Johnstone hat-trick still not enough to wilt Rose

Aug 20 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

THERE was no doubt about where match of the day took place on Saturday as the goals rained in at Armadale.

The Dale were hosting Super League giants Linlithgow Rose and the two sides shared EIGHT goals in a thrilling 4-4 draw.

Armadale were relishing the prospect of facing an old rival and set about their business in style with striker Lee Johnstone scoring a superb hat trick.

Linlithgow were never in front and were always chasing the game but they refused to accept defeat and kept fighting for their share of the spoils until the final minute.

And they earned their just rewards by snatching a dramatic fourth equaliser deep into stoppage time courtesy of sub Gordon Herd.

But the plaudits of an early contender for match of the season will go to the Dale, and especially to hat-trick hero Johnstone, who caused carnage in the Rose defence every time he reached the box or had the ball.

Johnstone’s sensational day started off on 18 minutes when he netted his first when he rifled in from the inside right position.

Rose clawed their way back into the match seven minutes later when Tommy Coyne pounced to steer home after a mistake in the Armadale rearguard.

Johnstone restored the Dale lead just three minutes later before Craig Chilton made it 3-1.

Linlithgow boss Dave Baikie made a series of subs and he was rewarded for his changes 20 minutes from the end when Mark Tyrrell curled home from fully 30 yards.

There was just 13 minutes left on the clock when Johnstone completed his hat-trick for what was surely believed to be the winning goal.

But the action was far from over and after 87 minutes Coyne grabbed his second of the afternoon after bundling home from close range.

Then deep into stoppage time Herd netted a dramatic equaliser to shatter the Dale.

Armadale: Wood, Cunningham, McMeachan, Buchanan, Manson, R Johnstone, Bonnar, Mauchline, Chilton, L Johnstone, Shaw. Subs: Feeney, Vita, Purdie, Matonti, Suchinsky.

Linlithgow: Coyle, Robertson, McDermott, Hogg, Ward, McEowan, Livingstone, Tyrrell, Manson, Coyne, McArthur. Subs: Donnelly, Herd, Wilson, McLennan, Smith, McDowell, Pinkowski.

BATHGATE Thistle were also on League Cup duty on Saturday when they beat Stoneyburn 3–2 with Fraser Love, Jim Lister and Brian McPhee netting their goals and Chris Dunsmore and Gary Bonnes making the scoresheet for Stoneyburn.

The much-improved Livingston United racked up a notable scalp in beating Harthill 3-1. Bryan Jaconelli scored a double with their other goal coming from Richie Kay.

Pumpherston continue to struggle and went down 4–1 at Spartans.