BATHGATE Thistle boss Graeme Love heaped praise on his ex-Easter Road team-mate Paul Riley after chalking up the best win of his short career as manager.
Riley was outstanding in the engine room as the Jags came from behind to record a sweet victory th
anks to a superbly executed free-kick from Brian Colligan before the break and a second-half winner from Brian McPhee, though Jim Lister was claiming afterwards that he'd got the final touch.
Riley used his experience to brilliant effect, popping up in the right place all afternoon and giving Colligan and Gary Fallon the comfort to push forward to support the forwards.
"I've just told Paul in the dressing-room that he's an unsung hero for us," beamed Love after the match.
"The guys I'm asking to get forward have the peace of mind knowing they've got an anchor in behind, if you like. Paul also talks very well and he pulls them back in and gets everyone organised.
"It is a thankless job but he knows how important he was in helping us record a result I'd probably say is as good as we've had since I became the manager, especially as this is a bit of a derby for us."
Unbeaten in eight games, Linlithgow opened the scoring after 20 minutes through debutant Ian Nimmo who punished the visitors for failing to cut out a Stuart McArthur corner as his shot from the corner of the six-yard crossed the line before being thumped clear.
But they were only in front for a minute after a foul by skipper John Ward in a central position outside the box gave Colligan the chance to show off his dead-ball skills and he left Ronnie McPherson, in for Stephen Pinkowski in the Linlithgow goal, totally helpless.
In a second half of few clear-cut chances, the winner came in the 57th minute when a cross-cum-shot from 39-year-old McPhee ended up in the corner of the net.
In a desperate bid to try to salvage a point, Dave Baikie threw the giant Ward forward in the closing minutes to no avail.
Speaking of his goal, McPhee said: "It was a case of putting the ball into a threatening area that made it difficult for the defender and the keeper.
"It is great to score the winner here but I think the boys at the back should take a lot of the credit for this result as they were so well organised."
Disappointed Rose boss David Baikie said: "When you score a goal, you've got to consolidate for ten minutes or so but we didn't do that and it was disappointing to lose a goal straight away.
"Over the piece I felt we had the lion's share of the possession but we huffed and puffed without creating anything."
Elsewhere in the Super League, Whitburn were beaten 1-0 away to Camelon.
In the South Division, Pumpherston Juniors beat Stoneyburn Juniors 1-0 and Harthill Royal beat Livingston United 3-1.
Bathgate will face Glenrothes in the fourth round of the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup after Tuesday's draw, while Linlithgow Rose drew Cumnock at home, and Bo'ness United are away to Blantyre Vics. Ties to be played on 16 January.
