DIVISION TWO promotion candidates Edinburgh United were sent crashing out of the East of Scotland Cup by Whitburn as striker Alan Flanagan grabbed a double in a 4-1 win.
The Capital side travelled to face the Division One high-fliers in confident mood after a string of good results, while Whitburn were playing their first game after their recent Scottish Cup thrashing from Pollok.
Edinburgh settled quickly and took the lead after only ten minutes. A poor kick out from Whitburn keeper Stuart Walker saw the ball passed to James Murray and he ran forward to slam the ball in to the net.
Whitburn’s response was immediate. They forced a corner on the right and when the ball was played back to new signing Jamie Valentine, he blasted a low drive through a ruck of players and into the net from 20 yards.
Only a minute later Whitburn took the lead. Striker Flanagan found himself free, wide to the left of the 18-yard box and his lob found the back of the net for a superb goal. Edinburgh now found themselves defending desperately. But they once again settled, taking the game to Whitburn, and keeper Walker had to be on his toes as they tried hard for an equaliser.
But after only two minutes of the restart, Flanagan rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the net as Whitburn took control.
Neither side had played much football recently and it showed as they tired under the heavy conditions.
The scoring wasn’t finished, though, and the home side found time to net a fourth with a minute remaining. Ian Ramage blasted the ball home from eight yards after a head flick on from sub Kris McGhee.
Edinburgh manager Alan Miller recognised just how hard it was going to be to get a result. He said: "We came here expecting them to come at us from the start as their players needed to show their supporters a better performance, but I was delighted at taking the lead so early.
"We then gave away some poor goals and we have to learn that to play at this level we can’t afford to lose concentration.
"We now have to set our minds on winning promotion. If we do that then we will need to strengthen our squad. I thought we could have been closer to them but in the end there was a gulf in quality."
Whitburn boss Derek Strickland thought it was a scrappy game. He said: "The lay-off hasn’t helped either team.
"We will need to play a lot better than that. To score four times again though is pleasing and as the game went on we ran the rustiness out of our play.
"I was looking for a response from the players after the Pollok game and thankfully they did. It was good to get a full 90 minutes for everyone and hopefully we can build on this result.
"We have a busy schedule in the coming months and we can’t afford any more slip ups. We will need everyone playing at their best for the run in to the end of the season, but at least we have bounced back."

Whitburn; Walker, Valentine, Carswell, Cunningham, Rixon, Ramage, McNelis, Hannah, Strickland, Flanagan, Sinclair. Subs: Kenny, McAllister, McGhee, Gibson, Beveridge.

Edinburgh: Burgess, Ford, Weatherstone, Mclaughlin, Inglis, Brookfield, Murray, McIntosh, Hall, Wilson, McCormick. Subs: Muir, Watson, Elliott, Greenhill, Howat.

EDINBURGH UNITED boss Alan Miller today admitted he is wary of a Whitburn backlash when his side travel to Central Park in the first round of the Kia East of Scotland Cup tomorrow.
Whitburn were thumped 5-0 by west region outfit Pollok in the OVD Scottish Junior Cup on their last outing a fortnight ago, bringing an end to a nine-game winning run during which they averaged an incredible four goals a match.
The Central Park side were unable to get that result out of their system when last weekend’s clash with Dunbar was postponed due to a frozen pitch.
And Miller believes Edinburgh’s already difficult task of playing higher league opposition has been made all the more daunting.
"The nature of Whitburn’s defeat in the Scottish Cup will mean they are really up for this game," he said. "They had been going really well but it didn’t happen for them through there and, to be honest, we would rather they had played a game since then before meeting us.
"But there’s nothing we can do about it and it’s one we are looking forward to nonetheless.
"It will be very difficult as I think there’s quite a big gap between the divisions, particularly between us and the top of their division but it will give us a good indicator of how far we still have to go.
"It’s a major competition and one that we want to stay in as long as we can. The league is our priority but it gives our players a break from the pressures of pushing for promotion every week."
And Miller believes success will hinge on the more experienced members of his squad.
"We still have quite a few guys with Super League experience which will be important, particularly away from home," he said.
"We will go there and try to play to the best of our ability and if our older guys who have played in these sort of games before can turn it on then you never know.
"They have good players like Ian Ramage and Paul Taylor but I’m more concerned with what we do on the day. We don’t lack good players and it’s just how they fare on the day."
Whitburn boss Derek Strickland, meanwhile, admitted his team can’t fail to turn in a better display than they did against Pollok.
"I didn’t think we were capable of playing so badly," he confessed.
"I’ve told the players they must get it out of their systems and move on. We have plenty to play for and it could still turn out to be a good season. We were obviously disappointed to lose so heavily but we just didn’t play. The best team won on the day.
"It’s a home tie and we have to try and use that to our advantage."
Ross Miller (groin) will miss the clash for the Capital side while Colin Bowsher (back) is struggling and will be given a late fitness test.

WHITBURN captain Ian Ramage today urged his side to forget about their weekend OVD Scottish Junior Cup nightmare and focus on winning promotion into the east region Super League.
The Central Park side went into Saturday’s fourth round clash with west Super League leaders Pollok on the back of a nine-game winning run during which they had averaged an incredible four goals a match.
But their hopes of causing an upset at Newlandsfield Park against the Glasgow junior giants quickly evaporated and they were thumped 5-0 as they had two players sent off in a one-sided contest.
The visitors hadn’t played a competitive match since a win against Sauchie on December 18 due to poor weather over the festive period and their rustiness showed as they were swept away by Pollok who were cheered on by the majority of a bumper 1400 crowd.
And Ramage admitted that their poor start meant the tie was effectively over almost before it had got going.
"We knew they would come at us right from the start but to find ourselves two behind after about 15 minutes meant we had a mountain to climb," he said.
"It’s hard enough to come back from two goals in any game but against a side like Pollok on their own ground it’s especially difficult.
"To then concede a penalty, have a man sent-off and for them to score meant we were going in at half-time with ten men, three goals down and knowing the game was over.
"It’s really disappointing as we felt we had a real chance coming here but we were punished for our slack start and didn’t deserve to take anything from the match.
"What is vital is that we don’t let one game spoil our season. A run in the Scottish Cup would have been fantastic but all along we have said that getting promotion was our priority this season and we can’t let this defeat affect that aim."
John Tinney, who proved to be Whitburn’s main tormentor as he grabbed a hat-trick, opened the scoring with just ten minutes on the clock when a long ball was allowed to find its way through to him and he took a touch before drilling a 12-yard effort beyond Stewart Walker.
With 18 minutes gone another basic error from Whitburn allowed Pollok to double their advantage.
They needlessly lost possession from a free-kick and with the majority of the Whitburn team in attack waiting for the ball to be played forward, Gavin Friels was given a clear run-in on goal to make it 2-0.
If that was bad for Derek Strickland’s men there was even worse to come before the interval.
Clever link-up play by Pollok sent Tinney clean through on goal where he kept a level head to round Walker only to be barged off the ball by Scott MacDonald as he was set to roll the ball into the empty net. Although several Whitburn players appealed the decision, the referee had little choice but to send MacDonald packing and award a spot-kick which Tinney duly converted.
After the break Whitburn did make more of a game of it but their attempts to keep the scoreline respectable weren’t helped by goalkeeper Walker who stupidly took an off-the-ball kick at Tinney.
Although the referee missed the incident his standside assistant didn’t and the goalkeeper was shown a straight red card and another penalty awarded.
With no goalkeeper on the bench Sinclair stood-in between the sticks but could do nothing to prevent Tinney completing his hat-trick.
Five minutes from time Friels grabbed his second and Pollok’s fifth of the afternoon to complete a 90 minutes that Whitburn will hope is not a sign of things to come for the rest of the season.
And although the match was Whitburn’s first in almost a month while their opponents have been in action, Ramage refused to use their inactivity as an excuse.
"The fact we haven’t had a game in a while probably didn’t help but they were worthy winners at the end of the day.
"What we need to do is get back to playing the way we were before the break and forget about the weekend. One result doesn’t make us a bad team overnight and we have plenty of games to make up for the defeat."

Pollok: Wilson, McWilliams (Proctor 80), Nelson, Aitchison, McClay, Stewart (McKeever 75), Logan, McLauchlan (Jordan 87), Friels, Tinney. Subs not used: Sweeney, Burns.

