Championship hopes revived as Rose halt losing run

Mar 12 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

MANAGERLESS Linlithgow Rose ensured it was lucky number seven as they ended a run of six successive defeats in the Super League with a home 3-0 hammering of Tayport.

It was the Prestonfield side’s first outing since the shock resignation of boss Brian Fairley.

However, they put this behind them to produce a top quality performance for a win which takes Rose back to the top of the Super League table.

Title rivals Bonnyrigg are a point behind but crucially have three games in hand.

However, a trio of Linlithgow players — Ian Gallacher, Mark Bradley and Danny Smith — are plotting a late title challenge in their dual role of players and caretaker bosses.

From the outset Rose were a team reborn and only the width of the post denied them the lead when Gary Livingstone rattled the post from 12 yards Tayport keeper Fraser Fitzpatrick beaten.

Murray McDowell also went close for the West Lothian club as they took control of the match.

However, their pressure finally paid off on the stroke of half-time when full-back Craig McEwan rocketed a Tommy Coyne cut-back into the top corner to give the Rose a well-deserved lead.

It was all Rose but a rare Tayport attack could and should have resulted in an equaliser when centre-forward Darren Scott rounded keeper Steven Pinkowski but he remarkably screwed the ball wide from inside the six-yard box.

After surviving this scare Rose regained control of the match.

And the West Lothian side sealed the points on 57 minutes when Coyne send a dipping volley into the net from the edge of the box.

Coyne wasn’t finished there and he notched his second of the afternoon and his sides third 15 minutes from time when he steered strike partner Gordon Herd’s low cross home.

Caretaker boss Gallacher couldn’t contain his delight at seeing his sides six-game losing streak come to a halt.

He said: “I thought the boys were excellent today and in the end we could have won by more goals as we created a lot of chances.

"We got the first goal at just the right time before half-time and it gave us a boost for the second half.

"After that you could see the confidence returning to the side and we scored three great goals which can only lift the players as well.

"It has been a difficult time but hopefully Mark and I can steady the ship until we appoint a new manager at the club.

"The other results also went for us so we are still in a great position to go on and push for the title.

"The league is wide open this year as everybody is beating each other and hopefully now we have put our poor form behind us."

Linlithgow: Pinkowski, Robertson, McEwan, Donnelly, Wilson, Smith, Tyrrell, McDowell, Coyne, Herd, Livingstone. Subs: King, Bradley, James, Hogg, McArthur.

Bathgate romped to a 4-0 victory away to Lochee this week as their bid to escape the dark shadow of possible relegation took on fresh impertus.

Thistle’s main problem this season has been a lack of games due to the weather and this display, against the reigning Super League Champions, shows the Creamery Park dressing room is packed full of quality.

They had the perfect start when they were awarded a penalty after 15 minutes from which Paul McGrillen scored.

Lochee were also reduced to ten men when Graeme Hay was sent off for the incident.

McGrillen then scored again before the half-hour mark when he followed up a parried effort from Jim Lister to double the lead.

Lister, who had been hauled down for the penalty and also created the second goal, finally got his own name on the scoresheet with a well placed header 15 minutes from time.

And Ian Nicolson rounded off the scoring in the final minute with a solo run and finish.

Bathgate: Longmuir, Wilson, Neill, Menmuir, Easton, Reilly, Nicolson, McColligan, Lister, McGrillen, McLaren. Subs: Elliot, G Love, McPhee, F Love, Carlin.

Struggling Whitburn found some league form this weekend and made short work of title hopefuls Kelty Hearts with a 4-2 win which would prove to be crucial.

Colin Leiper and Ian McSween were on the score sheet for the homesters in the first half but Kelty levelled things with goals from Tam McGeorge and Graeme Finlay.

But Whitburn couldn’t be denied their win and David McGurk and Colin Strickland gave them all three valuable points as they plot a swift ascent up the table.

Whitburn: Walker, McGurk, Parkin, Mooney, Leiper, S Murphy, D Murphy, Doig, McSween, Strickland, McNelis. Subs: J Murphy, Dolan, Hannah, Donnelly.