Herd makes it lucky No13 for Linlithgow Rose

Jun 4 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

IT WAS lucky No.13 for Linlithgow Rose this week when they brought the Fife and Lothians Cup back to Prestonfield for a record 13th time.

Rose edged out Thornton Hibs by a single goal at Hill of Beath’s Keirs Park to win the prestigious honour and give manager Dave Baikie his first trophy.

Gordon Herd was the Rose hero as he scored the all-important winner following a moment of magic in a crowded penalty area.

Brian Carrigan, making his first start since his return from Alloa, fed the ball into the box where Herd expertly spun his marker to make a yard of space and finish well for what proved to be the winner.

Gordon Herd admitted the trophy had come at a good time after Rose’s title challenge collapsed spectacularly over recent months.

He said: “Winning a trophy is great at any time but what makes it even better is that we’ve got our hands on one so soon after the gaffer has come to the club.

“I think a few of our players had gone a bit stale but he has drilled a winning mentality into us already.

“They’ve also helped us relax, which is much better than the nervousness that was evident under the previous manager due to the fact we didn’t know where we stood.”

And Rose manager Baikie reckons his side fully deserved their cup glory.

“I was pleased the way we played tonight, particularly in the first-half, when we created several good chances,” he said.

“I took a gamble by playing a very attacking team and that was leaving us a bit short at the back at times so I was a wee bit worried about that after we hadn’t scored in the first-half.

“But we got the goal in the end and, after that, I made some substitutions to try and tighten things up a bit.

“It was great goal from Herd and his workrate was phenomenal as well.

“That meant that even when he started to get cramp towards the end there was no way he was going to come off.”

Linlithgow: Pinkowski, Robertson, McEwan, Donnelly, Smith, McDowell (Tyrrell), Carrigan, Hogg, Coyne (McArthur), Herd, Bradley (Livingstone). Subs: King, Bruce.