Whitburn: Walker, Cunningham, Carswell, McDonald, Rixon, Ramage, McNelis, Hannah (Valentine 70), Strickland, Flanagan, Gibson (Sinclair 45). Subs not used: Kenny, McAllister, McGhee.

WHITBURN midfielder Paul Taylor believes this weekend’s OVD Scottish Junior Cup clash with Pollock will give his side an indication of how much progress they have made this season.
The Central Park outfit were handed one of the toughest draws when they were paired away to west region Super League leaders Pollock in the fourth round of the competition.
The Newlandsfield Park side, from Glasgow, currently sit five points clear of Arthurlie in the division and are the top scoring side with the second-meanest defence.
Whitburn, meanwhile, lead Lothian League Division One and have averaged an incredible four goals a game over their last nine matches. Taylor concedes his side are slight underdogs ahead of the tie but is relishing the opportunity to test themselves against one of the biggest teams in the junior game.
"The game will be a good yardstick of how far we have come this season," he said.
"We have played Bo’ness, a Super League team in our area, and beaten them so it will be interesting to see how we fare against a team from through there.
"We feel we are a Super League team in everything but name and hopefully this will prove that we can compete with the best teams.
"They will probably be favourites but we are going there with plenty of confidence and I don’t think anyone would be hugely surprised if we were to win the game."
And although his side are travelling away from home Taylor, who has played more than 500 times for the Central Park club, insists there is no chance of them going there looking for a draw.
"I’ve been with the club 15 years and I’ve never known any manager or Whitburn team to ever play for a draw," he said.
"It will be a hard game through there but we will be going to win the match and if, at the end of 90 minutes, it ends up being a draw then fair enough.
"Then we would have to come back to Central Park and look to finish the job off there but we certainly won’t be trying to engineer a replay. If you think like that you can get caught out.
"Besides, they have a great set-up with an excellent playing surface which should suit us. I don’t know what the weather has been like through there but I’ve played there twice before and it was excellent for our kind of passing game.
"I played there with Scotland [juniors] a long time ago and more recently with Whitburn when we lost 2-0 and they went on to win the Scottish Cup.
"But we have improved a lot since then and if we play the way we have been doing in the last couple of months we have a right good chance of making it past the fourth round for the first time in a few years."
And Whitburn boss Derek Strickland said: "I believe we will score through there which means they will have to score two to beat us and avoid a replay. It will be difficult but we go there full of confidence after our recent results."
Whitburn have a full squad to select from while Pollock are set to be without key midfielder Robert Downes who is nursing an ankle injury.

IAIN RAMAGE admitted today he can’t remember any junior team ever banging in as many goals as his Whitburn side are at the moment but insisted nobody at the club is getting carried away.
The Central Park captain has been a key performer in the Lothian League Division One outfit’s great start to the season as they bid to win promotion to the Super League.
Derek Strickland’s men have averaged an incredible four goals a game over their last nine matches to propel them to the top of the table and keep them in contention in local cup competitions.
On Monday they face fellow title challengers Sauchie and can take a huge step towards playing in the Super League next term if they win. But Ramage insists it’s important the players keep their feet on the ground.
"I can’t remember a junior side ever having a scoring run like this but it’s important we don’t get carried away," he said.
"The manager (Derek Strickland) brought in his son (Colin, from Hearts) at the start of the season and he has scored 14 goals already this season which is a great return.
"He’s only young and if he keeps up that sort of form I’m not sure how long we will be able to keep him as there’s been a wee bit of interest already.
"I’ve chipped in with nine as well while even some of our defenders are on four or five goals. But we know the goals can dry up and although it’s a cliché we just have to try and take one game at a time."

 

NEWTONGRANGE Star boss Gordon Rae believes his team must win against Whitburn in the Whyte & MacKay Lothian League First Division tomorrow, or wave any chances of promotion to the Super League goodbye.
With only nine teams in the league there are only 16 games in the campaign which leaves any teams suffering poor form little time to put things right.
Star have only mustered one point from their opening three league games and the club will have to stop the rot if they are to have any chance of making the step up.
Rae said: "We need to win and Whitburn will be the same. I always enjoy playing against the bigger teams and both teams have the potential to win the league.
"It’s a big game for us and with our defeat last week still fresh in our minds we can’t afford to drop any points. We have the players who can do the business for us and it’s always a good game between the sides."
And Rae is determined for his outfit to be up with the pace-setters once winter is over. "I reckon it will be the spring time before any side starts to break away so it’s vital that you keep in touch with everyone else at the top," he said.
"There are a few teams who will be looking at promotion seriously and we are one of them. We want to play against the Super League sides and bring new teams and faces for the supporters."
Whitburn boss Derek Strickland has a full squad to choose from and with his side averaging four goals a game in their last five outings, he is understandably confident.
He said: "We have a good record at Newtongrange and we go there knowing we have a strike force who will test any defence.
"Teams can only afford to drop possibly six or seven points this season and so it’s vital that we keep our run going. We have a much stronger squad this season and I’m pleased with our start.
"Newtongrange have dropped points already which will make them more determined than ever to beat us so it’s up to us to meet that challenge, but we are confident that come Saturday night we will have the points."

WHITBURN midfielder Paul Taylor today urged his side to build on Saturday’s surprise 4-2 win over Super League Bo’ness and put the disappointment of last season firmly behind them.
The Lothian League Division One side stunned their higher division opponents with a hard fought win away from home to book their place in the second round of the Fife & Lothians Cup.
And Taylor is hoping the victory can help to erase the painful memories of last term when he and his team-mates lost three cup finals in the last seven days of the season to end the campaign empty handed.
"It was a really good win for us and I thought we deserved it," said Taylor, who has played more than 500 matches for the Central Park side.
"We have had an inconsistent start to the season which could be a bit of a hangover from the way we ended last season with the cup final defeats so hopefully this can help.
"Our main aim this season is to get promotion to the Super League after narrowly missing out in the last couple of seasons. We want to be playing against the like of Bo’ness every week and hopefully we can make this the standard from now on.
"We feel we are a Super League team in everything but name and it’s now down to us to get ourselves there.
"Last year we let ourselves down by doing well against our challengers yet dropping points against the teams at the bottom of the league which we can’t afford to do. We need to try and build on this result and make it third time lucky in terms of promotion."
Whitburn took a surprise lead with just five minutes on the clock when Ian Ramage pounced on an attempted clearance from the Bo’ness defence to race in on goal and coolly side-foot the ball beyond Mark Cairns from 12 yards.
Nine minutes later and the home side almost pulled themselves back on level terms as Kevin Donnelly and Andy Shirra combined well down the right flank before the latter crossed to John Martin whose eight-yard header was well saved by Stewart Walker in the visitors’ goal.
The major talking point of the game came midway through the first half when George O’Boyle used all his experience to wriggle his way through a crowded penalty area before rounding Stewart. The former Northern Ireland internationalist looked set to roll the ball into the empty net only to have his heels clipped by Stewart, yet amazingly the referee not only failed to award the spot-kick but also booked O’Boyle for diving.
However, the Newtown Park outfit didn’t have long to wait before grabbing an equaliser and Whitburn goalkeeper Stewart will be having nightmares about his part in the goal.
The shot stopper looked like he could have caught an inswinging corner from Chris Dolan but instead chose to punch. However, he failed to get enough power behind the ball and it fell to Gary Smith just inside the area who drove it through a crowd of players and into the net.
That was to be the last time the teams were on level terms and six minutes from the interval Alan Flanagan was sent racing through on goal before slipping the ball past the advancing Cairns.
In an end-to-end match Bo’ness were rarely out of it and four minutes into the second-half Smith almost grabbed his second of the game after good work on the corner of the box, but his crashing shot came back off the crossbar.
Jimmy Sandison’s men were given a mountain to climb soon after when Donnelly’s 18-yard effort somehow crept in at Cairns’ near post to give the visitors a commanding 3-1 advantage.
Still Bo’ness refused to let their heads go down and former Hearts striker Kevin Thomas, brought on as a substitute, scored an acrobatic overhead kick with just six minutes of the tie remaining to give his side a glimmer of hope.
But again poor defending was to be their undoing as just 60 seconds later James McAllister was allowed to race into the box unchallenged to tap home Flanagan’s cross from close range.

