Next up for Linlithgow was a trip to Renfrew but that was put on hold as the weather got the
better of Western Park. Rose kept up their fitness with a 2-1 win in a friendly against
Broxburn. The following week saw the game given the go ahead but the Rose were faced
with disaster before a ball was kicked when keeper Greg Logan called in sick. Having lost
Pinkowski the club was left without a keeper for its most important game of the season. By
coincidence, whilst Pinkowski had been recalled to Partick Thistle, Kevin Budinauckas had
been forced out of the financially stricken club in the same period. Davie Roy worked
feverishly throughout the Saturday morning to secure clearance for Budinauckas to turn out
for the Rose. And what an inspirational move that was. Renfrew finished the match shaking
their heads as the stopper defied them time and again with an outstanding man of the match
performance as Linlithgow overcame the 2001 Junior Cup winners thanks to a second half
strike from Colin Allison. It was a testy game in which referee Willie Collum – who was
destined for higher levels – brandished his yellow card with almost monotonous regularity.
But the day belonged to the stand-in keeper who at times seemed to stand alone against a
Renfrew onslaught in the closing stages.
Kevin Budinauckas
Kelty Hearts were scheduled for Prestonfield on the last day of January but once again the weather intervened.
January 2009
January 2009 was a horrendous month for the Rose faithful as they witnessed four straight league defeats.
The first game of the new year saw Camelon triumph in a seven goal thriller at Carmuirs Park. League leaders
Linlithgow took the lead in the 13th minute through Gordon Herd but Camelon scored twice through Chris Jeffrey and
Sean McKenna before Sean Grady’s headed equaliser just on half time. As the weather deteriorated Camelon regained
the lead when Chris Donnelly nodded in an Andy Dick corner. However Linlithgow fought back again and equalised
when Brian Carrigan played Gordon Herd in for his second goal of the afternoon. Linlithgow gave a debut to substitute
Tommy Coyne but Camelon sealed the points in injury time when Chris Donnelly sent a curling lob into the net from
20 yards.
The following week Bonnyrigg won a top of the table clash at windswept Prestonfield with the only goal coming
courtesy of a 25 yard strike by Paddy Flannery.
A third successive defeat arrived in a frantic conclusion to a game at Kelty’s Central Park. John Martin put Kelty ahead
before Linlithgow were reduced to ten men when Ian Gallagher was carried off after all three substitutes had already
been committed. However ten man Rose equalised when Mark Bradley latched on to a loose pass and crossed for
Sean Grady to head home. With two minutes remaining Linlithgow’s John Fraser received a red card on his debut
before Tam McGeorge stepped up to score from a penalty. Rose keeper Steven Pinkowski went up for a late corner
and could only watch in despair as the ball was cleared and Martin ran 50 yards before placing the ball into the
unguarded net.
The month ended with Linlithgow losing pole position in the Super League as
they stumbled to a fourth successive defeat at home to Glenrothes. The game
was decided when Lee Duffy swung in a harmless looking diagonal cross but
debutant Craig McEwan and the trialist goalkeeper failed to communicate and
McEwan ended up directing the ball into his own net.
January 2013
The Rose faithful headed north to Carnoustie for the first fixture of 2013 hoping
their team’s extraordinary unbeaten run would continue. Linlithgow took the lead
in the 11th minute with a fine goal. Some great interplay built up to McArthur
playing Strickland in and he dinked the ball past McPherson. Linlithgow doubled
their advantage in the 60th minute when Nelson sent in an in-swinging corner
and Strickland's glancing header crossed the line before being c