How Linlithgow Rose stunned Brechin City with comeback win in Scottish Cup first round

Linlithgow Rose players celebrate. (Stock image). Pic: Alan Murray

The Prestonfield men have good recent history in the competition, reaching the third round last season before losing out to Raith Rovers, while in 2016 they became the first Junior club to reach the fifth round and faced Scottish Premiership opposition in Ross County.

They’ll be hopeful they can have further good success in the competition this season under the guidance of manager Brown Ferguson.

It didn’t look like it would be that way in the early stages on Saturday, however, as Brechin opened the scoring after just 15 minutes when former Hearts youngster Rory Currie fired underneath Linlithgow goalkeeper Brian Schwake from the edge of the box.

Linlithgow’s equaliser arrived eight minutes before the break, a cross from Aiden Wilson out on the wide left found Tommy Coyne at the back post, and the club’s all-time record goalscorer headed across goal and into the bottom corner of the net.

Brechin restored their lead early in the second half when Currie found team-mate Kieran Inglis unmarked with Rose’s defence ball watching, and his shot, although Schwake got a strong right hand to it, rolled over the line as Rose’s keeper tried in vain to keep it out.

Rose were still well in the tie though and a crazy two minutes turned the tie on its head in their favour. Schwake’s long punt upfield had the backing of the wind and caused uncertainty in the Brechin defence with keeper Patrick O’Neil rushing out of his area to try and clear, but when he failed to connect, Rose captain Ruari MacLennan picked the ball up, knocked it past him and swept a shot into the net despite Brechin defender Jonathan Page’s best attempts to keep it out on the line.

Scott Stevenson then hit a stunning winner just a minute later as his curling left foot strike from the edge of the box dipped in underneath the bar to spark jubilant celebrations with the Rose coaching staff. MacLennan had the chance to make it more comfortable at the death but O’Neil saved well.

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