Bo’ness: Cairns, Smith, Russell, C Martin, Foster, Murphy, Donnelly, Shirra (Mooney 45), J Martin (Thomas 68), O’Boyle, Dolan (Winning 74). Subs not used: Vella, Hunter.

Whitburn: Walker, Cunningham, Carswell, MacDonald, Rixon, Ramage, Sinclair, McNelis, Flanagan, Taylor (McAllister 68), Strickland (McGhee 90). Subs not used: Leiper, Beveridge.

BO’NESS manager Jimmy Sandison predicts a tough test in the Fife and Lothians Cup against Whitburn tomorrow.
Sandison knows his Super League outfit will not be able to take things for granted against First Division Whitburn.
Sandison said: "We played them twice last season and it was tough, but we know what to expect. I feel, though, we have the players who can get us a result."
Bo’ness are coming off the back of a defeat against Lochee last weekend and also have Martin Mooney and Peter Cormack out injured, while Kevin Donnelly is suspended for the game.
Sandison added: "Last week’s defeat was a blip, but I felt we were the better team for most of the game. We were caught with a sucker punch."
Meanwhile, Whitburn boss Derek Strickland will have to juggle things with Willie Kirk and Stuart Kenny both unavailable, but he will be able to call on the services of Eamon McNelis, who is fit again after time out with strained ligaments.
A small squad and injuries meant Whitburn struggled at the end of last season and Strickland is determined the side will not suffer again this campaign.
He said: "I don’t want that to happen this time. I am looking at players in training and they will probably be coming on board to take our squad up to 19 or 20, something we didn’t have last season."

WHITBURN have one foot in the knock-out stages of the Peter Walker Group League Cup after a hard-fought 2-0 win over Sauchie.
The Central Park side are now firm favourites to progress having taken ten points from their first four matches and should they avoid defeat against Musselburgh next weekend they’ll be on the verge of a place in the quarter-finals.
They were made to work hard on Saturday, however, and had Sauchie taken their chances when on top in the first half it could have been a different story.
The visitors dominated the opening 45 minutes but allowed their opponents back into the game and paid the price as goals from Alan Flanagan and Colin Strickland ensured Whitburn picked up maximum points.
And although they may have ridden their luck at times, Whitburn captain Ian Ramage has warned their rivals that the team can only improve.
"We probably were a bit lucky in the first half but in the second half I thought we did enough to win the game and from our point of view the good thing is that we haven’t hit top form but are still winning," he said.
"It was a really good result for us and we are now in a very good position with regards to qualifying so we have to be happy.
"We are scoring a lot of goals at the moment and although we didn’t play that well in the first half we were playing into a strong wind. We were quite pleased to go in 0-0 at the break and in the second half when we had the wind with us we could have won even more comfortably."
The one area where Whitburn have looked vulnerable this season is in defence although Ramage believes the players will take confidence from keeping a clean sheet against one of the top team’s in the east region.
"Not conceding a goal was really pleasing as it was an area that was causing a bit of concern," he said. "We are always going to score goals but we had lost too many this season and the result will give everyone a lift. The boys all dug in and defended well when we had to and if we can continue to do that we will be hard to beat this season."
In the first half, Whitburn’s cutting edge seemed to have deserted them as they offered very little in attack. A swirling wind didn’t help either side but it was Sauchie who adapted the better and stamped their authority on proceedings.
As early as the seventh minute the Beechwood Park outfit spurned a great opportunity to make the breakthrough when player/boss Willie Irvine latched onto a long ball only to fire his shot straight against the legs of Stewart Walker in goal.
Despite retaining possession well and pushing their opponents on to the backfoot Sauchie’s forward line couldn’t find a way beyond the impressive Walker, his best stop coming from a point-blank Alan Ward header.
Those misses were to prove costly and after the interval Whitburn - no doubt with the words of manager Derek Strickland still ringing in their ears - looked a different team.
With an hour on the clock, Flanagan pounced on a moment of hesitation in the Sauchie defence to get on the end of a Colin Leiper corner to blast the ball home from ten yards.
Seven minutes later and Flanagan was again involved but this time he turned goal provider as he beat the Sauchie offside trap, drew the goalkeeper and squared the ball to the on-form Strickland, who was left with a simple five yard tap-in.
In the end, it could have been an even more resounding success for Whitburn and Sauchie boss Irvine admitted his side had been outplayed in the second half.
"We were probably quite lucky only to be beaten just 2-0," he said.
"Had we scored when we were on top it could have been different but after half-time there was only really one team in it and we weren’t helped by playing into the strong wind which made things very difficult."

Whitburn: Walker, Cunningham, Haddow, McDonald, Rixon, Ramage, Sinclair, Hannah, Flanagan, Strickland (McGee), Leiper. Subs not used: Campbell, Taylor.

Sauchie: Gillespie, Grey, Fairweather (McBrier 70), Duffy, Forrest, Barclay, Muir, Henderson (McKechnie 70), Ward, Irvine, Mitchell. Subs not used: Trialist, Jackson.

WHITBURN captain Ian Ramage today warned rivals Sauchie that his side’s ability to score goals from all over the pitch could give them the edge in the hunt for silverware this season.
The pair are expected to battle it out for promotion into the Super League and are joint favourites to lift the Peter Walker Group League Cup as there are no top-flight teams competing for the first time.
They clash at Central Park in the cup tomorrow and although it is sure to be a difficult 90 minutes, Ramage is confident his side can come out on top after investing wisely in new players over the summer.
The former East Stirling player was himself on course to finish as the Central Park outfit’s top scoring player last season until injury ruled him out of the final five games and he was overtaken by Alan Flanagan.
This year the prolific duo have been joined at the club by boss Derek Strickland’s son, Colin, released by Hearts over the summer despite scoring more than 20 goals for their youth teams.
And Ramage believes the trio, along with other players chipping in goals over the course of the campaign, will make Whitburn very dangerous opposition.
"Whitburn are always going to score goals because we like to play an attacking style of football," he said. "We have scored a lot of goals so far this season in our three games and the key is that we have a few players who score goals from different positions while the other lads chip in occasionally as well.
"When there is not just one danger man it makes it difficult for teams to play against us and I think that could be one of the keys for us this season.
"We may lose goals but we are always likely to score one more than the opposition."
Whitburn have already faced Sauchie once this season, coming back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw, and Ramage knows that a win tomorrow would put his side in pole position to top the group and qualify for the knock-out stages of the competition.
"We have seven points from our first three games which is a decent start. We have home advantage tomorrow so hopefully that will work in our favour and we can get the three points to give us a wee bit of a cushion at the top of the group."
And Ramage has more reason than most to want to beat their rivals as he is desperate to reach another cup final having been forced to sit out two of the three Whitburn played in last term through injury.
"I needed a knee operation last year and unfortunately that meant missing two of the biggest games of the season."

