ROSE GO TOPAFTER DERBY CANTER
Linlithgow Rose went top of Conference C in the East of Scotland after a commanding victory over West Lothian neighbours Blackburn United.
An eight minute hat- trick from Tommy Coyne, sandwiched between an Owen Ronald strike and a Gary Thom header was enough for Rose to take three points and see them rise above Broxburn in the table.
This was always going to be a tough afternoon for Blackburn, but manager Mark Campbell couldn’t have been too disappointed with what was a spirited performance.
Ten minutes in Rose began to impose themselves on the match. They were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, which Robert Sloan took. His cross was met with a thumping header from Gary Thom, and although ruled as offside, goalkeeper Adam Sinnet produced a wonder save to keep the ball out the net.
However, merely a minute later, Sinnet became the fall guy as he failed to keep out Owen Ronald’s strike from the edge of the box. The young keeper would have been disappointed to not have kept the shot out as he got a full glove on the ball.
The Burnie may now have feared the worst but the front two of Downie and Campbell linked up well to fire Blackburn level.
Danny Campbell took a run down the right side and his sublime cross into the box took the Rose defence out completely and found partner Darren Downie who was left with the simple task of slotting home into an empty net from six yards.
Blackburn gained in confidence for a short while, and came more into the match, but the scores didn’t stay level for long. On 31 minutes Robert Sloan, swung over a corner, and although Sinnet parried two initial efforts, striker Tommy Coyne couldn’t be denied at the third attempt and he struck home from inside the six yard box.
Just five minutes later it was 3- 1 as Owen Ronald drove through the Blackburn midfield completely unchallenged. His pass to Coyne found the striker one on one with Sinnet, and he slotted home beyond the keepers despairing dive. Five minutes before half time it was a case of de-ja-vu when Coyne completed his hat-trick as he found himself in an almost identical position to put the ball in the net.
By now the match was won and the second half was a rather drab affair. Gary Thom completed the scoring when he headed home yet another Sloan corner to make it 5-1.