15/05/08 K.O. 7pm 1/4 Final Brown Cup
Musselburgh progressed to the semi final of the Brown Cup with a well earned victory over Scottish Cup finalists Bathgate at a buzzing Olivebank.
It is without doubt the best performance at home this season with every department working well. Defense was fantastic, up against a strong team they did very well to contain the powerful strike force, but it was in midfield that the home team won the game, the score will read 2-1 but if the home team had taken the chances created it could and should have been more. 15 shots saved by the visiting keeper who kept his team in the tie and many more wide or narrowly over. Musselburgh out fought and out classed a very good Bathgate team - a team that can still win 4 cups and they had no answer to the constant waves of attacks.
The first chance came after good passing from Musselburgh involving Currie and Porteous ending with a great save from Jordan Longmuir from a Devlin strike. Bathgate responded with a Nicolson corner headed wide by the impressive McFadyen. From the restart Musselburgh tore open the Bathgate team with Tansey and Devlin seting up Paul Currie who again found the ex Rangers keeper in fine form. There then followed a good passage of Bathgate pressure but Musselburgh in defense were outstanding, good body shape and excellent use of the ball to clear. The nearest Bathgate came was a McFayden shot saved by McPherson. Chris King for the home team had a strike narrowly wide as the Burgh gained control of the game. Another top chance created by Matti King on the right his cross was brilliantly met by Currie but another great save by Longmuir kept the scores level. A bad tackle by Love was given a caution by Scottish cup final ref Mr Colvin and a card also to Paul Currie, the only cards issued.
The second half started but Bathgate didn't as the home team continued to push forward, another superb move put Matti King through on goal his shot though was again pushed out by Longmuir and Chris King following up hit over. The goal though did come, a great free kick from Chris King right into the danger area and took a deflection past the keeper, looked like Matti King got the last touch to give Musselburgh a well earned lead. It could have been two straight after as again Paul Currie, this time tried a great lob but once again the keeper tipped it wide. From the corner Wes Mitchell had his shot deflected into the keepers hands. Bathgate though are not in the super league and flying in the cups through luck they drew level from a corner kick met by the head of Stuart Hunter into the bottom right hand corner. Many thought that the visitors would brush the Premier League side away but instead Musselburgh bombed forward with Tansey going close with a shot and Devlin given offside through on goal. When the winning goal came it was another top move from Musselburgh, excellent passing again their trade mark and this time Sweeney played the ball right through the Bathagte defense and Matti King one on one gave the keeper no chance with a top drawer finish into the back of the net. Two further chances in the following minutes with Tansey out running the tiring Bathgate team six players passed and his shot hit the side netting with the crowd celebrating on the far side. Another run from Tansey was brought to a abrupt end with a foul and the free kick ended with Devlin shoting just over. CJ came on for the excellent Danny Sweeney as Musselburgh pushed for a third and although the build up was simply fantastic to watch all efforts were cleared by the keeper. The only danger was corner kicks for Bathgate, racking up 11 in total but the home keeper did very well as did Bain with a great clearing header and McManus with a good tackle. The match ended with the crowd clapping the team off the park on a day when Musselburgh were simply too good for any opposition. It should be noted that in the second half especially Musselburgh were on another level with every player playing to his potential. A great game, a great performance and for Musselburgh a great result which brings the prize of Linlithgow Rose to Olivebank in the Semi Final tie.
Follow Musselburgh on Saturday as we head to Edinburgh United. Kick Off is 2.00pm . Click here for more details. Support your local team - drive them on to cup glory this season!
Referee Mr Brian Colvin
Musselburgh: McPherson, Sweeney, McManus, Mitchell, Bain, Devlin, Porteous, Currie, M King, C King, Tansey Subs: CJ, Turnbull , Polowj
Bathgate Thistle: Longmuir, Wilson, Neill, Love, Easton, Nicolson, Lorek, Bannerman, Hayes, McFadyen, Hunter Subs: Docherty, McColligan, F Love, Elliot
Currie
Match report by Ryan Kelly
Designed and developed by Liam & Ryan Kelly 2008 ©