IT IS not unusual for a young player to be released by their club these days, and nor is it strange for the released player to fall back down to the junior ranks.
However, when Colin Strickland joined Whitburn there was a little bit more to the story than that. The boss of the Division One side is Derek Strickland, Colin’s dad.
You could be forgiven for thinking that Derek’s decision to sign 18-year-old Colin has something to do with the family connection, but statistics don’t lie, as he scored more than 20 goals for the Jambos’ youth team last season - impressive for any youngster.
The young striker had been playing full-time at Tynecastle last season, having previously been on St Johnstone’s books. However, Craig Levein left the young striker distraught when he was told he was being let go at the end of last season.
Berwick Rangers were first in line for young Strickland, and Colin spent pre-season training with the Division Two side, and Shielfield Park boss Paul Smith was keen to sign the front-man but the cut-backs that are prevalent throughout Scottish football were to cost the former Hearts man for the second time in quick succession.
He revealed: "I did the pre-season down at Berwick and the manager was desperate to sign me. However, they only carry a squad of 18 and I would have been the 19th man.
"The chairman wouldn’t release any more money which was very disappointing."
Other offers came in from Bo’ness but when offered the chance to team up with his old man, Colin signed on at Central Park.
And a hat-trick on his debut showed that Strickland senior had just cause to snap him up.
"My dad used to be my manager when I played boys’ club football so I have no problem working for him," admitted Colin.
"Bo’ness were keen to sign me but I was brought up watching Whitburn for most of my life. And when my dad offered me the chance to come here I couldn’t knock it back."
Colin followed up his debut hat-trick with a double in his next match, proving he had settled in very quickly. But having had connections with Whitburn since his childhood it was always going to be easy for him to settle in.
"At Hearts last season we would play on a Friday night so I don’t think I missed any Whitburn games. I would also go along and train with them so I knew all the players before I signed."
Strickland still harbours strong hopes of a second chance at the top flight but for the time being is happy with the standard he’s playing at.
"I’m still ambitious and would obviously like another crack at full-time football. But my main priority is to do well at this club. If I’m banging in the goals then hopefully I’ll get a move back up to the seniors one day.
"I’m still in my teens so there’s no rush. The standard at this level is high and most of the players have played professionally."
Having finished second for the past two seasons boss Derek knows that Whitburn need that little bit extra to get them to the Super League, and thinks that in his young striker, he has just that.
"I want Whitburn to be in the Super League and can’t afford to show favouritism. He knows if he’s banging in the goals he’ll play. If he’s not he won’t be, simple as that."
Derek, himself a former Rangers midfielder, would love to see his son back in the big time, but for the meantime is happy to have him at Whitburn.
He said: "As his father it was very disappointing when Colin was let go. But Colin has to move on with his life and get his career back on track. As far as Whitburn are concerned, Division One is hard to get out of. But hopefully with Colin on board he can help us go one better than we have in the last two years."

WHITBURN have beaten several junior clubs to secure the signing of former Hearts striker Colin Strickland.
The teenager was one of seven young players told by the Gorgie club in April that he would not be having his contract renewed despite ending last season as top scorer in the under-19s.
Whitburn are managed by Colin’s dad, Derek, and the player has agreed a one-year deal with the Lothian League Division One side.
He had been training with Berwick Rangers in a hope of winning a contract there but has been told he will not be offered a deal.

From the Edinburgh Evening News 8-7-04

 

WHITBURN manager Derek Strickland has bolstered his squad ahead of the new season with the capture of highly-rated Camelon winger Mark Sinclair.
The Central Park boss has been trailing Sinclair for more than two years now but was pipped initially by Camelon for his services.
However, despite the fact Camelon will be playing in the Super League next season, Sinclair has decided he needs a fresh challenge and has agreed to the switch.

LINLITHGOW ROSE were today celebrating claiming their third trophy of the season after a battling 1-0 win over Whitburn in the final of the Carlsberg East of Scotland Cup at Broxburn’s Albyn Park.
The victory caps a remarkable five-day spell for the Prestonfield outfit, who claimed a first Super League title and the St Michael’s Cup last Saturday.
However, it piles even more misery on Whitburn who have now lost three finals in the same period. And they will feel particularly aggrieved at last night’s result as they dominated for long spells of the game but were unable to convert numerous chances.
In the end, Brian Welsh’s strike five minutes from half-time was all that separated the sides with the Rose defence, marshalled superbly by man-of-the-match Ian Gallacher, repelling everything Whitburn could throw at them.
And despite the fact it was backs-to-the-wall stuff for most of the game, Gallacher felt his side deserved their third trophy of the campaign.
"We did have to do a fair bit of defending but we did that well and really limited the number of clear-cut chances that they had," he said.
"They had a lot of possession but I felt we coped well at the back and the likes of Marc Anthony gave us an outlet up front.
"It caps a great season for us as last weekend it looked at one point as though we would be going into this game without having won a trophy which would have put us under tremendous pressure.
"It’s something like 40-odd years since we haven’t won a trophy so we didn’t want to be the team to do that!"
And the late flurry of silverware marks a fairytale end to the season for Gallacher, who missed much of the campaign with cruciate ligament damage.
He admitted: "I probably wouldn’t have been playing so much so soon after the injury had it not been for the number of players we have out but I’m delighted I was involved.
"It was a hectic fixture schedule towards the end but when you look at the trophies we have won it’s all been worthwhile."
After an evenly-contested opening period, Rose took the lead when Marc Anthony’s pin-point cross was side-footed into the net from ten yards by Welsh.
After the interval, Linlithgow were reduced to hitting their opponents on the counter attack after they were forced to soak up sustained pressure.
And while some excellent defending kept Whitburn at bay, so too did woeful finishing as they spurned several great opportunities.
Kenny Hannah flashed a shot across the face of the goal seven minutes after the interval when he really should have done better and then Kris McGhee missed the chance of the match. The teenager was sent clean through on goalkeeper Greg Logan after a defence-splitting ball from Hannah but when it looked easier to score he blasted the ball straight against the stopper.

Linlithgow: Logan, Byle, Gibb, Kennedy, Gallacher, Welsh, Whyte, Anthony, Allison (Wood 61), Higgins (Grant 88), McLellan (Humphries 63). Subs not used: Flynn.

Whitburn: Walker, Carswell, Taylor, McDonald, Rixon, McNelis, Kirk, Hannah, McGhee, Flanagan, Campbell. Subs not used: Haggart, Kenny, Cunningham, Wilson, Beveridge.

PENICUIK ATHLETIC midfielder Brian Hancock today hailed his team-mates as "heroes" after the club clinched their first trophy since reforming two years ago by beating Whitburn in the final of the Supplementary Cup.
The Lothian League Division Two side were massive underdogs going into last night’s game at Blackburn United’s Murrayfield Park but stunned their opponents with Hancock’s injury-time winner giving them a shock 2-1 win.
And that strike piled more misery on Whitburn, who have now lost two cup finals in the space of just three days and face the task of lifting themselves for tomorrow night’s Carlsberg East of Scotland Cup final against Linlithgow.
However, none of that will concern Penicuik who, despite having to defend against sustained periods of pressure, were waking up for work with hangovers this morning.
Paul Lindsay had stunned Derek Strickland’s men by firing the underdogs in front with 19 minutes on the clock although most in the 400-strong crowd felt normal service had probably been resumed when poor defending allowed Kris McGhee to pull Whitburn level.
But Athletic showed they are made of sterner stuff and in a backs-to-the-wall display they repelled everything their higher league opponents could throw at them before hitting them with the perfect sucker punch right on full-time.
Hancock said: "A lot of people have been coming up to me and congratulating me but it was a team effort and every one of the lads are heroes after that display.
"I’m originally a Penicuik lad and I know how much this means to the club.
"It was a total team effort and every player deserves credit.
"I thought right from the goalkeeper through to the forwards everyone was superb and it had to be that way because everyone knows what a good side Whitburn are.
"To score the goal was obviously a bit special and I knew as soon as I hit it that it was going in. I think it’s probably just as well it went in as I think the legs would probably have given in had it gone to extra time."
Lindsay had given his side the lead midway through the first half when the Whitburn defence failed to react to a quickly-taken Keith Auld free-kick allowing the striker to stroke the ball home from 16 yards.
Six minutes from the interval, however, and the teams were level when McGhee was left with a simple tap-in from an Alan Flanagan cross.
Whitburn enjoyed the better of the play in the second period but in injury time were hit on the counter-attack when a long kick-out from goalkeeper Billy Bald was misjudged in defence allowing Hancock to nip on to it and rifle a first-time effort beyond Stewart Walker in goal.
Penicuik boss Willie McGinley added: "To even be in a cup final only two years after the club started up again is amazing but to win it feels incredible.
"And I think the way we did it by scoring in the last minute just makes it all the more special."

Penicuik: Bald, McDermott, Ure, Porteous, Blair, Montgomery, Dick, Hancock, Lindsay (Banks, 73), Auld (Gibb, 73), Forbes (Hope, 73), Subs not used: Rennie, McLeod.

Whitburn: Walker, Haggart, Cunningham, McDonald, Rixon, McNelis, Campbell, Hannah (Taylor, 72), McGhee (Kirk, 72), Flanagan, Kenny. Subs not used: Carswell, Wilson, Beveridge.

