East of Scotland League Cup Group J – Tuesday 15th March 2022
Blackburn United 1 (Devine 75)
Linlithgow Rose 5 (Thom 24, Stowe 26, Ogilvie 44, Sneddon 77 & 88)
Report by John Gilmour
It was with some trepidation that the Rose support travelled over the Bathgate hills to face a Blackburn side still on a high after their recent win at Penicuik. With most of the squad back fit, boss Herd was looking for a response against a side playing much better than their league position would suggest – and he certainly got one.
Blackburn came out of the traps quickly and for the opening 20 minutes looked lively. Eventually though, the Rose settled and after Mark Stowe rattled the Blackburn crossbar with a terrific 30 yard effort, the good football started to flow. In the 24th minute Gary Thom headed home from a Stowe corner then, only a couple of minutes later, Stowe himself ran onto a super long ball from Dan Baur to lob the keeper and double the Rose lead. The lads grabbed a decisive third before the break when a good decision by the referee to allow play to go on after a foul gave Jack Ogilvie a well deserved return to the scoresheet.
Now with a 3 goal half-time lead the Rose’s confidence returned big time. They picked up the pace of the game and Blackburn were finding it tough to keep the score down. However with 15 minutes remaining the home side were awarded a penalty which could have given them a lifeline back into the game, Laurie Devine converting. The Rose response was almost immediate though as sub Alan Sneddon slammed home a flick on by fellow sub Nicky Riley following a corner. Then with the full time whistle fast approaching Nicky Riley’s quick thinking saw his superb lob crash off the Blackburn crossbar only for Sneddon to pounce and head home to complete the scoring.
Blackburn United: Gavin King, James Mildren, Kyle McClung, Fergus Owens, Marcus Millar (Dominic Kane 46), Daryl Meikle (Lyall Cameron 55), Laurie Devine, Michael Browne (Fraser Cormack 55), Danny Campbell (Callum Heath 55), Jack Garrad (David Howe 67), Richie Hutton. Unused subs: Baley Ferris, Chris Ashley.
Linlithgow Rose: Lewis McMinn, Willis Hare, Cameron Thomson, Gary Thom, Daniel Baur, Jack Ogilvie (Thomas Halleran 61), Callum Bremner (Sean Heaver 61), Jamie Allan (Connor McMullan 61), Conor McKenzie (Alan Sneddon 61), Mark Stowe (Nick Riley 61), Lewis Payne. Unused subs: Martin Lawrie, Dean Shaw.