Sauchie Juniors (2) 3

Linlithgow Rose (1) 1

SAUCHIE Juniors took a massive step toward safety in the McBookie.com Super League East with a shock 3-1 home win over title-chasing Linlithgow Rose.

Beechwood Park gaffer Fraser Duncan did not have his troubles to seek, the amount of injuries and a suspension limiting his choices.

Ant McTaggart came back into the side following a lengthy lay off through injury. Jon Tully entered the field with his head heavily bandaged and Ian Diack was moving delicately as he nursed the injury that saw him limp from the park at St Andrews.

Goals from Ryan Millar, skipper Brian Morgan and a clincher from Jon Tully cancelled out an earlier strike from ex-Sauchie hitman Conor Kelly.

It was a first home league win of the year for the Wee County outfit since they defeated Hill of Beath on the 9th of January. It may have been a long time coming but it was a cracker of a three points and well deserved.

Sauchie took the game to the Rose.

Ryan Millar stole the ball from Jamie Mackenzie and moved forward testing Alistair Adams with a fierce strike. Diack then moved on to an Iain Syme long ball and chipped the keeper but wide of the target.

Linlithgow were comfortable on the ball with Blair Batchelor dictating the play from midfield assisted by Ryan Baptie and Colin Strickland. Gary McCulloch and Tully were sticking to their tasks and stemmed the route to Ross Harkness with a strong “never say die” attitude.

The home side went in front in 20 minutes. Syme swept the ball down the left wing with Diack collecting and moving into the box.

The striker looked up and flicked the ball into the near post for Millar to sprint in front of the keeper to skiff the ball home.

The Rose upped their game. Batchelor found room in front of goal but blasted inches over. Then a Baptie cross flew to the back post and met strongly by the head of Kevin Kelbie which was pushed over by the home keeper.

The game was now being played in the Sauchie half. Stuart McFarlane gained a yellow card, the only booking of the game, for niggling fouls on Ruairi McLennan as Sauchie defended strongly.

The ball pinged around inside the home 18 yard box like a bagatelle with Tully, McCulloch, Brian Morgan and McTaggart all putting their bodies on the line to deny a sight at goal.

The equaliser came in 43 minutes. A Baptie free kick from just inside the Sauchie half found ex Sauchie player Conor Kelly unmarked and he rose to power a header home from fully fifteen yards.

The visitors’ joy was short-lived. The home side were back in front a minute later. Steven Dolan, on for the injured Diack, pushed the ball into the path of Millar who squared for Morgan to score from eight yards.

Tommy Coyne entered the fray after the break for the visitors as they tried to get back into the game. The front line now comprised of Kelbie, Coyne and Kelly with the home defence standing firm against this powerful line up.

The substitute was quickly in action climbing to head a Batchelor corner at goal with the ball beating Harkness but cleared off the line by Syme.

Dolan, McTaggart, Morgan, Josh Flood and Johnny Harrison were put in an almighty shift in midfield. There were hard, but fair, tackles – scuffles and hand bags as both sides tried to control the game which was allowed to ebb and flow by Mr Farmer.

Millar and Morgan continually annoyed the Rose defence with Gary Thom and Mackenzie being put under pressure. Adams was the last man for the visitors and was often casual as Flood and Millar forced him into a clearance. Morgan was able to collect loose clearances and set Syme free down the left making Mark Tyrell make solid blocks.

Sauchie made sure of the points in 84 minutes. A Morgan flighted free into the area allowed Tully to attack the ball and Adam to come from his line only to spill to the centre half who tapped the ball into the empty net.

Sauchie – Harkness, McFarlane, Syme, McCulloch, Tully, McTaggart, Flood, Morgan, Diack (Dolan), Millar, Harrison.