 

PENICUIK ATHLETIC boss Willie McGinley today insisted his side would not be going into tonight’s Supplementary Cup final clash with Whitburn simply to make up the numbers.
The Lothian League Division Two side travel to Blackburn’s Murrayfield Park tonight as huge underdogs just two seasons after the club reformed following a ten-year absence from the junior game.
And while McGinley concedes getting to the final itself is a remarkable achievement for the club, he insists that now they are there everyone is determined to try and make the most of the opportunity to pick up some silverware.
"I don’t think there is any doubt Whitburn will be favourites going into the game but favourites don’t always win." McGinley said.
"My players deserve enormous credit for even getting this far so soon after the club was brought back into the junior scene.
"Now that we are in the final, though, we can’t go into the game thinking about what a great achievement being there is - we have to look to win.
"My players have the chance to play their way into the club’s history books by picking up our first piece of silverware.
"We know it will be extremely hard but Whitburn may be a bit down after their result against Linlithgow at the weekend and, if they are, it’s up to us to make them feel even worse.
"I’m sure we will take an excellent crowd through to the game and hopefully we can give them something to celebrate."
Athletic go into the game without the services of Michael Banks (knee) and Neil Devine, who is still on holiday.
Meanwhile, Whitburn manager Derek Strickland has urged his players to bounce back from the disappointment of Saturday’s St Michael’s Cup final defeat at the hands of Linlithgow.
"We didn’t play anywhere near as well as we can and that was disappointing," he said. "The good thing is that with this game coming so soon afterwards it gives us the chance to immediately make up for that result.
"We know that we will be favourites but we can’t take anything for granted and will have to play well to beat them as they will be desperate to win."
A blow for the Central Park side is that influential midfielder and club captain Ian Ramage will miss the game after undergoing surgery to repair knee ligament damage.

LINLITHGOW ROSE were today celebrating a remarkable double after they clinched the St Michael’s Cup and a first Super League championship on the same day.
Jim Sinnet’s men were just 90 seconds away from losing their second cup final in seven days until substitute Gary Higgins popped up in the right place at the right time to score and take the game into extra-time.
At the same time some 55 miles away, Hill O’Beath were sticking to their pre-match pledge not to lie down to Tayport, who needed to win by three goals to take the league title on goal difference.
Two goals down and under intense pressure, Hill O’Beath refused to buckle as Tayport threw everything forward and they nicked a goal on the counter-attack just minutes from the end of the game to ensure the league trophy would be housed at Prestonfield for the next year.
As news of that match began to filter through to the Linlithgow fans cheering on their side at Carmuirs Park, Camelon, the Rose players were given a visible lift as extra-time got underway and you began to sense it was going to be a day to remember for the club.
Higgins, in his first game back after two months out injured, did it again as he pounced on a defensive mistake just eight minutes from the end of extra-time to send the large contingent of Linlithgow fans in the 1000 strong crowd wild.
And Rose boss Sinnet admitted the last week had been an emotional rollercoaster for his side.
"We’ve bounced back from the depths of despair to the top of the world," he said.
"The players were all really disappointed after losing the cup final last week but to win a cup and a league on the same afternoon is unbelievable.
"It’s been a long hard season and for it to be ending like this is just incredible. Despite bad injuries I believed we could win this cup but obviously the league was out of our hands and for that to have gone our way as well tops it all off.
"The players deserve a lot of credit for the way they have played this season."
Linlithgow’s two-goal hero Higgins added: "To have been out for so long and then come back and score twice on the day that we did the double was amazing.
"All the players are absolutely delighted and we are going to make the most of it as we know that things like this rarely happen."
Whitburn enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and Colin Campbell was unlucky not to fire his side ahead with a quarter of an hour on the clock when his 14-yard snapshot flew just wide of Greg Logan’s left-hand post.
Flanagan was also causing the Rose defence problems and the home side’s top goalscorer wasn’t far away when he headed a Kenny Hannah cross just wide of the target with Logan caught in no man’s land.
As the half wore on, however, Linlithgow began to stamp their authority on the game and almost capitalised on a slip in the Whitburn defence as Marc Anthony was allowed to race in on goal.
But with only the goalkeeper to beat the young forward failed to hold his nerve and blazed a shot some way wide from 16 yards.
After the interval, Flanagan stunned his opponents, who had now taken a stranglehold in the game, by firing Whitburn in front.
Campbell played a clever defence-splitting pass through to him and he made no mistake sliding home his 28th goal of the season to put his side in the driving seat.
Rose, to their credit, refused to let their heads go down and continued to battle on in search of their first silverware of the season.
And they almost pulled themselves back on level terms when a Brian Welsh drive from the edge of the area took a wicked deflection off Paul Taylor and looped up over Walker in goal.
However, the goalkeeper somehow managed to back-peddle frantically and get a hand to the ball to turn it over the crossbar.
Just as it looked as though Whitburn would hold on to condemn Rose to their second cup final defeat in seven days, the Prestonfield outfit were handed a lifeline.
Former St Johnstone hitman Roddy Grant, on as a substitute, wheeled quickly in the box and fired in a powerful shot that Stewart Walker could only parry as far as Higgins, who was left with a simple tap-in.
That ensured a tense period of extra-time and with just eight minutes of the clash remaining the game was decided by another mistake in the home defence.
Scott McDonald attempted to cushion a header back to his goalkeeper from just six yards but the defender didn’t get enough on the ball and only succeeded in knocking it straight into the path of Higgins, who stuck out his right leg to prod the ball into the net.
Whitburn boss Derek Strickland said: "It’s disappointing that we just didn’t play at all. We went ahead but after that it was almost all Linlithgow and they deserved to come out on top."

Whitburn: Walker, Carswell, Taylor, McDonald, Rixon, McNelis, Kirk, Hannah, Campbell, Flanagan, Kenny (McGhee 65). Subs not used: Cunningham, Wilson, Beveridge, Haggart.

Linlithgow: Logan, Byle, Gibb, Kennedy (Gallacher 85), Cringean, Welsh, Whyte, Anthony (Higgins 75), Allison (Grant 75), Wood, McLellan. Subs not used: Flynn, Lamont.

WHITBURN were today celebrating booking their third cup final place of the season after last night’s 3-1 Carlsberg East of Scotland Cup semi-final replay victory over Sauchie.
Already safely into the finals of the Supplementary Cup and the St Michael’s Cup, they ensured the hat-rick at Central Park with a convincing win over their fellow Lothian League Division One side.
Goals from Willie Kirk, Alan Flanagan and Ian Ramage were enough to book a final showdown with Linlithgow Rose with the visitors’ only reply coming from Paul McHale.
And Whitburn boss Derek Strickland hailed the efforts of his players against a side who he rates as one of the form teams in the junior game.
"It was a great victory for us and I’m very pleased with the players," he said.
"In the end it was 3-1 but it could have been more as we played some excellent football throughout the game.
"Sauchie have shown this season that they are a very good side and we knew we would have to play really well. The players responded and I’m delighted with them."
And Strickland also paid special tribute to captain Ian Ramage who will miss the three finals as he is to undergo a knee operation tomorrow.
"Ian’s performance and goal were just typical of the kind of player he is. He knows he will miss the finals but he was determined to make sure the team got there and we are very grateful to him."
Kirk opened the scoring with ten minutes on the clock after a goalmouth scramble only for McHale to equalise six minutes later after a mistake in the home defence.
A long ball from Colin Campbell was then converted by Flanagan 13 minutes from the interval before Ramage’s header midway through the second half sealed the win.

WHITBURN captain Ian Ramage today admitted it will be a bitter-sweet experience for him tonight if he is able to help steer his side into the final of the Carlsberg East of Scotland Cup.
The Central Park outfit host Sauchie in the replay of their semi-final clash that was drawn 1-1 at the end of last month, but should his side book their place in the final Ramage knows he will play no part in the game as he is set to undergo knee surgery tomorrow.
Whitburn’s second top goalscorer, who has netted 25 times this season, has been troubled by a recurring knee problem and the operation will keep him out of action for around a month, which means he will also be forced to sit out the final of the St Michael’s Cup and the final of the Supplementary Cup.
However, he insists he is determined to make sure his last match of the season ends with a victory.
"I’ve known for a while now that if the season was to drag on I would end up missing games but I need to get the operation done now to clean out my knee or else it will drag on into next season," he said.
"It’s obviously disappointing to know I will miss out on two finals if we win tonight but that’s just the way things have worked out and I will give everything I have to try and make sure we can progress."
Ramage was on target the first time the teams met and after their opponents’ impressive 4-0 thrashing of Linlithgow in the Fife & Lothians Cup final at the weekend he is in no doubt that Sauchie will provide them with a stern test.
"I watched them at the weekend against Linlithgow and I thought they were excellent.
"They really controlled the game and I would say they are probably the best footballing side I have played against this season.
"If you stand off them and let them play they will really hurt you so it’s important that we get in and don’t give them any time on the ball. If we can do that we can hopefully start to play ourselves as we have players that can also pass the ball about well.
"We have played them three times this season and we have both won one and drawn the last time so I’m sure it will be another tight game.
"If we all perform though we are more than capable of winning the game and booking a third cup final place of the season."

