Patched-up Rose dig deep to earn place in semi-finals

Published on Wednesday 6 June 2007 12:01

Linlithgow Rose 4 - 2 Lochee (penalties)

JIM SINNET'S patched-up Linlithgow Rose side dug deep to earn an East of Scotland Cup semi-final berth when they edged out Lochee 4-2 on penalties at Prestonfield.

Lochee had the first real chance when Gary Middleton managed to miss with a back-post header from just three yards. Then, at the other end, Andy Dick saw his shot well saved by Russell Brown.

After the break, and with Rose visibly tiring, Lochee raised their game. They went ahead after 55 minutes when a high ball into the box saw Rose keeper Steven Oliver misjudge his jump and Kenny McMillan got above him to head into the net. Rose sub Ryan Pow almost levelled when he screamed a shot inches over the bar in the 70th minute but, just five minutes later, Rose equalised.

With the Lochee goal under pressure, Rose piled forward and Dick crossed for Stuart McArthur to bullet a header past Brown and into the net and take the game into penalties.

McMillan saw his kick saved by Oliver and when Dick, Euan Donaldson and Ian McSween had scored for Rose, Philip Hagen saw his attempt hit the bar and it was left to Keith Hogg to slot home the winning kick and send Rose to Bathgate on Saturday for the semi-final.