LOCHEE UNITED 5-2 LINLITHGOW ROSE
Ross McGowan’s match report sponsored by Utility Connect Scotland.
Lochee United’s blistering start to the season continued unabated as they swept aside highly fancied Linlithgow Rose to register a sensational victory at Thomson Park this afternoon.
The Bluebells’ razor sharp attack delivered a five star display, slicing the visitors’ defence wide open time and again as Steve Fallon’s shock troops continue to turn heads in the Lowland League East.
Linlithgow arrived as favourites and in the opening stages of the game they looked to live up to their big billing taking the lead after only five minutes. Lochee’s offside trap misfired when a long ball over the top sent Jordan Tosh loose in the Lochee box and Michael McArthur had no choice but to bring him down. Dylan Paterson squeezed the penalty kick in off the post despite Lochee stopper Lewis Haldane guessing the right way and the visitors raced into an early 1-0 lead.
Linlithgow continued to apply pressure but with 14 minutes played they were stung by a rapid Lochee counter-attack as the Bluebells broke out from a Linlithgow corner and when the visitors wanted too much time to clear the danger Finlay Allan’s sheer desire to get there first paid off as he held off two defenders before slotting low under the keeper to square the match at 1-1.
Then with 22 minutes played Lochee stormed into a barely believable lead. Confusion reigned when a Linlithgow player stayed grounded following a heavy collision but while some players paused momentarily looking to the referee for direction, Lochee’s Ross Fraser adopted a policy of “stick it in the net first and ask questions later” as he took a cool finish to put us 2-1 ahead.
Linlithgow once again regrouped and looked to dictate the play but Lochee’s defence held firm to send us in at the interval a goal to the good.
Early on in the second half Lochee passed up a glorious opportunity to extend their lead when Finlay Allan exploited a huge gap in the visitors’ defence but his finish grazed the outside of the post.
And not even 60 seconds later Lochee were punished when Adam McGowan worked an angle down the left before delivering into the box where half-time substitute Liam McQuaid stabbed the ball home to level the match at 2-2.
Linlithgow were now enjoying their most dominant spell of the game and Lewis Haldane had to be alert to keep out a net-bound long-range effort from Dylan Paterson.
But with 20 minutes left on the clock Lochee manager Steve Fallon played his hand introducing Kyle McClements and Friday’s new signing Jamie Richardson off the bench and what a master-stroke it turned out to be as Lochee proceeded to seize control of the contest.
Richardson made an immediate impact burning the Linlithgow defence with his searing pace to chase a ball over the top and although Elvin in the visitors’ goal denied him with a desperate double save, there was nothing he could do when the ball broke to Finlay Allan who found the gap to drive us into a 3-2 lead.
Moments later it was four when Richardson once again caused havoc running in behind the Linlithgow defence and when Elvin came charging off his line his clearance broke to McClements who held his nerve to guide the ball into the empty net from 35 yards out.
And in the closing stages Richardson claimed his debut goal with a looping cross-come-shot from a tight angle that dipped into the net and whilst the debates will rage on about whether or not he meant it there was not a single person inside Thomson Park who will care.
5-2 it finished and although Lochee have posted some promising results so far this season, today felt like a real statement victory against a team many people expected to challenge for the league.
Linlithgow enjoyed long spells on top, played some very impressive football and must be wondering how on earth they’ve walked off with a 5-2 defeat. But the truth is that this Lochee United attack were absolutely ruthless and punished every defensive lapse to the full.
What this afternoon showed is that Steve Fallon now has a terrifying array of attacking weapons at his disposal and there cannot be many defences in the Lowland League East who will relish the prospect of facing a Lochee forward line in this sort of form.
Today’s match sponsors QTS named Finlay Allan as their man of the match after Lochee’s irrepressible number 9 turned in another magnificent display scoring two goals and softening up the Linlithgow defence for our attacking substitutes to come on and kill the game off.
It was quite simply a devastating display from our front men today. Even the most optimistic Lochee supporter could not have envisaged the start the team have made to the season and the bumper crowd at today’s game is proof that more and more people want a taste of what Steve Fallon and his players are cooking at Thomson Park these days.
Next up is a trip down to the Borders to face Gala Fairydean Rovers next Saturday.
As always – COME ON THE CHEE!!!
