It was a Happy New Year for Armadale Thistle as they strolled to a comfortable 4-0 derby victory over Bathgate Thistle on New Year’s Day, writes David Hastie.
Goals from Scott Dalziel and JJ Henderson either side of a Robbie Feeney brace made sure the hosts got off to the best possible start to 2022.
The win ensured the Dale jumped into second place in the East of Scotland Conference X table.
Manager Derek Strickland admitted he was delighted with the bright start to the year and said he’s not looking too far ahead with the top four teams currently separated by just three points.
He commented: “Overall the performance was pleasing and I think we deserved to win the game.
“There’s a wee mini league there with the top four and it’s going to be a battle for who goes up.
“We’ve yet to play all the top teams, so I think we’ve got to take something out those games when we play them to put us in the mix but we are capable of doing that ,so we look forward to going into 2022.
“Every game is a hard game but we will take each one as it comes and hopefully come the end of the season we are there or thereabouts.”
It didn’t take long for the hosts to get going and they found themselves one up within four minutes.
A throw in landed at the feet of Calum Rodger, who picked out Dalziel perfectly at the back post, with his header finding the top left corner.
The Dale would double their lead seven minutes later, with Rodger again finding space on the left wing.
His cross this time fell to Feeney, whose first attempt was a fresh air swipe, but he made no mistake in lashing home with his second.
Armadale were well in control and on top of this match and could have been further in front before the half, with Dalziel lashing wide from close and a Feeney volley from the penalty spot saved well by Sean Brown in the Bathgate goal.
The visitors almost found themselves back in the game before half-time, with the conditions underfoot causing Henderson to be caught in possession by Bathgate’s Alistair McInnes.
His shot bobbled over the goalkeeper and appeared to be rolling into the bottom left-hand corner, however the ball got stopped on the line by the mud and was cleared by the Armadale defence.
The hosts made it three 10 minutes into the second half, with a nice break in the middle of the park by Stuart McLeod before slotting Colin Strickland in behind the defence.
Unselfishly, Strickland opted to play the ball to Feeney, who slotted home smartly low to the keepers right.
The rout was finished halfway through the second half, with Rodger pinging an inch perfect ball across the park to Dalziel. He played the ball inside to Strickland with his cross being hammered home by Henderson.
