Gowfer’s magnificent seven
Bathgate Thistle 1 Carnoustie Panmure 7
The homesters kicked off, playing down the slight slope, facing a stiffish easterly wind, on a pitch that was a bit heavy as a result of the recent heavy rain. Chilton played the ball through for Bonnes to chase, but the Gowfers won a free-kick when Millar was fouled by Fairbairn.McCafferty took the kick and sent it forward to Perera, who knocked it to Clark, but he snatched at his shot and sent the ball wide of Lunn’s right-hand post.
In 5 minutes Carnoustie went close when Hendry took a throw-in to Clark, who spun round and fired in a shot, but it was straight at Lunn who saved easily.
Six minutes later they went close again when Robertson controlled the ball well, ran through to the edge of the Bathgate box, but then pulled his shot just wide of the post with only the keeper to beat. In 17 minutes, Robertson linked with Watson who took the ball to the bye-line and won a corner off McColligan.
Clark took the kick and found Robertson, but the Gowfer’s player sent his header narrowly over the top.
At this stage it was all Carnoustie and firstly McIlravey linked with Clark who fed the ball through towards Gates, but McCulluch got across to knock it out of play, then moments later Roberts played a ball through for Gates to chase, but Lunn came rushing off his line and cleared upfield.
In 25 minutes Johnstone who, in the eyes of the Carnoustie bench and support, but not the referee, controlled the ball with his hand, made a good run down the left, but, luckily for Carnoustie Roberts did well to get back to him and put the ball out for a corner.
Five minutes later Bathgate had a chance with Fairburn playing the ball through to Andreoni, but his 30 yard shot went well wide of the mark and out of the ground.
They then attacked again when Chilton sent Johnstone away, but although he hit a rocket shot from a tight angle, McCafferty got down to make the save at the base of the right-hand post.
The Gowfers then won a corner when Lunn palmed a good cross from Watson, over the bar.
MCILRAVEY took the kick which was partially cleared back out to him at the edge of the box and he volleyed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net to give the Gowfers a thoroughly deserved lead.
They went close two minutes later when Perera sent McIlravey away up the right to send a cross flashing across the face of the Bathgat goal, where Watson just failed to get a vital touch.
In 35 minutes a Perera cross was cleared out to Gates, but his great shot came back off the face of the bar and was cleared by Leiper. McIlravey then sent in a great cross to Clark, but he sent his free header over the bar.
All the Carnoustie pressure paid off in 39 minutes after McIlravey was fouled by Leiper. Clark took the kick and found ROBERTSON ghosting in at the back post and he made no mistake from 8 yards.
Two minutes later Clark went close after cutting inside the defence and drilling in a shot, but the ball again was just wide of the post.
Right on half-time Johnstone became the first player to be shown a yellow card after he chopped down Tonner.
Half Time : Bathgate Thistle 1 Carnoustie Panmure 7
Before the second-half got underway Bathgate made their first change with Fairburn being replaced by Jeffrey.The Gowfers got the ball rolling and pushed forward with McIlravey trying a long range shot which went high over the bar, but two minutes later they went three up when Robertson played the ball through to WATSON who spotted Lunn coming off his line and calmly chipped the ball over the advancing keeper’s head, then followed it into the net.
Two minutes later Carnoustie were again in the Bathgate box when McIlravey fed a good ball through to Perera, but he started his run a shade too soon and was flagged offside.
From a Carnoustie free-kick which Gates blasted off the defensive wall and was cleared upfield by Buchanan, Fallon tried a first-time shot, but he was well of target.
In 60 minutes McCulloch became the second Bathgate player to be booked for pulling Perera’s jersey.
McIlravey found Clark with the free-kick and the player burst through with only the keeper to beat, but Lunn got down well to clear the danger and then a minute later, after good work between Robertson, McIlravey and Gates, Perera latched on to the latter’s pass, but was caught offside.
On one of their rare forays into the Carnoustie half, the homester’s won a corner off Robertson, but when the ball came over the same player was there to head the ball clear.
In 70 minutes Watson made a good run down the left and sent in a cross which McCulloch deflected out for a corner. McIlravey took the corner short to Clark who cut inside and hit the ball from the edge of the box, but curled it wide of Lunn’s left-hand post.
Two minutes later, following a scramble about 40 yards out, Carnoustie were four up after the ball broke to PERERA, who took it forward to the edge of the box then fired it past the keeper into the net.
In 75 minutes Bathgate won a free-kick at the edge of the box for a Tonner hand ball, which he was booked for.
ANDREONI caught the Carnoustie defence napping when he took the kick quickly and curled his shot behind them and in off the near post.
Both sides then made changes, with Cook replacing Tonner for Carnoustie and Pele doing likewise by replacing McColligan for Bathgate.
If the homesters were harbouring any thoughts of a comeback they were quickly dispelled in 78 minutes, when Cook played a great through ball to CLARK, who controlled it, beat two men, then fired it home from the edge of the 6 yard box.
They two players again linked well a minute later, but this time Clark powered his header over the top.
The Gowfers went further ahead in 83 minutes, when Perera linked with Watson who laid it off to MCILRAVEY to beat his marker and flick it past Lunn.
Before play started Carnoustie made a second change with Clark making way for Johnson.
The homesters went close to scoring a second when Bonnes fired in a fierce shot, but McCafferty got down well to make a good save.
With 88 minutes on the clock Carnoustie made their third change when Roberts made way for McSkimming to make his first competitive appearance since suffering a horrendous knee injury at the end of January 2011.
A minute later Watson took a pass from Hendry who fed it through for MCILRAVEY to complete the scoring and give the Gowfers their biggest ever win in the Super League.
Match Report Courtesy Of Guide And Gazette Newspaper
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