Rose need goals in semi-final second leg

LINLITHGOW ROSE face the tough task tomorrow of overturning a 1-0 deficit against Lochee United as they bid to reach their fourth Scottish Junior Cup final in eight years.

This season, the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup format sees the semi-finals staged as two-legged affairs and a solitary Jon Voigt goal last weekend at Thomson Park in Dundee separates the sides.

"We must lift our game much higher than last week to give us a real chance of making the final," said Linlithgow manager Dave Baikie as he prepared his side for what is their biggest game of this season so far.

"Everyone is reporting fit for the game so it's all about getting rid of that goal deficit but we'll need to lift our game from last weekend.

"I know semi-finals are notoriously poor but we can play a lot better than that and we'll need to. If we give Lochee a chance of another goal then it makes it very difficult for us.

"But we have players here who can win games on their own for us. Only a couple of weeks ago at Lochee we were trailing by a single goal but came back in the last quarter of an hour to score three. So we have the players to do that and all we can ask is that they give us a repeat of that scoreline."

If the game ends in a 1-0 win for Linlithgow tomorrow, the tie will be settled with penalty kicks. With former Dundee United midfielder Ray McKinnon as manager of Lochee United and four buses of supporters anticipated to travel south to cheer on the Bluebells, there will be a decent crowd at Prestonfield and a good atmosphere.

At stake is not only a place in the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup final but a stab at a place in next season's Scottish Cup proper for the winner. The new expanded Scottish Cup format allows the winners of the Junior leagues as well as the Junior Cup winners to take their place in the draw. This season of course, that led to Irvine Meadow taking on Hibs but in 2008-09, Linlithgow beat East Seniors side Spartans 4-1 at Prestonfield before going out to eventual finalists Queen of the South 3-0 in the fourth round.

The thought of renewing that adventure will be an opportunity that Baikie and his men will relish.

The Bluebells appeared in the final in season 2004-05 when they were beaten by fierce rivals Tayport in a game played at Tannadice. They feel this is their year. For weeks now, they have had this feeling that things are falling into place. There is a buzz around Thomson Park , in training and in games. They have enough experience to finish the job having won the Super League titles on two occasions. Indeed, they were ony knocked out of the Scottish Cup proper by Ayr United after a replay last season.

Whatever happens tomorrow the East Region can be assured that at least one of their teams will make an appearance in the final. Since 1999-2000 when Whitburn triumphed, East Region clubs have had a terrific record in this competition. Linlithgow (twice) Tayport (twice), and Bathgate have all had their hands on the silverware with Bathgate, Lochee and Linlithgow having reached the final only to be beaten.