Linlithgow Rose vs BRFC Match Report 24-25

Kevin Haynes’ first game as Berwick boss ended in disappointment as Linlithgow Rose cruised to victory at Prestonfield.

Sean Brown’s controversial ‘goal’ and Connor McMullan’s strike gave Rose a two goal half time lead with Alan Sneddon adding a third late on.

Of even greater concern will be the injury to club captain Jamie Pyper who left Prestonfield on crutches with Haynes confirming post-match it wasn’t looking promising.

Haynes handed a full debut to Kyle Somers, recently arrived from Dunbar United, with Arran Laidlaw and Max McGinley stepping into the starting XI in place of Cai MacNamara and the recently departed Kane O’Connor.

It was almost a disastrous start for Berwick when Somers lost the ball at kick off, leading to Brown going down in the area after Pyper pushed him. It was a clear penalty but Callum Antell did superbly to turn Dylan Paterson’s penalty around the post.

Berwick could have taken an early lead through Liam Buchanan. The striker latched onto some indecision from Greg Skinner but his effort was saved by a sprawling Cammy Binnie in the Rose goal.

The first half then turned into the Callum Antell special with the Berwick keeper at his best to deny Rose at every turn saving from Paterson and Dean Watson as the pressure began to tell on Berwick. However, despite his best efforts, Rose would find the breakthrough albeit in controversial circumstances.

McMullan’s cross from the left found the head of Brown whose attempt was partially cut out by Owen Calder before Antell stopped it on the line. After much deliberation, the referee and linesman decided to award the goal despite Antell’s hands never once going behind the goal line and a clear divot where the ball was held in place.

With Pyper limping off and Berwick still angry about the opening ‘goal’, the hosts doubled their lead right before half time. The ball was worked to McMullan on the edge of the area who had a pop and his shot bounced in front of Antell and found the corner.

Rose continued to push the issue in the second half, creating chance after chance but either poor decision making or Antell denied them. Substitute Laurie Devine had the best opportunity, going one on one with Antell but shooting far too close to the keeper who saved well.

Rose’s finishing woes were encapsulated ten minutes from time. More nice play saw the ball pulled across the box where Nelson’s clearance ricocheted off Dean Aitken and fell right to Devine. Nelson was able to block his initial attempt but the ball was worked back to Devine who somehow managed to hit his own teammate Sneddon when it looked like the ball was going into the corner.

Five minutes from time, though, the hosts did find their third. A corner made its way all the way through the Berwick box to Sneddon, who fired through the crowd and past Antell.

Berwick did create a great chance for a consolation late on. Nice interplay between Matty Collins and Rayan Mohammed created space for Somers but his effort was brilliantly stopped by Binnie.

Berwick remain 15th in the Lowland League after today’s results, although do have a couple of games in hand on some teams around them. Up next is a first game for Kevin Haynes at Shielfield Park as East Stirlingshire are the visitors.

🧑‍💻 | Eion Smith