Linlithgow Rose rescued some extent due to a dramatic late equaliser of their East of Scotland Premier Division opener away to West Lothian rivals Blackburn United, writes Callum McCormack.
The Burnie took a shock lead by Scott Richards, earlier than an harm time equaliser from Owen Andrew ensured that the Rose took residence a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
In early season sunshine, it may need been assumed pre-match that title favourites Linlithgow would management proceedings, however United got here out the traps with intent and vigour within the early exchanges.
Nevertheless Rose can be the primary to create probabilities. On 10 minutes, Mark Stowe would go shut as he reduce in and curled an effort from the sting of the field that glanced off the publish earlier than bouncing extensive.
Stowe can be concerned once more quickly after. His chasing of a ball excessive pressured Blackburn keeper Jakub Welna off his line, and the Burnie new boy was maybe lucky to not see himself penalised after showing to impede the Rose ahead as he dived at his ft. Regardless of protests from the Rose gamers, the official would wave for play on.
Welna then produced an amazing double save to maintain the scores stage. Sean Heaver’s free-kick discovered Gary Thom within the centre of the field and his header was good however was properly saved by Welna. The ball would fall to the ft of Liam Allison however once more the keeper would react properly to disclaim the Rose defender.
Nevertheless, with the ball nonetheless dwell, Greg Skinner will need to have been certain he had opened the scoring, however he may solely watch as his header rebounded off the crossbar.
Into the second half and Rose would proceed to push for an opener. And once more, they might surprise how they didn’t discover one. Jack Ogilvie did properly to search out Conor McKenzie to the left of the United six yard field, his shot beat Welna however Kyle McLung did properly to clear off the road.
The Burnie virtually took a shock lead quarter-hour into the second half as substitute Kieran Sweeney did properly to maintain the ball in earlier than discovering Laurie Devine who teed up Richards on the sting of the field. The previous Bathgate man would agonisingly hit the surface of the publish.
Linlithgow continued to look harmful although. Stowe had seemed good all through however it could as soon as once more be Welna that was the hero. The striker was comparatively unhampered as he powered his header in the direction of the highest nook, solely to look at Welna pull off an impressive one-handed save.
The sport was rapidly opening up for each groups and it was the Burnie’s flip to search out themselves questioning how the scores have been nonetheless stage. Sweeney did properly to beat the offside lure and located himself one on one with Cameron Binnie within the Rose purpose however the keeper did properly to get a contact on the curling effort and see it extensive.
The impasse would lastly be damaged from the resultant nook although as Richards was left unmarked within the centre of the field, simply heading residence to present United a shock lead with 10 minutes to go.
And he virtually doubled his group’s tally 5 minutes later however Allison cleared his effort off the road.
That will show essential as, with time ticking away, Linlithgow drew stage. Two minutes into stoppage time, and a failure to take care of a Rose nook noticed captain Gary Thom poke the ball in the direction of purpose with a last contact from Andrews guiding it previous Welna to offer heartbreak for the Burnie and reduction for the Rose.
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