MATCH PREVIEW - LINLITHGOW ROSE (A)

For our first game of 2024 we make the short trip over the River Forth to face Linlithgow Rose at Prestonfield with a 3pm kick off.

Although this is the hosts first season in the Lowland League, we have already met twice already. Our first ever competitive meeting came in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup when we won 2-1 at Central Park in a game which went to extra time with Jamie Docherty scoring a brace of penalties with Greg Skinner getting the Rose goal.

The league game at Central Park saw a 1-1 draw with Ewan MacPherson’s opener being cancelled out by Alan Sneddon.

Both sides go into the match on four game unbeaten runs with our last Lowland League defeat coming at Bo’ness in November.

Rose have also won three and drawn once in their last four league games with their last league defeat coming in early November when they lost to Celtic B at the Excelsior Stadium. They currently sit in sixth place on 33 points from their 19 games, four points and three places ahead of us.


LAST TIME OUT

Our last game saw a last gasp win over East Stirlingshire at the Falkirk Stadium with Ciaren Chalmers and Zac Butterworth getting our goals in the 3-2 win.


THE OPPOSITION

Rose have adapted well to their new environment and so far have won nine games, drawn six and lost just four games.

The wins have come against University of Stirling (3-1), Broomhill (1-0), Gretna 2008 (9-2 & 5-0), Caledonian Braves (1-0), Gala Fairydean Rovers (5-0 & 6-1), Civil Service Strollers (2-0) and East Stirlingshire (2-0).

The drawn games along with us were against Edinburgh University (2-2), Hearts B (2-2), East Kilbride (2-2), Berwick Rangers (1-1) and Bo’ness United (0-0).

The defeats were against Broomhill (0-2) Cumbernauld Colts (2-4), East Kilbride (1-2) and Celtic B (0-3).

In the South Challenge Cup they beat Newtongrange Star (8-0) and St Peters (4-2) before bowing out at Pollok where they lost 2-0.


MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE – Clyde Buchanan

ASSISTANT REFEREES – Ian Hart & Kieran Whatlen


ADMISSION

Adults - £10 | Concessions - £7 | Under 16s - FREE




Previewer: Andrew Mullen.