Gowfers match-up to Bathgate

Carnoustie Panmure travelled to Creamery Park for a Scottish Junior Cup second round tie against last season's runners-up Bathgate Thistle on Satuday.

Having defeated the Lothian side 2-0 in the league just a couple of weeks previously, the Laing Park men were hopeful of repeating the feat and progressing to the next round of the competition.

However, it turned out to be a proverbial game of two halves and while the Gowfers could count themselves somewhat lucky to be only one down at half-time, their performance after the break fully deserved the draw.

Manager Ian Flaherty was back in charge and made several changes to the side beaten by Lochee Harp the previous week.

Daryn Smith, Robert Hendry and Kevin Cumming were all on from the start, replacing Grant Miller, Euan Hall, both dropped, and Steven Narey, who found a place on the bench along with Aaron Conway, James Russell, Jim Butter and ex-Dundee United and Rangers star Gary Bollan, who had put pen to paper just two days before the match.

Carnoustie got the match under way, but with just two minutes on the watch it was Bathgate who came close to opening the scoring. From a free kick wide on the left, Wilson played the ball deep into the box, but the unmarked McFadyen sent his header over the top.

A minute later, Thistle squandered another chance to take the lead when a Grant cross bobbled about in the Gowfers' goalmouth before falling to Harty, who shot narrowly past.

Carnoustie weathered the early home pressure and had a half-chance themselves in eight minutes after Cumming was fouled by Neill some 35 yards out. Craig took the kick and picked out Cumming, who sent his shot just wide of Balfour's left-hand post.

Moments later, at the other end, D. Smith conceded a free kick from which T. Smith found McFadyen, who was again unmarked, but fortunately for the Gowfers he once more put his header over the bar.

In 13 minutes, T. Smith fed a good pass through to McFadyen, whose low drive was deflected for a corner by D. Smith. A second corner followed in quick succession, but this time Wilson's cross was headed clear by Wilkie.

Five minutes later, Bathgate again came close to going in front when Harty fired a long-range shot just wide of Whyte's left-hand upright.

Carnoustie had another lucky escape in 22 minutes after Ogilvie fouled Grant 30 yards out.

F. Love took the free kick quickly and Tully then played the ball inside to Harty, who headed it powerfully towards goal.

Whyte reacted quickly and palmed the ball downwards. It fell to Docherty, but he knocked it over the top when it looked easier to score.

A minute later, Bathgate had yet another chance when Docherty sent T. Smith away down the left. After a good run down the line, he crossed to Grant, but his header was too straight and Whyte saved easily.

It was nearly all Bathgate at this stage and the home side again came close when Whyte did well to touch a T. Smith fierce drive over the bar for a corner. T. Smith's flag kick was only partially cleared and dropped out to F. Love, who fired it back in. This time Whyte got up amid a ruck of players to punch the ball away.

It fell to Wilson, who shot past, bringing some welcome relief to the hard-pressed Gowfers' defence.

In 29 minutes, Morrison was adjudged to have fouled T. Smith. G. Love took the kick and found Grant all on his own, but thankfully for Carnoustie he sent his header high over the top.

The Gowfers were gifted a rare scoring opportunity in 33 minutes when Collier was fouled by Neill 40 yards out. Craig sent the free kick over the defensive wall, but it was rising all the time and also cleared the crossbar.

Next minute, a poor clearance by 'keeper Balfour was blocked by Brand on the edge of the box. Hendry then slipped the ball to Collier, who shot straight at the 'keeper and the chance was lost.

This time, Balfour's kick-out was knocked-on by T. Smith to McFadyen, who was then fouled by Wilkie.

Wilson curled in a good free kick, but Whyte got up to punch the ball away and Ogilvie completed the clearance.

In 37 minutes, Hendry was penalised for a challenge on McFadyen, who went down squealing in apparent agony, but then jumped up and ran away laughing none the worse. To add insult to injury, the referee then booked the Carnoustie youngster. However, still worse was to follow as Neill crossed the resultant free kick to the far side of the box where DOCHERTY rose and sent a looping header over Whyte's out-stretched hand to open the scoring.

As the first half was drawing to a close, Carnoustie almost got back on level terms when D. Smith found Brand, who turned and fired in a shot, under pressure from Neill, but the ball curled just wide of Balfour's right-hand post.

Half-time: Bathgate Thistle 1, Carnoustie Panmure 0.

On the restart, Carnoustie were first to show, but Hendry's 25 yard strike was just off target, whizzing narrowly past the 'keeper's right-hand post.

The Gowfers were now far more in the game and in 52 minutes Collier fed Abbot, who shot just wide.

In 58 minutes, a Craig free kick, awarded when Abbot was fouled by F. Love, was met by Cumming, whose header was only just off target.

Next minute, Brand went on a solo run, but was stopped in his tracks when he was fouled by Harty just outside the box. Craig again took the kick, but sent the ball high over the top.

Carnoustie continued to push forward at every opportunity and in 65 minutes a D. Smith corner picked out Cumming, who shot narrowly past.

Abbot was then fouled by Harty 35 yards out, but Russell's free kick was touched over the top by Balfour.

Russell also took the corner kick and sent the ball in low and hard. It was blocked away by Wilson and fell to Morrison, who drilled in a shot, only to see Tully stick out a toe and deflect it behind for another corner. Again, Russell took the kick, but this time he sent the ball right across and wide of the far post without anyone else getting a touch.

In 73 minutes, Carnoustie had a scare when a Docherty free kick was punched away by Whyte, then Ogilvie went down injured in a clash with Tully. He went off holding his ribs, but fortunately was able to continue after a spot of treatment.

With just 10 minutes to go, the Gowfers at last got the equaliser that their second half play deserved. A long throw-in from Craig deep into the box was played out to ABBOT, whose shot struck the inside of the 'keeper's left-hand post, then crossed the goalmouth before going into the net off the inside of the right-hand post to level the tie.

Next minute, F. Love was cautioned for a foul on Cumming.

In 86 minutes, Cumming collected a pass from Craig, then set-off on a great run up the left before being chopped down by Harty, who was immediately shown the yellow card for his trouble. Craig's free kick, however, was just too high for Wilkie and went out behind for a goal kick.

At the other end, Bathgate won a corner when Abbot deflected a Maxwell shot out behind. T. Smith took the flag kick, but his cross was cleared away by Morrison.

Craig picked up the loose ball and fed Cumming, who sent in a low, hard drive, but Balfour got down well to make the save.

As the 'keeper cleared the ball away downfield, the referee brought the tie to a close.

Line-Ups:

Bathgate : Balfour, Wilson, T. Smith, Neill, Tully, G. Love, Harty, F. Love, McFadyen (Annand 78), Docherty, Grant (Maxwell 70). Substitute, not used - Burns.

Carnoustie Panmure : Whyte, D. Smith, Craig, Ogilvie, Wilkie, Morrison, Abbot, Hendry (Russell 64), Collier (Narey 64), Brand (Conway 69), Cumming. Substitutes, not used - Bollan, Butter (gk).

Referee, P. Reid, Edinburgh.