Cup holders in opening defeat

Sep 4 2008 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

WHITBURN were grateful to earn a share of the points when a difficult home clash against Glenrothes ended 2-2.

The Burnie, who were runners-up in the Super League last time around, were dominated throughout the first half and were 2-0 down after just 15 minutes.

Greg Meikle’s double had the Fifers in control but the Burnie pulled a goal back just before half time when Chris Dolan coolly chipped the keeper from a John Murphy pass.

After the break the West Lothian players must have had boss Derek Strickland’s words ringing in his ears as they upped their game and fought back for a point.

Scott Murphy was the Burnie hero after he curled in a trademark free kick.

With only minutes remaining Whitburn’s Kevin Donnelly was sent off for swearing and he was quickly followed up the tunnel by Grant Cunningham from Glenrothes.

Whitburn: Walker, S Murphy, Kenny, Leiper, McGurk, Donnelly, Hannah, J Murphy, Lurinsky, Strickland, Dolan. Subs: Doig, D Murphy, Roberts.

Scottish Cup holders Bathgate saw their Super League bid get off to a stuttering start as they were beaten 2-1 away to Bonnyrigg Rose.

A sensational solo goal from Sean Polizcka and Dean Walker effort had Rose in charge of proceedings.

Polizcka even missed a penalty as Bathgate struggled to make a mark on the game.

But Thistle did pull a goal back in the dying stages through a Graeme Love effort which was fumbled into the net but it was too little, too late for the county men.

Bathgate: Carlin, Fallon, Neill, G Love, Menmuir, F Love, A McLaren, McColligan, McGrillen, McFadyen, G McLaren. Subs: Nicolson, McPhee, Easton, Longmuir.

In the Premier League Musselburgh beat Fauldhouse comfortably 3 – 0.

Fauldhouse need to pick up the pace of the games quickly if they don’t wish to face the same fate as Armadale last season.

And in the South Division Armadale recovered from a string of poor results to bounce back in style with 3–0 win at home to Pumpherston.

The star of the show was undoubtedly Robbie Feeney who took home the match ball after bagging a superb hat trick.

A goal in the first half and a double after the break finished off a great afternoon for the striker.

Livingston lost 3–1 at home to a rampant Blackburn side who had a double from Gary Peebles and a single from Andy McQuillan to thank for the win.

Livingston’s consolation goal came from Andy Higgins.

Harthill gave Broxburn’s title hopes a jolt when they won by a single goal at home.

John Connolly clinched the win with a penalty just five minutes from the end.

Elsewhere, Stoneyburn put last season’s poor form behind them with an emphatic 3–1 win at home to Haddington and West Calder travelled to Dunbar and beat them 3–1 on their own patch.