Roddy runs unchallenged to lift Rose

Roddy MacLennan was the derby hero for Rose as, with the scores tied at 1-1, he ghosted into opposition territory unchallenged with seven minutes remaining to score the winner.

Rose had gone ahead in the first half through Tommy Coyne who picked up a through ball which the Bathgate defence failed to handle and he calmly lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper into the net.

Bathgate drew level in the 28th minute when Lee Johnstone’s 25-yard free-kick threaded itself through a group of players into the net.

Bathgate keeper Andy Carlin saved from Nelson, Coyne and MacLennan. Two minutes into the second half Lee Johnstone could have given Bathgate the lead but his shot, which was fumbled by keeper Hay, was eventually cleared by Benton.

Bathgate Thistle: Carlin, Fallon, Wilson, Leiper, Buchanan, McColligan, R Johnstone (Andreoni 73), Fairbairn, L Johnstone, Jeffrey (McSween 79), Bonnes. Subs: McCulloch, Hamilton, Pelc, Lunn.

Linlithgow Rose: Hay, Brown, Tyrrell, Benton, Walker, Ruari MacLennan, Shirra (McArthur 67), Nelson, Smith (Manson 86), Coyne, Roddy MacLennan. Subs: Mark Bradley, Kyle Allison.