Linlithgow Rose v Clyde

Recap

CLYDE: Mitchell, Cuddihy, Allison (Trialist), Howie (Trialist), Rumsby, Grant, Lamont, Wallace, Smith, Johnston, Trialist. SUBS: Love, McStay, Syvertsen, McNiff, Fitzpatrick, McCormack (Trialist), Trialist, Trialist, McGee.

GOAL: Love 86′

A late winner gave Linlithgow Rose a 2-1 win today, in The Bully Wee’s opening friendly match of the summer.

Clyde started the game brightly with some slick passing and movement but were unable to break through a home defence which featured former Bully Wee men Iain Gray, Ruari MacLennan and Pat Scullion.

Darren Smith did have the ball in the net but his header was ruled offside, and a Tommy Coyne strike at the other end also didn’t count as the assistant referee raised his flag.

Danny Lennon made four changes at half-time and his side continued to dominate proceedings but somehow couldn’t open the scoring. The Rose ‘keeper made fine saves to deny Kristoffer Syvertsen on two occasions, whilst the Norwegian forward and Ray Grant also saw efforts come back off the woodwork.

All three goals came in the final ten minutes during a thunderstorm at Prestonfield. The hosts took the lead from a corner but Ally Love quickly equalised when he got on the end of a through ball and lobbed the goalkeeper from distance.

Linlithgow Rose then restored their advantage a couple of minutes later when an attacker broke clear of the Clyde defence and slotted beyond the substitute trialist goalkeeper.