Bathgate Thistle:
Longmuir, Trialist, Neill, G. Love (F. Love 52), Menmuir, Easton, Wilson, McColligan (Trialist 66), McGrillen, McPhee
(McFadyen 66), McLaren. Subs: Nicolson, Carlin.
Livingston United:
McGovern, Collins, Simpson, Whiteford, R. Thomson, S. Thomson, Frater, Thomas, Kay, Bradford, Brannan. Subs: M. Thomson,
Handyside, Munro, Higgins.
A corner from the left by Willie Wilson was met by Brian Mchee and his header beat the keeper to put Batgate
one up. Paul McGrrillen had a chance to double the score but with the goal at his mercy he blasted the ball past the
Livingston post. In the twenty eighth minute A lovely ay off by Brian McPhee allowed Stewart Easton to stroke the ball
past tte United keeper. Two minutes later Thistle were three ahead when Brian McPhee sloted home Paul McGrillen's cross. It
was alone way traffic and it was only a matter of time before the home side added to their tally. Four minutes before the
break McPhee rounded trhe keeper and squared the ball to Graeme McLaren who had the easiest of tap ins to take Thistle's
lead to four. Twominute ater Brian McPhee almost made it five but his shot was just inches past the post with the keeper beaten.
Bathgate Thistle 4 - Livingston United 0.
The start of the second half was probably Livingston's best spell in the game but in the fifty sixth minute Thistle
went further ahead when their trialist scored from a Graeme McLaren corner. On the hour mark a blunder by the Thistle keeper
allowed Livingston to open the scoring when their striker had the easiest of chances and he slotted the ball into the net.
Two minutes later the same player tried his luck again but Longmuir brought off a tremendous save making up for his earlier
mistake. A minute later at the other end McPhee rounded the goalie but he just failed to slot the ball home. Following
some great play from Fraser Love the same player set up McLaren for Bathgate's sixth goal. Substitute Chris McFadyen
brought out a great save from the Livingston keeper before Graeme McLaren added his third and Bathgate's seventh from an eighteen
yard free kick.Ten minutes from time Bathgate's trialist worked a one two with McLaren and he squared to McFadyen who shot
home goal number eight for Thistle.
Full time: Bathgate Thistle 8 - Livingston United 1.
