Linlithgow Rose 3-1 Jeanfield Swifts: Linlithgow into quarter-finals

By MARTIN BLACK
Published on 18/02/2013 12:00

Linlithgow’s remarkable
season continued as they marched into the last eight of the Emirates Scottish Cup with their 26th win in 27 games in 2012/13.

This, however, was not plain sailing for Mark Bradley’s men in the face of spirited resistance from the Perth Premier League outfit, and in the post-match analysis the losing manager 
actually seemed the happier.

Jeanfield gaffer Scott Brown said: “We were stifling them and restricting them to long-range shots and then they got a wonder goal. Linlithgow are a quality side and it gave us a taster of what it could be like if we can join in the promotion fight.”

Linlithgow’s only chance of note in that first half was a Colin Strickland effort that Duncan Bruce stopped with his legs, until the deadlock was broken on the stroke of half-time thanks to a fantastic drive from Roddy MacLennan that soared into the top corner of the net.

Rose boss Mark Bradley said: “Credit to Jeanfield, they came with a plan to try to stop us playing and we didn’t cope with it well in the first half. We needed that brilliant strike from Roddy to settle us down a bit.”

Swifts equalised eight minutes into the second half when John Anderson headed in Gavin Mackie’s free kick, but parity was short-lived as Gordon Herd restored the Rose lead three minutes later when he scored from Stuart McArthur’s pass.

Tommy Coyne converted a penalty in the 76th minute after Ruari MacLennan had been upended in the box by Aaron Whitehead. Bradley added: “I wasn’t too happy, but we kept going and got our rewards.”

Linlithgow: Hay, Gibson (Tyrrell 65 mins), Nelson, MacKenzie, Ovenstone, Ruari MacLennan, McArthur, Shirra, Strickland, Roddy MacLennan (Smith 77 mins), Herd (Coyne 61 mins)

Jeanfield: Bruce, Reid (Kelly 77 mins), Dobie, Gunnion, Whitehead, McAllister, Holt, G Anderson (McManus 72 mins), J Anderson, Holden, Mackie (Gordon 60 mins)