Linlithgow Rose’s title party is on hold after they fell just six minutes short of being crowned East of Scotland Premier Division champions.
A dramatic Tuesday evening in the sixth tier saw the Rose ease to a 3-0 home win over Tynecastle, despite a performance that was far from their flowing best.
They went into the fixture knowing that a win – coupled with Sauchie dropping points away to Penicuik Athletic – would see them crowned champions in front of their own fans at Prestonfield.
And for 84 minutes, that appeared to be the scenario that would play out as the 10-men Cuikie were holding their visitors to a 1-1 draw.
However, Sauchie finally made the most of their numerical advantage and struck twice in the final moments to dent the Rose’s dream – for a few days at least.
Those results now mean Gordon Herd’s side sit eight points clear with just three games remaining and they’ll seal the deal on April 29 if they beat Haddington Athletic away from home, or if Sauchie drop points when they welcome Musselburgh Athletic on the same day.
Sealing the title would almost certainly see Linlithgow promoted to the Lowland League and become the first West Lothian side to play in that division.
Ordinarily, the winners of the East, South and West of Scotland leagues play in a three-team play-off, but the sides currently occupying top spot in the other two divisions – namely Beith Juniors and Creetown – don’t have an SFA licence and are therefore ineligible to play in the fifth tier.
That would see the Prestonfield men promoted without the need for a play-off.
The Rose got off to a blistering start against Tynecastle with Sean Heaver firing a wonderful volley back across goal on nine minutes, having already blasted over the bar from a Connor McMullan pass.
You would have thought that would settle any jitters but it had the opposite impact as the Rose struggled to create much and lacked a cutting edge, with McMullan rattling the bar shortly after the goal being their only real effort until midway through the second-half.
A fine Cameron Binnie save just after the interval kept the scores tied.
But despite not being at their best, the Rose didn’t look like letting the lead slip and they duly doubled their advantage in fine fashion on 72 minutes as Mark Stowe fired home from distance.
With word getting around the ground that Sauchie were being held, it felt increasingly like it would be party time at the final whistle with Liam Allison’s late header adding to the atmosphere.
But it wasn’t to be as Sauchie struck late on to keep the Linlithgow champagne on ice.
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