DIVISION One title favourites Camelon crashed for the second Saturday in a row with a heavy 3-1 defeat at the hands of their nearest rivals Whitburn, who can now overtake them in the race for the championship.
And this result could prove decisive in terms of who joins the Super League next season as Camelon, up until last Saturday against Musselburgh, had not lost a league game and were sitting in a strong position at the top.
Now Whitburn, who have steadily clawed their way back into contention with a string of super results including their 10-0 win last week, are breathing down their necks.
Whitburn boss Derek Strickland was both happy and disappointed. "Before the game I would have been happy with a 3-1 win, but after seeing how we dominated the game I am really disappointed that we didn’t score more goals. I can’t blast the players because they have been terrific all season and the football they have produced has been a joy to watch. It’s all still in the melting pot with both teams having another game to play.
"We were confident we would win this one because we had received a letter which was sent to the clubs by the East Region which said that Camelon were already champions.
"I put this up on the dressing room wall and the players responded the way I wanted. We scored vital goals at vital times, just before and after the break."
Camelon settled down early but it wasn’t until the 35th minute that they made a breakthrough when Chris McFadyen headed home a Gary Meechan cross. Whitburn responded immediately. Three minutes later Willie Kirk was brought down in the box and Kenny Hannah scored from the spot. Then, just before the break, they grabbed a dramatic second, Kris McGhee heading home an Alan Flanagan cross to give them the lead.
After the break they inflicted another blow to the goal difference between the sides. Again it was McGhee who did the damage, though this time it was a left foot volley into the net, and again it was from a Flanagan cross. Camelon’s Gareth Alexander was sent off for a double booking which left the Mariners a mountain to climb and Whitburn dominated without scoring further.
Camelon may still remain favourites with a home game against Sauchie their last of the campaign, but Whitburn will be looking for another good result against Newtongrange to keep the pressure on and could still pip them for the title.
Camelon manager Jim Hardie admitted his side were outplayed. "Whitburn deserved to win. The title race is really hotting up now. The next game will be difficult because the players are a wee bit down after the last few results."
Whitburn striker McGhee, meanwhile, is improving with every game. "It’s my first season in the Junior ranks. A run in the team has given me a bit of confidence and the boys have been playing well. I’m just glad to be on the score sheet and getting a game regularly.
"It’s looking like a last game shoot out for both sides now. There were a few of us signed from the Under-21s and the gaffer thinks we have done well. But it’s a good club to play for. We have a good balance to the team."

Whitburn: Walker, Carswell, Taylor, McDonald, Rixon, Ramage, Kirk, Hannah, McGhee, Flanagan, McNelis. Subs: Campbell, Kenny, Haggart, Wilson
Camelon: McPherson, Bell, Beaton, Menmuir, Roberts, Quinn, B Thompson, Alexander, McFadyen, Daisley, Meechan. Subs: Graham, Sinclair, Drew, McLatchie, G Thompson.

WHITBURN boss Derek Strickland today dismissed the suggestion nerves could affect his players in tomorrow’s must-win top of the table clash with Camelon, insisting all the pressure is on their opponents.
The Central Park outfit had privately all but conceded the league title before last weekend’s games with unbeaten Camelon needing just one point from their remaining three fixtures to clinch the title.
So the fact the Carmuirs Park side slumped to a surprise 5-1 defeat at the hands of Musselburgh last weekend to open up the title race again is being seen by everyone at the club as a massive bonus.
Camelon currently lead Whitburn by six points but could still be pipped on goal difference on the final day of the season - but Strickland’s men must win tomorrow to take things down to the wire. He said: "The nearer you get to the finishing line the harder it becomes to pick up points as nerves begin to play a part.
"Hopefully we can increase Camelon’s nerves by winning tomorrow to ensure that it goes right down to the very last game of the season. "We have nothing to lose because, to be honest, we felt that the league was probably beyond us a couple of weeks ago as Camelon just didn’t look like dropping points. "Obvious we kept plugging away more in hope than expectation and last weekend’s result gives us a wee chance. "If we can win then you never know what can happen on the last day. Apart from having a chance of going up ourselves we also don’t want to see the league being won on our ground so there is plenty of incentives for my guys."
Camelon suffered their first league defeat of the season last Saturday when they were beaten by Musselburgh as Whitburn recorded a thumping 10-0 victory over Blackburn in the Supplementary Cup.
However, tomorrow’s visitors bounced back in style as they knocked Bathgate out of the Miller Cup on Wednesday night. And while last weekend’s defeat at Musselburgh could still be at the back of Camelon minds, Strickland is expecting a tough 90 minutes.
"I think their defeat was probably a bit of a freak result as they have played very consistently this season," he admitted. "It can maybe be put down to nerves and I’m sure they will be looking to bounce back from that by clinching the title. It is up to us to make sure they don’t.
"We had a tremendous result which has given us a lot of confidence but this is a new game and we can’t dwell on that now. We know it will be difficult but we did beat them 6-2 in a cup game earlier in the season so we know we are capable of winning."
And with a Super League place at stake Strickland insists motivating his players will not be a problem. He added: "We had the chance to go into the Super League a couple of years ago and in hindsight not doing that was probably a mistake.
"The Super League looks to be going really well but at the time when it was set-up it was a bit of a gamble. Now, though, we can see it has been a good thing and we would love to get there again."

WHITBURN manager Derek Strickland insists he knew his side were due to give someone a hammering after his side thrashed Blackburn 10-0.
He said: "We have been playing well recently and have been threatening a result like that. It was just unlucky for Blackburn that it was them who suffered.
"The goals were all superbly taken and they came from all areas of the team. We introduced a few youngsters this season and they have really proved themselves. "There is a buzz around the squad just now and they can’t wait for a Saturday to come round.
"It’s great for the supporters to have games like this at the end of the season."
Ian Ramage and Alan Flanagan both notched hat-ricks as Whitburn ran riot against managerless Blackburn. Paul Taylor also got his name on the scoresheet with a well taken free-kick as did Alan Carswell, Willie Kirk and Kenny Hannah with the pick of the bunch.

Whitburn: Walker, Carswell, Taylor, Cunningham, Rixon, Ramage, Kirk, McNelis, McGhee, Flanagan, Kenny. Subs: Hannah, Haggart, McDonald, Wilson, Beveridge.
Blackburn: Whynne, Duncan, Savage, Smillie, Fleming, Fowler, Drummond, Quinn, Campbell, McArdie, Docherty. Subs: Smith, Heeps, Stalker, Trialist.

