Rose spoil birthday party

Armadale celebrated their 75th birthday on Saturday with a challenge match against the Scottish Junior Cup holders and local rivals, Linlithgow Rose.

Both sides had depleted squads but it was Linlithgow who raced into a three-goal lead before the half hour with all three goals coming from Stuart McArthur. His first was a penalty after Paddy Flannery had been brought down, the second a piece of neat footwork in the six-yard box and the third another penalty after Roddy McLennan was downed.

In the second half Steve Manson pounced on a loose back pass to score a fourth before Armadale trialist Don Morrison headed home from a corner to reduce the deficit.

Paddy Flannery, enjoying a place back in attack rather than in goals, scored a fifth when he raced on to a through ball and slid it past the out rushing keeper. Then deep into injury time Flannery scored the last when he tapped home from two yards after good work by Manson.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Region Fauldhouse beat Arniston 2-1 in their annual Jimmy Holburn trophy match while Blackburn won at home to Newmains with Alan Brown getting the winner in the first half.

Bo'ness travelled to East Seniors side Preston Athletic in Prestonpans to get a feel of what the forthcoming Senior Scottish Cup opposition might be like and beat them comfortably 2-0 thanks to goals from Nicky Walker and Chris McFadyen. Broxburn, again playing on their new artificial turf , beat Stoneyburn 2-1 with goals from Shaun Miller and Chris Geddes.