Conor McKenzie was the late Linlithgow hero as his injury-time winner fired the Rose into the Scottish Cup second spherical.
The substitute slammed the ball dwelling from 8 yards within the closing moments to seal a dramatic 2-1 win over Berwick Rangers in a fiery affair at Prestonfield.
The East of Scotland Premier Division hosts managed a lot of the primary half and have been deservedly in entrance on the break after Connor McMullan had bundled dwelling from shut vary on quarter-hour after Alan Sneddon headed again throughout purpose.
Rangers defender Michael Travis would have an eventful afternoon with the primary flashpoint arriving within the twenty fifth minute when he went down contained in the field, alleging he had been struck by an opponent.
Inside a crowded penalty, not one of the officers noticed the incident.
That introduced a little bit of ambiance to a contest that had been a slow-burner with Berwick’s Griffin Sabatini and Linlithgow’s Alex Webb each seeing yellow moments later.
Mark Stowe went shut with an effort from simply exterior the field as the house aspect went trying to find a second.
Nonetheless, the half-time break appeared to do the guests the world of excellent as they began the brighter of the 2 groups after the break.
Alex Harris was denied by Cameron Binnie earlier than seeing an effort cleared off the road whereas Rangers striker Lewis Allan was proving a handful.
Travis’s match was dropped at a untimely finish simply shy of the hour mark when a coming along with Sneddon resulted within the defender’s studs connecting with the Rose striker’s head as he lay on the bottom.
That incident was seen by the officers and the centre-back was swiftly proven a pink card.
It appeared to galvanise Berwick, although, who would take management of the sport regardless of the numerical drawback with Allan going shut from 20 yards earlier than they obtained themselves on degree phrases after 73 minutes.
David Ferguson bundled the ball over the road however took a whack to the pinnacle within the course of, forcing him off the park.
Rose virtually answered again instantly just for Callum Antell to provide an exquisite save to disclaim McKenzie whereas Allan compelled Binnie into an excellent cease on the different finish as each groups went trying to find a dramatic late winner.
And it could arrive within the third minute of injury-time because the Rose piled ahead. Antell produced an amazing preliminary save however the rebound fell into the trail of McKenzie who gleefully fired dwelling to spark jubilant scenes as Prestonfield because the Rose booked their place within the second spherical draw.
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Linlithgow gaffer Gordon Herd admitted they weren’t at their greatest however heaped reward on his aspect.
He commented: “To be honest to Berwick, I assumed they have been most likely the higher aspect they usually took the sport to us after they went right down to 10 males.
“They created a couple of good probabilities however we defended brilliantly. With the best way we’ve been enjoying it’s been the attacking gamers getting all of the headlines however it was the defence in the present day.
“To be sincere, we weren’t at it and it was one of many worst performances of the season however we’re within the hat.
“However we’ve overwhelmed a Lowland League aspect that has a variety of high quality.”
He added: “The subs got here on and made an actual distinction and clearly Conor’s scored the winner however the squad depth is superb.
“There was perhaps a wee little bit of aid in addition to delight within the celebrations however I did assume we have been having the higher of the play simply earlier than that.
“Soccer’s an unforgiving surroundings typically and Berwick will probably be feeling it simply now.
“We’ve rode our luck a wee bit however the spirit proven was large.”
As for the subsequent spherical, the gaffer says he fancies his aspect’s probabilities towards anybody, particularly at dwelling, commenting: “There are some huge groups coming into the draw and it’s thrilling to be in it.
“I’ll fairly fortunately take anybody at Prestonfield. We fell within the first spherical final yr so we’re all delighted to have gone one step additional and we’ll simply see who we get.”
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