Collier strikes gold with early double

The inclusion of Steven Narey at right-back was manager Ian Flaherty's only change to the side which had drawn 1-1 in the first game at Creamery Park the previous week.

Robert Hendry dropped to the bench where he was joined by Aaron Conway, James Russell, Gary Bollan and spare goalkeeper Jim Butter.

Two goals from Jim Collier in the opening four minutes got Carnoustie Panmure off to a flying start in their Scottish Junior Cup second round replay against Bathgate Thistle at Laing Park on Saturday.

Carnoustie kicked-off with the sun at their backs and immediately caused problems for the visitors' defence.

In the homesters' first attack, Collier was fouled by Wilson, but D. Smith's free kick was headed clear by G. Love.

Back came the Gowfers, however, and a Craig low driven cross into the box from the left was controlled by COLLIER, who then turned and fired the ball across 'keeper Balfour into the bottom corner of the net to open the scoring with just two minutes gone.

Things got even better two minutes later when Cumming first-timed a cross into the box and COLLIER volleyed the ball into the roof of the net from 10 yards, giving Balfour no chance.

Stunned by the Gowfers' whirlwind start, Bathgate were forced to re-group and gradually battled their way back into the game.

Thistle came close to pulling a goal back when a deep cross from Wilson on the right was met by Docherty, who fired just wide of Whyte's right-hand post.

Shortly afterwards, a Grant 25 yard effort was also wide of the mark, then moments later G. Love headed high over the top from a Wilson cross.

Carnoustie survived the onslaught unscathed, then pushed forward in response, winning a free kick 35 yards out. Craig's high ball into the box found Wilkie, but he was always stretching for it and put his header past the post.

Cumming was next to come close with a great cross-cum-shot from the left, which ran tantalisingly along the top of the crossbar before going behind for a goal kick.

However, just when the Gowfers were threatening to increase their lead, Bathgate pulled a goal back in 24 minutes. G. Love set up the chance with a deep cross into the home box.

McFadyen then headed the ball back across the face of the goal and with the Gowfers' defence caught static, HARTY pounced to shoot home from two yards.

Carnoustie responded by stepping up a gear and Brand saw a fierce low drive well saved by Balfour at the base of his right-hand post.

In the next home attack, Ogilvie fired in a great cross from the left, but Wilkie's header was just off target, with the 'keeper beaten.

It was nearly all Carnoustie at this stage, but in 37 minutes Bathgate silenced the home support with a shock equaliser against the run of play.

McFadyen received the ball from a Wilson throw-in on the right and crossed to the far post where T. SMITH shot low into the net from six yards.

In 42 minutes, Carnoustie came close to regaining the lead when a Narey free kick from halfway was headed on by Wilkie, but Collier just failed to connect and the ball ran out behind for a goalkick.

Shortly afterwards, Thistle also had a chance to go in front after a fine through ball from McFadyen released Harty, but Whyte came smartly off his line and managed to block the shot away.

Half-time: Carnoustie Panmure 2, Bathgate Thistle 2.

On the restart, Carnoustie were again first to show and from a Collier lay-off at the edge of the box, D. Smith ballooned a shot high over the top.

Abbot then made a fine solo run at the Thistle defence, but squandered the opportunity by shooting well wide.

Bathgate's first real chance of the second half came from a Maxwell cross, which was headed only partially clear by Wilkie. Harty was first to the loose ball at the edge of the box, but lifted his shot high over the crossbar.

A through ball from F. Love kept the pressure on the Carnoustie goal, but McFadyen shot wide from the edge of the box.

Moments later, McFadyen chased a long through ball from Wilson, but again fired well past from 30 yards.

In 63 minutes, Tully was booked for a foul on Brand. Craig took the resultant free kick 25 yards out, but put the ball over the bar.

Bathgate were now doing most of the pressing and should have gone ahead when a cross from the right found Harty only 12 yards out, but he fluffed his shot and Whyte was able to clear the ball away.

Wilson then overlapped up the visitors right and after cutting inside fired a 25 yard shot inches wide of Whyte's left-hand upright.

Following a Wilson corner from the left, only a brilliant double save by Whyte kept the Gowfers on level terms. First, the 'keeper did well to palm away a shot from Harty, then recovered in time to save from McFadyen, who had reacted quickest to the loose ball.

Whyte again came to the Gowfers' rescue when he blocked a long-range effort from Tully. The ball then spun up in the air and dropped to McFadyen, who wasted a great scoring opportunity by hooking his shot high over the top.

Carnoustie had a lucky escape in 78 minutes after a Grant low drive was blocked by Whyte. Docherty pounced on the loose ball and fired home, but the referee's assistant had his flag raised and the "goal" was disallowed.

Lady Luck continued to shine on Carnoustie as in 83 minutes substitute Russell, who had replaced Collier only three minutes earlier, put in a great high cross from the right to the far post. The ball eluded Tully's head and fell to CONWAY, who volleyed a tremendous shot across 'keeper Balfour and in off the left-hand post to put the Gowfers ahead.

Bathgate pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages and in 87 minutes D. Smith was booked for a foul on Maxwell.

The visitors continued to press and forced a corner on the right, but Maxwell's cross was caught by the wind and curled behind for a goal kick.

Deep into stoppage time, Whyte was yellow-carded for time-wasting after allegedly taking too long over a bye-kick.

That proved to be the last incident of note as the referee then blew for full-time and the Gowfers were through to the next round.

Line-Ups:

Carnoustie Panmure : Whyte, Narey, Craig, Ogilvie, Wilkie, Morrison, Abbot (Hendry 77), D. Smith, Collier (Russell 80), Brand (Conway 64), Cumming. Substitutes not used - Bollan, Butter.

Bathgate : Balfour, Wilson, T. Smith, Neill, Tully, G. Love (Maxwell 40), Docherty, F. Love, McFadyen, Grant, Harty. Substitutes not used - Burns, Annand, Godfrey.

Referee, P. Reid, Edinburgh.