Bo'ness blitz Rose early and get their hands on the title

A CROWD in excess of 1,800 saw Bo'ness clinch their first top-flight title in 41 years.

Manager Alan McGonigal claimed: "This was our day, it was meant to be" after first-half goals from Fraser Forrest and Steven Ballantine secured the crucial three points.

The home side knew anything less than victory would keep alive Rose's faint Super League title hopes and it was clear from the first whistle that the home side were up for the fight.

Linlithgow looked shell-shocked after a blistering start form Bo'ness and their early pressure told after just four minutes. They forced a corner down the left which striker Darren Gribben took. The startled Linlithgow defence failed to clear properly, leaving Forrest to slam the ball high into the net from six yards.

The Linlithgow players, who had performed so heroically in winning the Scottish Junior Cup the previous weekend, were clearly rocked and their defence was all at sea as Bo'ness drove forward.

Home striker Gribben had six efforts at goal in a blistering opening ten minutes – more than Linlithgow could muster in the whole first half.

Still Bo'ness forced their way forward and they added a second after 35 minutes. Derek Fleming took a free-kick from wide right into the heart of the Linlithgow defence and one of the smallest players on the pitch, Steven Ballantine, glanced a header into the far corner of the net with the defence nowhere to be seen.

The home crowd were getting right behind their team and, come the interval, the big question was could Linlithgow mount a fightback?

Dave Baikie's men certainly came out in determined fashion and settled better. They gradually forced their way back into the game without causing Bo'ness keeper Jordan Longmuir too many problems.

Baikie threw caution to the wind and brought on fresh legs up front using all three subs in an attempt to at least get a point but Bo'ness held firm at the back.

And, in the final minute of time, they thought they had scored a third.

A super break down the right wing by Shirra and Donnelly saw Donnelly cross at speed to Chris McFadyen whose flying header smashed into the net only for the referee to blow for offside.

There was little complaint from the Bo'ness players, who knew the title was theirs.

Thirty seconds later the referee blew for full time and the reality of what they had achieved set in for the jubilant Bo'ness players and supporters.

The crowd invaded the pitch to celebrate with the players ahead of the trophy presentation.

It was a stylish end for a Bo'ness side who were by far the better team on the day and, indeed, the season. And delighted manager McGonigal enthused: "We thoroughly deserved this.

"The players were up for this game more than anything I've seen from them in the past.

"We knocked Linlithgow off their stride and won with a wee bit of style. I'm delighted for the supporters because we have probably the biggest support in the East Region and they have been terrific all season.

"We're now in the senior Scottish Cup alongside Linlithgow and that's a tremendous reward for all the hard work this club have put in since I came here."

Linlithgow boss Baikie admitted: "Bo'ness were the better team and we have no complaints. We congratulate them in winning the title and wish them every success in the Scottish Cup next season."

Forrest, scorer of the opening goal, said: "When I came here in September I heard the supporters talk about the rivalry between the two clubs. I don't come from around these parts so I didn't know what they were talking about. I do now.

"It was a great game to play in and I'm delighted with the win. It was good to get the opening goal because I don't score many."

Bo'ness: Longmuir, Snowdon, Fleming, Forrest, Duffin, Hay, Donnelly, Shirra, McFadyen, Gribben (Walker), Ballantine. Unused subs: Churchill, Kycwznski, Main, Nixon, Shields, McGurk.

Linlithgow: McPherson, Donnelly, Virgili (Bradley), Ward, Wilson, Tyrrell, Livingstone (Adam), McMennamin, Coyle, Manson (Flannery), McArthur. Unused subs: Smith, Kelly, King, Pinkowski.