Linlithgow Rose 4 (McArthur, 38, Wardrope, (og)43, Tyrell, 44 Bradley, 72)
Irvine Meadow 2 (Gold, 8 Armstrong, 27)
Match Sponsor - Belhaven Brewery
The Rose support will have witnessed many great comebacks over the years, none more so than the famous
three goals in the last three minutes that won the league title against arch rivals Boness just over 10 years ago
but Saturday's remarkable fight back will rank right up there as one of the best ever seen.
Rose's grip on Junior Football's most prestigious trophy looked to have slipped when they fell two behind after just
half and hour but such is the spirit in the present squad they came storming back to see off an Irvine side that
reads like a who's who of junior football and has been assembled at considerable cost, in spectacular style.
Rose manager Jim Sinnet was back at the helm but took a seat in the stand as he was still recuperating
after his operation as he sent out the same side that had swept aside Spartans the week before with the
exception of Andy Dick returning to the bench after withdrawing his transfer request in midweek.
For the second week running there was a four figure crowd inside Prestonfield but the large Rose contingent were
quickly silenced as Meadow struck early.
Former Rangers and St Mirren star Brian McGinty burst down the right before cutting inside the box
and lobbing the ball over Gary McGlynn, Keith Hogg did well to track back and stop the ball on the
line but his momentum carried him into the back of the net and Joe Gold following in
had the easiest of tap ins to put his side in front. Rose battled back and in the 22nd minute a Herd cross
saw McArthur out jump meadow keeper Wardrope on the edge of his box but with the goal gaping "tanks" effort was
just wide. The Rose defence seemed unusually hesitant and they were almost made to pay in the 26th minute when
Armstrong got in behind them and looked to have a free run on the Rose goal but Mike McDermott had other ideas
and he nipped in with a superbly timed tackle on the edge of the Rose area just as the Meadow striker was about
to pull the trigger. The Rose relief was short lived though as from the resultant corner a scramble in the box saw
the ball fall kindly for Armstrong and he made no mistake this time poking the ball past McGlynn.
With this blow Jim Sinnet was soon down at pitch level as he looked to make early changes to rescue the game
but before any substitutions were made Rose had pulled a goal back. Gordon Herd was giving the visiting defence
a torrid time on the right. He chased a long ball and beat Hilland to the bye line before delivering a cross to the back
post where Stuart McArthur arrived and out jumped Wingate to head back across goal and into the bottom corner.
This gave Rose a lift and rejuvenated the fans who found there voices again and soon they were to
celebrate a second strike.
In almost identical circumstances Carrigan found Herd and his deep cross once again saw McArthur find space around the
back but this time his header was straight at keeper Wardrope but the Meadow goalie will want to forget what happened
next in a hurry as he spilled the easiest of catches into his own net. Meadow were shell-shocked and Rose rampant and
just a minute later they unbelievably took the lead. Herd and McArthur again combined with the latter's shot being palmed
out by Wardope straight to the feet of Tyrell who gleefully swept home for his fourth goal in three games.
The visitors task was made all the harder just after the break when after former Rose man Ryan Jordan had been yellow
carded, much to the delight of the Rose support with whom he had never been a favourite, fellow defender Mark Crilly's
torrent of abuse toward referee Steve Crichton saw him shown a straight red card.
Despite the advantage Rose could not relax and
they were given a wake up call in the 65th minute when McGinty let fly from all of
30 yards his shot rattling back of McGlynn's crossbar.
Finally Rose made their possession pay when in the 73rd minute they netted a fourth and killed of any hope
Meadow held on toBrian Carrigan's superb first time pass found McArthur and he in turn played in
Mark Bradley with a superbly weighted ball andthe Rose midfield playmaker side footed into the far corner with
Wardope static in his goal. Before the game could restart Meadow wer
reduced to nine men when Chris Strain let his frustration boil over, kicking the ball at the Rose dug out and leaving
the referee little option but to produce the red card. Rose sent on McSween and Feeney as they saw
out time and they could easily have added more. McSween having the best chance when he
shot wide with only had the keeper to beat. With time almost up
Jim Sinnet was now to be found prowling the touchline urging his side on and loudly
requesting that the referee blow for time and put
Meadow out of their misery, Something that ref Crichton duly did to send Rose into the
third round draw on Sunday.
Linlithgow: McGlynn, Gallacher, McDermott, Donnelly, Denham, Bradley, Tyrell, Hogg,
Carrigan (Feeney 86), Herd (McSween 64), McArthur (Courts 84).
Subs: Dick, Pinkowski.
Irvine: Wardrope, Mason (Turner 54), Hilland, Crilly, Wingate (Feroz 80), Jordan, Gold, McPhee,
Armstrong (Jaconelli 46), McGinty, Strain.
Subs: Essler, Dillon.
Andrew West
