Rusty McPherson ends up smelling of Roses

Twelve months ago, the Fifers won on penalties when the sides met in the Fife & Lothians Cup, but this time Rose came out on top from the spot in the first round of the East of Scotland Cup.

McPherson, deputising for Stephen Pinkowski as the regular Lithgae custodian was at his brother's wedding, dropped a cross into his own net to hand Oakley an early lead.

But the veteran stopper atoned for that with a great save from Charlie Scarborough after the break before keeping out the home side's first two efforts in the shoot-out.

"I felt a rusty after not playing for a while and that showed with their goal, though I was blinded a bit by the sun," said McPherson afterwards. "It's just match practice and I'm not getting any younger either. But it ended well and it is always good to save some penalties."

Both teams went into this game flying high at the top of their respective leagues.

The home side definitely shaded the first-half, thanks mainly to the promptings of a player who certainly needed no introduction to Lithgae.

Murray McDowell was playing for the Prestonfield club this time last season before moving to Jeanfield Swifts and now he's making Oakley tick along with Ryan Blackadder. After McPherson's 11th-minute blunder had seen a hopeful high ball from Craig Lumsden end up in the back of the net, the visitors equalised midway through the half.

When Roddy McLennan ran into a brick wall on the edge of the Oakley box, the ball broke to Stuart McArthur on the right and his cross was swept into the net by Tommy Coyne.

But Blackadder, Brian Ritchie (twice) and Lee Celantano all came close to restoring the Fifers lead as they finished the first-half on top.

As manager Dave Baikie admitted later, a change of tactics was required for the visitors and, by getting the ball up to the front men a lot quicker, they enjoyed the lion's share of second-half possession.

That said, it was Oakley who came closest the winning the tie in 90 minutes, McPherson pulling off a terrific save to deny Scarborough.

By the time it came to penalties, Blackadder had been sent off for two bookable offences in the second-half. And, after McPherson had saved from both McDowell and substitute Peter Fyfe, Coyne stepped up to seal Linlithgow's win after team-mates Colin Strickland, Stephen Manson and McArthur had also scored from the spot.

"We knew it was going to be a tough battle," said Baikie.

"The pitch isn't conducive to pass the ball so we had to change our game plan at the break.

"I thought we picked it up a bit in the second-half and the best team won over the piece.

"Ronnie has come up trumps with the two saves and I'm delighted to get into the next round. You just have to get through these games."

While disappointed to suffer defeat, Oakley boss Steven Kay was pleased to see yet again - they also beat Bo'ness and Bonnyrigg last season - that his side can hold their own against Super League opposition.

"We probably should have gone in 2-1 up at half-time and the fact we didn't has come back to hurt us," he said.

"But, if you compare the wage bills and take into account the fact they've got five Scottish internationals, I think we are doing okay."

The win did come at some cost for Linlithgow, with Adam Nelson and Scott Wilson both going off with hamstring injuries that will make them doubtful for Wednesday's League Cup final against Camelon.

"Hopefully the omens are good," noted Baikie. "Oakley put us out Cup last year and Camelon beat us in the final. Hopefully we can turn the tables on them as well."

Oakley: Bower, Cusick, K Conners, Lumsden, Sinclair, Ritchie, McDowell, Scarbourgh, Dodds (Newbigging 70), Blackadder, Celantano (Fyfe 63). Subs: M Conners, White, Brown.

Linlithgow: McPherson, Kelly, Virgili, Ward, Wilson (Brown 46), Tyrrell, McArthur, Nelson (Reilly 41), Strickland, Coyne, McLennan (Manson 83). Subs: Livingstone, Herd, King.

Oakley United 1

Linlithgow Rose 1

(Linlithgow won 4-1 on pens)