Coyne fires treble in stroll
Linlithgow Rose booked a Fife and Lothians Cup third round trip to Glenrothes thanks to a resounding victory over North Division outfit Thornton Hibs.
The Rose had been scheduled to face Maryhill away from home in the Scottish Cup but the Lochburn Park pitch was deemed unplayable.
But with Prestonfield up to scratch, it was the provisionally scheduled clash between Todd Lumsden’s men and the North Division promotion challengers that went ahead.
It turned out to be a welcome break from what has been a challenging league season and a major confidence boost for the hosts as they controlled the match from first whistle to last.
Tommy Coyne opened the scoring on 12 minutes after Hibs goalie Matthew Clark had already made a couple of decent saves.
The striker won the ball 35 yards from goal before charging at the defence and finding the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Colin Leiper doubled the Rose lead just before the half hour mark when he headed home a Jack Beaumont cross before Coyne made it three at the break as he prodded home from close range.
Lewis Small continued the scoring after the break with Coyne able to complete his treble as the Rose made it five on the hour with a neat flick.
Thornton would pull a goal back but there was still time for two more from the hosts as Jamie McKenzie and Robbie McNab rounded off the rout in the final stages.
The Rose will be hoping to take that form into their re-arranged clash against Maryhill as they look to book a place in the quarter-finals.