Stoppage time sickener denys Rose Scottish Cup win

Feb 3 2011 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

Dave Baikie

DAVE BAIKIE admits losing a last minute leveller to Auchinleck Talbot was ‘a kick in the teeth.’

The Linlithgow Rose manager watched his side take a dramatic late lead when Tommy Coyne netted an 88th minute penalty.

But Talbot sub David Gillies forced a replay with a low drive a minute into time added on and the sides will have to do it all over again this Saturday for a place in the fourth-round of the Emirates Scottish Cup.

And Baikie admits the timing of their goal was a sickener although he is confident his side can finish the job at Beechwood Park.

He said: “I thought we huffed and puffed and didn’t play as well as we can.

“We started pretty well and for the first 20 to 25 minutes did ok but then we allowed them back into it.

“Auchinleck had a half-hour spell, 15 minutes either side of half-time, in which they were on top and our goalkeeper made some good saves.

“I made a few subs which certainly made a difference for us and when we took the lead so late in the game we thought we’d get through in the end but the game is never over until the ref blows the final whistle.

“After scoring the penalty we became complacent and didn’t really get the ball back — which was the problem.

“Their goal, coming so late in the game, was a kick in the teeth but looking back on the chances for both sides perhaps a draw was a fair result and it is all to play for on Saturday.

“It will definitely be tough for us down there and I expect it will be quite hostile but we have to go these places and win if we want to go through and we are definitely capable of that.”

Colin Strickland gave Linlithgow the lead on 21 minutes after being supplied by Coyne but they were pegged back when the smallest man on the park, James Latta, rose highest to head home.

Then with two minutes left of regulation time the home side were awarded a spot-kick when Ian Nimmo was dragged to the ground by Liam McVey.

Coyne slotted home the spot-kick before Gillies struck a last-gasp sucker punch to force a replay with his stoppage time leveller.

Holders Rose and Talbot have racked up a staggering five finals between them in the last eight years and will square off again this Saturday where one of the favourites will be eliminated.

But goalscorer Strickland insists Rose’s cup fate is still in their own hands.

He added: “It was hard to take losing a goal so late in the game and it was a real blow.

“It did feel a bit like a defeat but overall, looking back on the match, a draw was probably a fair result.

“But we are sill in the cup and our fate is still in our own hands. It will be tough down there but we have players of real quality who can help us get the right result.”