 

WHITBURN completed a hat-trick of wins over Scottish Cup quarter-finalists Musselburgh with a 2-0 win thanks to an effective first half display in the second round of the Carlsberg East of Scotland Cup.
’Burgh boss Jackie Myles was gutted at the result, and none too happy with the attitude of his side. "Some of our players need to take a good look at themselves," he said. "We haven’t won anything yet but they seem to think they are world beaters. We will need to play better than that in the Scottish."
Whitburn had taken all six points from Musselburgh in their two previous meetings on league business. But this was a cup game and Musselburgh were determined to take revenge. The Olive Bank side started the stronger of the two teams and had chances from the beginning. But despite hitting the bar they couldn’t breach a stout Whitburn back four.
Whitburn then turned the screw and scored in the 14th minute. The ball was played to Alan Flannigan in the box. His close control allowed him space to cut the ball back for Willie Kirk to slam the ball into the net for the opener.
Ten minutes later they scored again. The ball was played back to Paul Taylor who hoisted a long hanging cross into the box. Alan Flannigan headed it back across the goal for Ian Ramage to knock it into the net.
He had scored a goal in each of the previous games between the two sides and was determined for that to continue. Chances were still being created by Musselburgh but they were up against a Whitburn defence giving nothing away.
Striker Mike Sutherland was unlucky to see a terrific shot cannon back off the crossbar as they piled on the pressure and the half finished with Musselburgh camped around the Whitburn penalty box.
Musselburgh knew they had to have a go in the second half and score early if they were to get back into the game. Again they were creating chances but when they did find a way through they found keeper Stuart Walker at his best.
Whitburn were pinned back in their own half for long spells but were conceding nothing. ’Burgh manager Jackie Myles threw on his subs in an attempt to bring some urgency into the attack but it wasn’t unit the closing minutes that they made what looked like becoming the breakthrough. Striker Davie McGlynn was brought down in the box with only four minutes remaining and he stepped up to take the penalty against his old club. Walker went the right way but it didn’t matter as McGlynn’s effort slid past the post to complete a miserable afternoon for the Musselburgh striker.
Whitburn boss Derek Strickland was pleased with the game, saying: "I have to be happy with the performance against a team who are in the latter stages of the national competition. Our back four were superb today with Scott McDonald outstanding. They have a very strong forward line and to contain them the way we did was pleasing. All our injuries have now cleared up and we have a full squad for the first time in months."
Whitburn striker and scorer of the first goal, Willie Kirk, finally did what he’d been told to do all season. "The gaffer said I’ve to get in at the back post and today I got it right for the first time," said Kirk.
"We had a great first half and knew they would come at us in the second."
But Myles couldn’t hide his disappointment. "Hill O’Beath were at the game spying at us and we gave a performance like that. I feel for the supporters who have been great all season. Whitburn are not a better team than us but their players know what to do. We missed so many chances. We can’t do that in two weeks’ time."

Musselburgh: Cantley, Combe, Parkin, Saltoun, Meikle, Simpson, Ryrie, Brigain, Sutherland, McGlynn, Forrester. Subs: Myles, Hay, Currie, Porteous, Tierney.
Whitburn: Walker, Carswell, Taylor, Cunnigham, McDonald, Ramage, Kirk, Hannah, Rixon, Flannigan, Nicol. Subs: McGhee, McNelis, Kenny, Campbell, Beveridge.

IT’S crunch time for Musselburgh when they face Whitburn in the second round of the East of Scotland cup tomorrow.
The Olive Bank side have failed to beat Whitburn in the two league games played already this campaign and boss Jackie Myles is looking for a change in fortunes.
He said: "We gave them the win last time and the lads are looking to stop them completing a hat-trick of victories.
"We have no injuries to report so there can be no excuses if we don’t win."
Whitburn manager Derek Strickland, who is already looking ahead to next season, still has doubts over Peter Wilson’s fitness and Colin Campbell is still a few weeks short of his target for a return.
Strickland said: "We know what we need to add to the squad and although the season still has a while to run, we are looking around. Our priority though is Saturday’s game with the players keen to show what they can do."
The games between the clubs this season have produced good football with goals aplenty and things look set to follow a similar pattern tomorrow.
Musselburgh’s Davie McGlynn, a former Whitburn player, still has many friends back at his old club, but is determined to put one over his former team.
He said: "I enjoyed my time at Whitburn and they are a good footballing side. We will have to be at our best to beat them, but the team are full of confidence lately and we are all looking forward to the game."
Mike Sutherland and McGlynn gave the Newtongrange team a torrid time in their recent Scottish Cup tie and the Whitburn defence will have to be on top of their game to keep them at bay, while Whitburn will look to their own potent strike force of Steve Rixon and Alan Flanagan to do some damage.
Meanwhile in Whitburn’s midfield skipper Ian Ramage and Kenny Hannah have been attracting the attention of the Scotland junior management while Musselburgh’s Keith Salton, a big uncompromising centre back, is another who has been looked at for a Scotland call-up this season.

WHITBURN winger Paul Taylor has set his sights on capping a season of personal triumph by helping his club win promotion to the Whyte & MacKay East Region Super League.
The experienced Central Park favourite broke the club’s long standing appearance record a couple of weeks ago, turning out in his 548th game for the Junior outfit, and now wants to ensure he can celebrate a double by helping the club into the top flight.
In what was expected to be a transitional season for Whitburn as manager Derek Strickland brought in a number of new faces over the summer months, the club have exceeded all expectations and if they win their games in hand they will sit just a point behind pace-setters Camelon.
Taylor and his team-mates have no game this weekend and while that would usually be seen as a blow given the fine form they have displayed in recent weeks Taylor believes that the break in play will actually help them in the long-run.
"While this free week does break our momentum a little we have a few injuries and this gives them all a chance to rest up and hopefully recover fully," said Taylor.
"There is a great team spirit and belief in the squad that we have here and hopefully we can continue that for as long as possible."
Taylor, however, is taking nothing for granted having been over the course a number of times, insisting there is still a long way to go before the prizes are handed out.
"I’ve been involved in promotion fights and league championships a number of times and just because you make a good start doesn’t mean that you will be there at the end of it all.
"Nobody is getting carried away but the aim of winning the league is definitely there for everyone now."

PAUL TAYLOR will make history for Whitburn Juniors tomorrow by breaking the club’s appearance record if, as expected, he features against Newtongrange Star.
The stalwart of the Central Park side will play his 548th game for the West Lothian club, breaking the previous record of Dennis Graham who featured for Whitburn between 1968 and 1980.
His landmark achievement will be marked with a presentation in the social club after the match.
Taylor, who first signed for Whitburn in 1989, is now in his second spell at the club having left in 1991 for a two-season stint at East Fife and admits he can hardly believe the number of games he has racked up.
"You never expect to achieve something like this," said the left-sided midfielder.
"When I look back at the number of games over the years it is hard to believe myself. It is something I am very proud of though and something that will stay with me for a long, long time. I have had a lot of happy times here and have never felt the need to leave after returning from East Fife. Once you are at Whitburn player it’s in your blood."
Taylor’s career highlights include Scottish Cup winner and runner’s-up medals, league titles and Scotland junior international caps.
It is the Scottish Cup win in 2000 against Johnstoneburgh though that sticks out.
"We won the game 5-4 on penalties and after coming close on a number of occasions it was a great feeling. We had been beaten in semi-finals and finals before so to win that competition, which is the biggest in the junior game, was fantastic."
At the age of 36 Taylor can hardly be described as one of the younger players but he insists that despite his advancing years he has no intention of calling time on his career.
"I feel as fit as I ever have. As long as I can stay clear of injuries then I will probably keep going.
"I will sit down at the end of the season to look at everything, but for the moment I’m certainly not thinking about hanging up my boots."

WHITBURN look set to lose their leading scorer for the past two seasons after Davie McGlynn requested to be placed on the transfer list, writes JOHN GILMOUR.

The news is sure to attract the interest of several Super League teams who could see the proven goalscorer as an ideal addition to their squad.

McGlynn said: "The travelling was getting to me. Going to Whitburn twice a week for training in all weathers was getting me down. There are other reasons which I feel the committee would be better answering. If we had been in the Super League with ambitions, then the situation would probably have been better.

"I have scored a lot of goals for Whitburn and was the region’s top scorer for them. I’m still very ambitious and feel a new challenge would suit me better."

LINLITHGOW ROSE shook off their Scottish Junior Cup blues to reach the final of the Streamline Taxis Cup with a 4-1 penalty shoot-out victory over Whitburn after the teams drew 2-2 in regulation time.
Rose boss Jim Sinnet was pleased his team had battled through. "It was a stuttering performance and we are just glad to be there," he said. "If we had taken our chances in the second half we would have been happier but Whitburn gave us quite a few problems even though they only had half a team. We were running on empty after Sunday."
Linlithgow fielded a much-changed side for the visit of old rivals Whitburn, who themselves were faced with only 11 fit players and half-fit top scorer Davie McGlynn on the bench.
Whitburn, though, were soon pressurising the Rose defence with Ian Ramage making powerful runs into the heart of the home ranks, and they took the lead in 34 minutes. Keir Nicol picked up a loose ball in the Rose box, slipped past two defenders and passed the ball to Kenny Hannah, who side-footed the ball into the net. Their lead lasted all of two minutes. Linlithgow’s Danny Smith crossed from the left and Steven Swift headed home for the equaliser.
After the break, Sinnet introduced new blood and Rose took the lead in 59 minutes. Paul Campbell, who had switched wings, crossed for Gary Higgins to head to Stewart Walker for a 2-1 lead.
Again the lead lasted only two minutes as Whitburn levelled things with a bizarre goal. Nicol crossed deep from the right for Paul Taylor to loop a long header over the despairing keeper to make it 2-2.
With no more goals, the game went straight to penalties. It was Linlithgow who held their nerve and ran out 4-1 winners to meet Bathgate in the final.
Despite the defeat, Whitburn manager Derek Strickland was happy with his team. "We are very short of players and were struggling to field a side. Hopefully we can build on this for next season," he said.

