High five as Rose book cup final spot
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Linlithgow Rose sealed their place in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup final after a five-star performance against Stirling University.
The East of Scotland Premier Division title challengers proved too strong for their Lowland League visitors with a clinical display in front of goal to grab a 5-1 win at Prestonfield on Tuesday night.
The Rose, who have gone eight years without winning silverware, will take on Kinnoull or Gala Fairydean Rovers in the final.
Those sides are due to play their semi-final next week.
Gordon Herd’s team looked the more assured from the off and went in front on 16 minutes when Alan Docherty’s silky feet dragged him away from his defender, with Alan Sneddon finishing the move off with a header into the far corner.
Docherty then went close from 25 yards but saw his fizzing strike tipped over the bar by Ben Fry, with the students promptly going up the park and levelling as Ewan McGill fired home.
But The Rose were back front by half-time, as Sean Heaver found the top corner with a curling effort from the
touchline. Whether it was a cross or a genuine attempt on goal didn’t matter as the former Stirling Albion man celebrated in style.
That felt like a turning point heading into the interval and so it proved as Linlithgow were far the better side after the break.
They eventually made their dominance count on 63 minutes, although Fry in the Uni goal offered a helping hand when he fumbled a cross with Sneddon in the right place to bundle the ball over the line.
With the Rose now in near
total control of the game and Stirling stretched in an attempt to claw themselves back, Linlithgow ensured that there would be no nervy finish with two late strikes.
Skipper Gary Thom headed home on 83 minutes before substitute Mark Stowe rounded things off when he was played in down the right flank and cut inside before curling a fine effort across goal and into the far corner to complete the rout and leave the Rose just one win away from lifting some silverware.