Scottish Cup rehearsal gives Rose first blood

Apr 1 2010 West Lothian Courier

LINLITHGOW Rose and Lochee United will meet a week on Saturday for a place in the Junior Scottish Cup final and a chance to win junior football’s Holy Grail.

Both sides are former winners of the prized silverware but this week the two sides squared off in a dress rehearsal of the showpiece semi-final on Superleague duty.

And first blood went to a Rose side who will be hoping their 3-1 win struck a psychological blow to the Taysiders ahead of their cup clash.

Heading into the game’s final ten minutes it looked as if bragging rights would go to the hosts who led Rose through a Craig Robertson strike but that was until Rose ran riot in an epic final few minutes in which they scored three times to take the points.

Stevie Manson, John Adam and Paddy Flannery grabbed the goals which proved to be the difference to the delight of team boss Dave Baikie.

Key to Linlithgow’s turnaround was a triple substitution which breathed new life into the side and sparked a late rally.

Lochee took the lead on the quarter-hour when Robertson stroked home a cross from Jason Alexander who created the chance with a glorious nutmeg on the touchline.

The hosts continued to ask most of the questions but on the hour mark they were reduced to ten men when striker Gary Middleton was sent off after picking up two cautions.

Despite their numerical advantage Rose couldn’t find a way through the Lochee rearguard until Baikie’s trio of changes acted as the catalyst for a late surge.

Within five minutes the West Lothian club were level when one of the subs Roddy McLennan forced his way along the 18 yard box before sending an inch perfect pass to the unmarked Stevie Manson who drove the ball past the keeper into the net.

Just five minutes later and Rose were ahead when a Manson corner wasn’t cleared and it fell nicely for John Adam who pulled the ball down and smashed home from 20 yards into the top corner.

Then in the dying minutes they added a killer third goal as Lochee this time played a part in their own downfall.

Some kamikaze defending saw them lose the ball in their own penalty box allowing McLennan to drive a low ball to the back post where sub Paddy Flannery was on hand to force the ball home.

Linlithgow: Pinkowski, Smith, Virgili, Ward, Wilson, Tyrrell, Manson, Adam, Coyne, McArthur, Bradley. Subs: McLennan, Flannery, McDermott, Livingstone, Kelly, Herd, McPherson.