Manson the provider for Linlithgow victory

LINLITHGOW just edged this fine game thanks to two headed goals from Stephen Manson at corners which did not show the Bonnyrigg Rose defence in a very good light.

The early stages were pretty even with defences on top, but Bonnyrigg were hampered by injuries to skipper James Morrice and Sean Martin, the latter being stretchered off with a serious leg injury.

The home side took the lead in 16 minutes when Bryan Wilson picked the ball up in midfield and sent a brilliant left-foot shot behind Stefan Pinkowski from 25 yards. This lead only lasted four minutes before man of the match Manson sent in a corner that the unmarked Tommy Coyne headed in.

Bonnyrigg did not learn from this and four minutes from the interval another Manson corner eluded Greg Logan and this time John Ward headed home to give Linlithgow the lead.

The impressive Manson almost increased that lead in 55 minutes when he hit the post with a right-foot shot. Thereafter the home side were the dominant force but could not beat Pinkowski in the Linlithgow goal.

Bonnyrigg Rose: Logan, Robertson, Noble, Dunn, Ritchie, Martin, Grady, Morrice, O'Reilly, Wilson, Brigain. Subs: Burrell, McLeish, Bracks, Reid, sg: Combe.

Linlithgow Rose: Pinkowski, Donnelly, Virgili, Ward, Wilson, Smith, McMenamin, Tyrrell, Coyne, Herd, Manson. Subs: McArthur, Bradley, Adam, McLennan, Livingstone, McDermott, sg: McPherson.