Tugman, Miller, Murray, Spence, fowler, Grieve, Stewart, Brown, Lynch, McQuillan (Docherty 85), Rintoul (McCardie 80). Subs: Williamson, Sneddon, Crooks.

 

Longmuir, Wilson, McColligan, Neill, Easton, F. Love, Nicholson, Docherty (P. Harvey 87), Lister, McGrillen (Blaney 88), McFadyen (McPhee 58). Subs: Carlin, Lorek. 

 

Blackburn enjoyed most of the possession at the start of the game and opened the scoring in the twenty eighth minute. Ean Grieve found himself unmarked on the right, latched on to a ball before relasing to Andy McQuillan who gave longmuir no chance from close range. Bathgate equalised four minutes later when Chris McFadyen's cross from the left found Paul McGrillen and the striker's first time effort left keeper Tugman stranded. Five minutes from the break the visitors were awarded a penalty when McFadyen was upended in the box. Chris elected to take the spot kick himself but his strike was well saved by Tulman keeping the scores level at the half time break.

 

Blackburn United 1 - Bathgate Thistle 1.

 

Ten minutes into the half Willie Wilson tried his luck from twenty yards but his shot just screamed over the crossbar. The very naxt minute Blackburn's McQuillan turned Easton and his goal bound shot was tipped over the crossbar by keeper Longmuir much to the relief of the travelling fans. Brian McPhee replaced the injured Chris McFadyen in the fifty eighth minute. The substitute only took a couple of minutes to get in on the action and his fierce shot from outside the box was well stopped by Tugman.Most of the pressure was being applied now by Thistle and efforts from Love, Wilson and docherty just failed to count. In the seventy ninth minute Longmuir came to rescue again when he had to look lively in stopping Lynch scoring. Blackburn brought on McCardie for Rintoul and Docherty for McQuillan. Four minutes from time recent signing Jim Lister tried his luck from the edge of the box and his shot left keeper tugman stranded putting Thistle into the lead. Bathgate then brought on Paul Harvey for Stephen Docherty and Derek Blaney for Paul McGrillen.

 

The victory now gives Bathgate a home tie against Kirriemuir in the second round of the East of Scotland Cup.