Baikie bowled over as Linlithgow claim the big one

LINLITHGOW manager Dave Baikie could hardly believe it as his side saw off Largs Thistle 1-0 to lift the Fly Emirates Scottish Junior Cup.

The Prestonfield boss admitted: "If anyone had told me in September that I would be lifting the Scottish Cup come May I would never have believed them.

"I had my sights on next season but this is special. The goal we scored (through Kevin Donnelly] was fit to win any cup final. It was a tremendous effort from someone who doesn't score often.

"It needed something special and luckily it was our day. When Stevie Manson was sent off, it was backs to the wall for us. But we weathered the storm and, over the piece, deserved to win.

"The first half was a typical Scottish Cup Final with both teams nervous but the second was great. I'm just so delighted to win it for the supporters and the Committee."

Goalscorer and man of the match Donnelly was on cloud nine today, saying:" I knew when the ball left my foot that it was going in. My problem then was how to celebrate. I just ran to the flag pole and pranced around it like a headless chicken. I need to practise that more. I'm not known for scoring goals. The gaffer had a few surprises up his sleeve for the team selection but he's done that all season and look what it's achieved. Fabulous stuff. I'll remember this goal for the rest of my life."

Exhausted midfielder Stewart McArthur said: "That was very hard work out there but it was worth it. The heat was taking your strength away and Tommy Coyne was feeling sick at half-time. That's my second winner's medal and I thought I would be on the bench at best so winning makes the day special for me. The boss mixed things up keeping Largs guessing and they were caught out by our line-up."