Rose took the lead in the 17th minute thanks to a flowing move which allowed Sean Grady to slide the ball to Stuart McArthur, who flighted a lovely lob into the net from the edge of the box.
The game turned on its head as Bathgate blasted back wit
h two goals in four minutes. A Paul Harvey cross was only partially cleared at the near post and Brian McPhee had the simple task of knocking the ball into the net from six yards. McPhee struck again when he headed home an Iain Nicolson corner.
In the second half, Ian McSween was brought down by last man Craig Gutwell and a straight red card saw Bathgate reduced to ten men. Three minutes later Linlithgow were back on level terms. Kenny Waugh released Aaron James on the left flank and his cross was converted by McSween.
Substitute Chris Geddes won the game in dramatic style with a wonderful solo goal. He went past three defenders before slotting the ball into the corner of the net from 14 yards as Rose extended their lead at the top of the table.
Linlithgow: Pinkowski, Robertson, Waugh, Gallacher, King, Bradley, Livingstone (McSween 66), Tyrell, Grady, Herd (Geddes 8), McArthur (James 66). Subs: Wilson, Trialist.
Bathgate: Carlin, Nicolson, Neill, G Love, Gutwell, Riley, Easton, McPhee (Lorek 85), McGrillen, Harvey (Fallon 78), McColligan. Subs: Longmuir, Blaney, McFadyen.
The full article contains 259 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
