completed his hat-trick 10 minutes after the restart when he spun inside the six-yard box onto an Alan Neill header before lashing home.

Bathgate completed the rout 12 minutes from the end when Lister planted another header into the back of the net.

This time the provider was Willie Wilson as his inch-perfect delivery was powered home by Jags goal king Lister.

Boss Graeme Love, who was part of the Bathgate side which won the prestigious trophy in 2008, said: “We're delighted with the win after not having played for so long.

“It wasn't just the win, it was the manner in which we won. It was pleasing to see us get at them from the start and we had the game sewn up early.

“They came back at us early in the second-half but we were comfortable. We worked hard in training during the bad weather and it paid dividends against Glenrothes.

“We took our chances well today and with a striker on fire like Jim Lister we are a match for any side.

“The Bo’ness game next week was a huge incentive but I warned the players to keep their focus on Glenrothes first.

“I'm also looking to strengthen the squad because we have some injuries and we'll look at the players available before we make our moves.”

Bathgate Thistle: Carlin, Wilson, Neill, Hunter, Easton, Reilly, Fallon, McColligan, Lister, Lurinski, McLaren. Subs: F Love, Gupwell, Blaney, G Love, McCafferty.