Carlin saves are priceless

Musselburgh 0 Bathgate 1

BATHGATE THISTLE had keeper Andy Carlin to thank for two great saves in the first half to keep them in the game before the Burgh were reduced to ten men early in the second half.

In windy conditions Musselburgh forced a succession of early corners before the opening chance came after 20 minutes when Kris Renton ran on and his well struck shot was tipped over the bar by Carlin. Just before the break Paul Tansey hit a screamer from the edge of the box and his shot looked goal bound but Carlin once again dived full length to turn the ball over for a corner.

The turning point came in the opening minute of the second half when Calvin Shand's challenge on Steven Payne merited a straight red card.Midway through the second half Bathgate grabbed the winner when a corner kick was taken quickly to Payne and his shot from 20 yards went through a ruck of players, and left the unsighted keeper Renton for dead. Musselburgh pushed for the equaliser but Bathgate held out.

Musselburgh Athletic: Renton, Shand, Gray, Mitchell, Fraser, Nelson, Kelly, Beveridge, Renton, McCallum, Tansey. Subs: McKenna, Gibson, King, Gordon, Porteous, Ramage, Devlin.

Bathgate Thistle: Carlin, Wilson, Neil, Hunter, Easton, McColligan, F Love, Lurinski, Lister, Payne, McLaren. Subs: Fallon, Riley, McPhee, G Love, Menmuir, McAfferty.