Rose book last-16 berth

Linlithgow Rose eased into the last-16 of the SFA South Region Challenge Cup with a professional display away at Tranent.

The goal crazy visitors took their tally to 30 in their last four games to ensure they head into their Scottish Cup clash away at Beith this weekend full of confidence.

Linlithgow got off to the perfect start as goals from Ruari MacLennan and Blair Batchelor put them two goals to the good with little more than a quarter of an hour on the clock.

MacLennan jinked his way through the defence to open the lead after seven minutes before Batchelor nipped in to steal possession before slotting home Rose’s second.

Tranent’s Dean Whitson pulled one back barely two minutes later but were unable to build on that as the away side went into the break with a two goal advantage thanks to John Ovenstone. The centre-back nodded home before the interval.

Ross Barbour effectively booked his side’s passage into the next round in the early stages of the second half with a wonderful free-kick before Roddy MacLennan’s cheeky chip over Tranent keeper Haris Alysandratos on 55 minutes made it five for the Rose.

Their sixth arrived 10 minutes later when former Rangers and Scotland midfielder Ian Black was caught in possession with Roddy MacLennan’s ball across goal being diverted past his own keeper by the hapless Eck Christie.

It would be a highly eventful few minutes for Christie who netted a stunning consolation effort from 25 yards moments later - only to then receive a second yellow card prior to the final whistle.