Bo'ness United 0 - 2 Bathgate: Champions floored by red card

Bathgate boss Graeme Love said: "To come here and beat last season's winners was a super result for us."

Bo'ness supporters were not amused when they found out that the Super League flag, normally presented before the champions' first league game of the season, was not at the ground. The mix-up left the big crowd unhappy with the East Region Management team. No date has yet been given for the presentation.

The first half looked to be heading for a stalemate but, with only three minutes to go before half time, Bo'ness were reduced to ten men. Bathgate's Lee Johnstone picked up a loose ball just outside his own penalty area. He raced forward leaving the Bo'ness defence in his tracks until, with a blatant shoulder charge, Will Snowdon barged him to the ground. Referee Neil McLennan issued a straight red card, much to the anger of the Bo'ness players.

Nevertheless, the ten men started the second half well, forcing a series of corners, only to see Bathgate keeper Andy Carlin deal comfortably with every one.

With only five minutes played after the restart, Bathgate took the lead. Steven Payne swung over a super free kick from wide on the left. Sub Gary Fallon came flying in at the back post to slide the ball back across goal and into the net.

Bo'ness responded well and were soon forcing corner after corner. However, again they found Carlin is super form. Bathgate gradually found their feet again and, in the 73rd minute, they doubled their advantage.

Alex Lurinski played a good ball between the two central defenders for Lee Johnstone to attack. He looked out of it but the defence just bounced off him as he drove into the box. Ryan McGurk, the Bo'ness keeper, came out but Johnstone showed remarkable composure to drill the ball past him.

Bo'ness now had to come out of defence and throw everything at Bathgate. This left them open at the back and once again Lurinski and Johnstone took advantage. They sliced through the home defence on numerous occasions without adding to their tally.

In the end there was no way back for Bo'ness. They had seen their chances of a win blown away with Snowdon's sending off.

For Bathgate, it was a tremendous result. Going to the champions' home and winning will give them a huge lift in confidence ahead of next week's game at Linlithgow.Bo'ness Manager Willie Newbigging was very unhappy with the sending off. "It changed the game," he said. "We were forced into positional changes which took the edge off our strike force.

"It was a big game for us as they all are now we are the champions. We're the team to beat now and sides are going to come here and fight for the right to beat us. "This result sets us up for the League Cup semi-final against Camelon in midweek. We'll lift ourselves for that game and forget about today's result. There is still a long long way to go in the league but this was a big disappointment for us."

Bathgate boss Love had other things on his mind after the game. He said: "We heard when we got back into the dressing room that our friend and ex-player Mark Bradley had suffered a horrendous leg break playing for Linlithgow against Tayport. He was in our Scottish Cup-winning side and is liked by everyone at the club.

"We would like to wish him a speedy recovery from everyone associated at Bathgate and we'll see him next week hopefully. As for today's game, I would have been angry if the player sent off had been one of ours. It changed the game but I was confident we could come down here and get a result."

Bo'ness: McGurk, Snowdon, Fleming, Forrest, Duffin, Fraser, Carroll( Hamilton), Shirra, Shields( McFadyen), Morrison, Donnelly, Subs, Carrigan, Love, Ure, Young.

Bathgate: Carlin, W Wilson, C Wilson( Fallon), Hunter, Gupwell, McCulloch, Payne, F Love, Johnstone, Lurinski, McColligan, Subs, McLaren, Easton, G Love, Neill, Thomson, Lunn.

Bo'ness United 0

Bathgate 2