Crossgates Primrose 1
Linlithgow Rose ............ 4


The Rose faithful arrived to find an uneven playing surface covered in daisies and the sky filling ominously with storm clouds.

As the teams emerged, thunder rolled and the heavens opened soaking
players and fans alike.

The mood darkened further after only five minutes when Crossgates' leading scorer Mark Pagliapulo scored a fine solo goal, rifling the ball into the top corner from 20 yards.

Rose found it hard to adapt their passing game to the conditions in the early stages, creating few chances and often wasting possession.

As has become the norm, a Rose player had to go off injured early on. This time Stuart McArthur was the unfortunate man, lasting only 19 minutes before being replaced by Mike McDermott.

Crossgates should have extended their lead but Innes scooped over from six yards following a corner.

Linlithgow turned the game on its head in a three-minute spell around the half-hour mark. Carrigan played a fine ball to Aaron James whose low cross took out the goalkeeper and McSween was on hand to equalise.

The same player put Rose ahead shortly after when a deft header by Bradley released him and he drilled home a shot from 18 yards.

As the thunder continued to rumble and the rain kept falling, Rose grew in confidence and increasingly dominated proceedings.

McSween could have completed a first half hat-trick after being played in by a Carrigan flick but his shot went wide.

James did well down the left hand side and one of his low crosses was missed by everyone with the goal gaping.

Bradley sent the young Englishman into space but Gillespie did well to beat his shot away for a corner.

As the half drew to a close a James corner was well met by Donnolly whose bullet header was inches too high.

The Linlithgow pressure continued after the break with McSween crossing for Grady only to see his diving header flash wide. Next a 30-yard free kick by Carrigan was tipped over by Gillespie.

McSween grabbed his third goal of the afternoon when he headed home an in-swinging corner from Carrigan.

Wilson limped off to be replaced by Burnett and Dick replaced Grady.
Bradley netted with a header but the assistant ref eree ruled the goal
offside saying that McSween had strayed beyond the last defender before sending in a cross.

James was unlucky when he latched onto an Andy Dick cross only to see his effort cannon off the post.

McSween completed the scoring when he finished off a mazy run by placing the ball into the corner of the net.

Rose did have the ball in the net again but this time the referee disallowed it for a foul on the goalkeeper.

As the game ended, the rain finally stopped and the Rose support headed off to dry themselves out and look forward to a tie against Newtongrange Star in the next round.

Linlithgow Rose: Pinkowski, Gallacher, James, Donnolly, Wilson (Burnett 66 mins), Bradley, Grady (Dick 68 mins), Tyrell, Carrigan, McSween, McArthur (McDermott 19 mins)

MARTIN BLACK