Scottish Junior Cup Final

Kelty suffer heart breaker in last minute of extra time at East End Park. Linlithgow Rose lift trophy for the third time but for Kelty that's two Junior Cup finals and two defeats.

KELTY HEARTS 1 LINLITHGOW ROSE 2
(after extra time)

East End Park attracted a crowd of 9304 - the second highest of the 2007-08 season - for the showcase of the Junior Calendar, the Citylink Scottish Junior Cup Final between Kelty Hearts (in blue and white) and Linlithgow Rose (in maroon). This was the first time that East End had been used for the Junior Final, the only other time the SJFA has used the ground was on 13th April 1968 when Glenrothes won the semi final against Larkhall Thistle 4-0.

The size of the crowd delayed the kick off for 15 minutes though the latecomers would have missed little in the opening half.  The Lothian side had the best chances of the first 45; Gordon Herd provided Brian Carrigan with a good chance to power a shot from the right side but Alan Fleming fisted that away and later a Carrigan cross was headed over the crossbar by Stuart McArthur.

The second half saw a Kelty revival and for periods looked to be on top. Half time sub Scott Lawrie came close in 58th minute shooting low but narrowly wide of the right post. John Martin was allowed space to make ground up the right several times before he pulled up with a hamstring injury.

Just nine minutes from the end Rose took the lead when the sting was taken off a long through ball by defender Gordon Findlay, only to set up CARRIGAN who slotted home from 12 yards.

The lead lasted only four minutes until a Currie corner from the right was played deep for Lawrie to release a good shot on target. Steven Oliver in goals stopped the shot but could not hold it and Iain MAUCHLEN was on hand to stick the ball in the net from inside the six yard box.

On 90 minutes Shaun Graham released a useful ball to John Ferguson but his shot was unluckily blocked by Mauchlen. In stoppage time Carrigan almost saved the tiring legs the 30 minutes of extra time but when he rounded Andrew Rollo he whipped his shot inches over the crossbar.

In extra time Ferguson looked like breaking the deadlock when he dragged the ball back to get in a shot from 18 yards but that slipped wide right.  In 101 minutes Bathgate had a pop at goal from down on the right touchline after the Rose keeper had sliced his clearance.

Rose were not out of it even though several of their players were going down with cramp. Carrigan who was to be awarded the Man of The Match Award forced another good save from Fleming after he connected well with supply from Tyrell.

In the last minute of extra time a free kick awarded against Rollo as he took the ball off McSween.  Carrigan took the set piece and delivered a fine ball to the near post where Mark WHYTE arrived ahead of his marker to glance the winner past Fleming. 

This is third time Linlithgow have won the Scotish Junior Cup, it completes the Super League and Cup double and First Minister Alex Salmond presented the extremely large trophy to their captain Ian Gallacher.  It's a long time since "We are the Champions" was played at East End but hopefully it can be dug out again soon for First Division success next season.

KELTY HEARTS: Alan Fleming; Graeme Findlay, Eammon Fullarton, Gordon Findlay, Andrew Rollo (c), Adam Moffatt (Scott Lawrie HT), John Martin (Steven Bathgate 71), Shaun Graham, Lee Bailey (John Ferguson 77), Iain Mauchlen, Dennis Currie
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Smart, Craig McCreadie
SCORER: Mauchlen (85)
YELLOW CARDS: Bailey, Graham, Bathgate

LINLITHGOW ROSE: Steven Oliver; Ian Gallacher (c), Michael McDermott (Euan Donaldson (67), Kevin Donnelly, Greig Denham (Mark Whyte 76), Mark Bradley, Mark Tyrell, Keith Hogg, Brian Carrigan, Gordon Herd (Iain McSween 65), Stuart McArthur
SUBS NOT USED: Andrew Dick, Steven Pinkowski
SCORER: Carrigan (81), Whyte (120)
YELLOW CARD: Bradley

REFEREE: Andrew McWilliam
WEATHER: 19C Dry