Linlithgow Rose lose in semi-final first-leg showdown

Apr 15 2010 West Lothian Courier

LINLITHGOW ROSE will have to turn around a one-goal deficit to progress to the Junior Scottish Cup final after they slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat in the semi-final first-leg.

A header from substitute John Voight just 10 minutes from time gave Lochee a slender lead to take to Prestonfield this weekend.

Lochee striker Gary Middleton was a thorn in Rose’s side and he was instrumental in the winning goal as he turned John Adam inside out before clipping in a dangerous cross which Voight met perfectly to power a header into the net.

After the loss, Linlithgow manager Dave Baikie insisted it would be a different Rose side fans would see this weekend.

He said: “We never turned up for this game. Too many players didn’t perform to their usual standard and we paid the price.

“People will say that it is only half-time but we will need to improve dramatically this weekend in the second leg or we have no chance of making it to the final.

“We have time before the game on Saturday though to hammer out a solution and get the players back to their best.

“The performance we put in against Lochee wasn’t what Linlithgow are all about. We have a fantastic support and they quite rightly expect more that what they got in the first leg.

“I think that we will need a quick goal on Saturday to help settle the nerves and give ourselves a chance of overturning the deficit.

“The way it is shaping up, it should make for a better game.”

LINLITHGOW: Pinkowski, Kelly, Virgili, Ward Donnelly, Tyrrell, McLennan, Adam, Coyne, Herd (Flannery), Manson. Subs: McMenamin, McArthur, Bradley, Livingstone, McDermott, McPherson.