Panmure Make A Solid Start In Super League
Bathgate Thistle 1 Carnoustie Panmure 1
With two minutes gone, Bathgate were first to have a shot on goal with Menmuir trying his luck, but McCafferty had no trouble making the save.At the other end, Carnoustie came close to opening their account in six minutes when a Cumming cross from the right narrowly eluded Voigt and the ball flashed out behind for a goal kick.
Although unsuccessful on that occasion, a similar move involving the same two players saw the Gowfers take the lead in 12 minutes. Cumming again took the ball up the right and his cross was judged perfectly by VOIGT, who rose and head-flicked the ball high into the right-hand corner of the net, giving Carlin no chance.
Just a minute later, Bathgate had a half chance to draw level when McColligan collected a loose ball in midfield and tried a long-range shot, which McCafferty took easily.
In 20 minutes, Thistle again came close when McGrillen linked well with Harvey, who fired the ball in low and hard, but McCafferty got down to make the save.
Lorek then sent a corner right into the Gowfers' goalmouth where there was an almighty scramble before Hendry got it away to safety.
In 28 minutes, a through ball from Lorek released McGrillen, who beat Hendry, then drilled in a low shot, but again McCafferty had no trouble in making the save.
Two minutes later, McGrillen again broke through the Carnoustie defence and fired off a shot, but McCafferty got across to make a great save at the expense of a corner. Lorek's cross into the Gowfers' goalmouth was played out to McColligan, who blasted the ball high over the top.
In 34 minutes, the home players and support were screaming for a penalty when Harvey went down after a tackle by Campbell, but the referee saw nothing wrong and waved played on.
Shortly afterwards, Abbot was seen to be lying on the ground injured and play was stopped to allow him to receieve treatment. After some attention from the physio, he was able to resume, although limping.
In 42 minutes, however, Carnoustie were forced to make a change when Abbot had to give in to an injury and was replaced by Hall.
Right on the half time whistle, Bathgate won a corner on the left, but Lorek's cross was taken cleanly by McCafferty.
Half Time : Bathgate Thistle 0 Carnoustie Panmure 1
Within a minute of the restart, Bathgate again came close after another corner from the left. This time, Lorek's cross picked out Hunter, who slipped his marker and had a free header, but put the ball narrowly past.Carnoustie's first chance of the second half came in 50 minutes from a Scott cross, but Voigt put his header too near Carlin, who made the save.
Two minutes later, Thistle were again on the attack and Lorek took a pass from McGrillen and raced through on goal, but Hendry got across to make a great saving tackle.
McGrillen then took a pass from Lorek and sent in a good cross to Docherty, who powered in a header, but McCafferty got a hand to it and turned it round the post for yet another flag kick, which came to nothing.
In 56 minutes, Bathgate had another chance to open their account after Lorek sent in a good cross to Hunter, but he headed just past when it looked easier to score.
At this point, the home side made their first change with Lorek being replaced by Wilson.
Bathgate continued to do most of the pressing, but in a rare Gowfers attack, Conway worked his way through and tried a shot, which took a bobble and Carlin flopped down to take it at the second attempt.
On the hour mark, Scott went down injured after a clash with Wilson, but after treatment was able to continue.
Scott took the resultant free kick himself, but put the ball over the top without anyone else getting a touch.
In 69 minutes, Bathgate made a second change, replacing Hunter with T.Smith.
The home side were now going all out for an equaliser and in 75 minutes McGrillen tried a long range shot, which was blocked by Hendry. The ball dropped out to Wilson, who also tried a shot, but this was easily taken by McCafferty.
Just a minute later, Bathgate came their closesy yet to levelling matters when Easton picked out McGrillen, whose shot crashed off the underside of the bar and was cleared away to safety.
In 81 minutes, the woodwork came to the Gowfers rescue a second time when a Docherty shot rebounded from McCafferty's right-hand post and was again cleared away.
Next minute, Bathgate did at last equalise, albeit in a rather controversial manner. Hendry appeared to be pulled back while attempting to reach a Wilson corner from the right, but Neill was allowed to lay the ball off to MENMUIR, who tapped it home from six yards.
In 86 minutes, Voigt was cautioned for a foul on McGrillen just inside the Carnoustie half.
As the home side now went in search of a winner, a McColligan shot was punched away by McCafferty, Wilson fired the ball back in, but his shot was deflected behind fora fruitless corner.
On the 90 minute mark, Easton was booked for a foul on Kelly and before the free kick could be taken Bathgate made their third and final substitution with Docherty leaving the field to be replaced by F.Love.
Deep into stoppage time, a Wilson corner was headed only partially clear by Campbell. The ball dropped out to Easton, who sent it back in, but McGrillen was flagged offside.
As McCafferty took the resultant free kick, the referee brought proceedings to a close and the Gowfers had their first point of the new season in the bag.
Line-Ups:
Bathgate Thistle : Carlin, Easton, Neill, G. Love, Menmuir, Docherty (F. Love 90), Lorek (Wilson 56), McColligan, Harvey, McGrillen, Hunter (T. Smith 69)
Carnoustie Panmure : McCafferty, Cook, Scott, Hendry, Campbell, Abbot (Hall 42), Cumming, D. Smith, Kelly, Voigt, Conway
Referee, S. Allan, Polmont.
Substitutes Not Used – McFadyen, Longmuir (gk)
Substitutes Not Used – Narey, Collier, O'Boyle, Whyte (gk).
Match Report Courtesy Of Guide And Gazette Newspaper (07/09/07)