WHITBURN boss Derek Strickland today praised the fighting spirit of his players after they kept their Whyte & MacKay First Division promotion hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Fauldhouse - then conceded that the victory may have come too late.
The Central Park outfit knew that anything less than a win would rule them out of the hunt for a Super League place and for long spells of the game it looked as though they would have to settle for a draw as they spurned chance after chance.
Eventually though they did manage to get the crucial goal through striker Colin J Campbell who drilled a 16-yard effort low into the bottom corner of the net.
The result leaves Whitburn three points ahead of Bo’ness - who still have a game in hand and a far superior goal difference - and four points ahead of Sauchie, who have two games remaining.
Whitburn must now just sit and wait to see how things pan out as the two teams play out their games in hand and Strickland concedes that it is a nervous time for everyone at the club. "We had to make sure we won our game to keep the pressure on them and we managed that," said Strickland. "I would say that Sauchie are favourites with the two games still to play but there’s nothing more we can do as we’ve won our game and done our bit.
"It’s disappointing that it’s not in our own hands and while our chance may be slim we are still in there."
The first half was an even affair with both side’s creating excellent opportunities to break the deadlock. Ian McMurray for the visitors in particular was guilty of missing several gilt-edged chances and those eventually proved costly. The home side were having a lot of possession without ever directly threatening the Fauldhouse goal but all that changed in the second period. They came out from the interval looking a more determined outfit and got their reward midway through the half when Campbell was released down the right and he fired the ball low and hard across the goalkeeper and into the far corner of the net.
The visitors did almost snatch what would have been an undeserved share of the spoils shortly afterwards when McMurray’s headed effort was somehow cleared off the line by Colin C Campbell when it looked destined to go in.
Whitburn were put under the cosh in the closing stages as Fauldhouse searched for the equaliser but they defended in numbers and always looked as though they would hold on for the three points that could yet see them playing Super League football next season.
Strickland added: "It was an excellent win. We created so many chances that we could and should have won more comfortably. The players were a bit nervous in front of goal but they deserve credit for the way that they kept going and refused to give up.
"When you know that you need to win then tension can creep into your play and that maybe happened with us but we got there and in the end I felt that the scoreline flattered them a wee bit."
Fauldhouse boss Jim Harkins meanwhile, admitted that the better team had won on the day.
"Overall they definitely deserved it," said Harkins. "I thought that they were the hungrier of the two teams for it and that was disappointing. We seemed to have lost our hunger to win games in the last few weeks.
"We really can’t have any complaints about the result and I wish Whitburn the best of luck with the promotion race."

Whitburn: Walker, Nicol, Wilson (Haggart 70), CJ Campbell, MacDonald, McNelis, Hannah, CL Campbell, Gallacher, McGlynn (McGhee 90), Taylor. Subs: Barker, Beveridge

Fauldhouse: Thomson, Ballantyne, Muir, Easton, Cooper, Stewart, Storrar, Moffat, McMuray, McArthur, Connolly. Subs: Paterson, McLaren, McLintock, Alison, Sandilands

SAUCHIE boss Willie Irvine today tried to play down the significance of Saturday’s 3-1 win away to Whitburn, insisting the Whyte & Mac-Kay East Region Division One title race would go to the last day of the season.
The visitors knocked Whitburn off the top of the table for the first time in three months with a classic display of counter-attacking football and with just three games to go must now be the favourites to gain promotion into the Super League next season.
Irvine, however, was doing his best to ensure his players didn’t get too carried away with the crucial victory.
"I think the league is now between three or four teams and I don’t see it being finished before the last day of the season," said the Beechwood Park boss.
"Losing or drawing just one of the last games could end the title hopes of one of the sides, so I don’t want the players to get too carried away. They deserve credit for getting the win but they need to remain focused."
It was far from one of Sauchie’s best performances as they rode their luck in the first half in particular yet managed to go in at the interval on level terms with the deadlock still waiting to be broken.
After the break, though, Whitburn finally took one of their many chances when Davie McGlynn latched on to an Ian Ramage through ball to coolly stroke the ball beyond Ross Hamilton and into the bottom corner of the net.
Whitburn were to pay the penalty for several missed opportunities, however, as the visitors stormed to victory with three goals in the closing 20 minutes.
Alan Ward began the comeback when he rounded off a sweeping move that began on the edge of his own area before Jimmy Fisher fired them ahead for the first time in the match just minutes later.
Then, with a shell-shocked Whitburn pressing forward in an attempt to salvage something from the game, Chris Wood popped up to hammer the final nail into their coffin when the prolific striker headed home goal 28 of the season from close range.
Irvine added: "We didn’t play particularly well today but I think the win was mainly due to our fitness. We are a very fit team and they noticeably started to tire late on which was when we came into the game more and more.
"It was a great comeback from the players and it shows how much they really want to win this league and get promotion."
Whitburn boss Derek Strickland, meanwhile, knows his side only have themselves to blame for the defeat after spurning chance after chance to kill off their opponents.
"At half-time we could really have been about four goals up so for it still to be 0-0 must have given them a huge lift.
"It just shows that you have to take your chances as had we taken even two of them I think we would have won the game."
Despite the disappointment of losing out in such an important match Strickland is adamant that his side can still clinch the sole promotion spot.
"We are not out of the league just yet. Losing makes it harder for us obviously but there are no easy games in this league and points will be dropped.
"We need now to try and get the spirits up and just concentrate on our own remaining games."

Whitburn: Walker, Hannah, McSeveney, McDonald, Taylor, Nicol (Campbell 74), Haddow, Ramage, Wilson, Gallacher (Barker 68), McGlynn. Subs not used: Haggary, Beveridge.

Sauchie: Hamilton, Godfrey, Fox, Shanks, Gray, Fisher, Mitchell, Irvine, Barclay, Wood, Williamson. Subs not used: McNeil, Pryde, McGuigan, Hume, Fraser.

SAUCHIE boss Willie Irvine today admitted that if his side lose to Whitburn tomorrow afternoon they can forget about winning promotion to the Whyte & MacKay East Region Super League.
The Beechwood Park outfit currently sit three points behind the league leaders but have a superior goal difference.
Defeat would see them slip six points behind their opponents with only three games to play but a victory would see them jump to the top of the table - on account of that better goal difference.
With four teams, arguably, still in contention for the much coveted spot among next season’s elite Junior clubs, Irvine is well aware of the importance of turning in a good performance when they travel to face Derek Strickland’s team.
"It is a vital game for both of us but one that we, in particular, really need to win," said the experienced manager. "We really can’t afford to get beat as I don’t see Whitburn losing all of their three games after that.
"We can take confidence from the fact that we have already drawn 1-1 with them in the league and beaten them 3-1 in the cup this season but it will still be a very difficult game for us."
Sauchie have been among the challengers for the Division One title almost the entire season and one concern for Irvine is that the pressure gets too much for his young side.
They could only manage a 0-0 draw away to Newtongrange last Saturday and Irvine is relying on the more experienced heads at the club to help see everyone through.
"About 75 per cent of our team is under 24-years-old and won’t have challenged for a league title before. The game against Newtongrange was the first time we had failed to score for a while as we are the top scorers in the league by some way so perhaps that was a wee bit of nerves showing.
"It will be up to the more experienced players, guys like Peter Godfrey and Jimmy Fisher, to help them out and show them through the game.
"These guys have done it all before and won title’s in the professional ranks so what they can give to the team could prove invaluable.
"A place in the Super League is a great prize because it has proved to be great for the game, and we, like most clubs, want to be there."
Should the visitors regain their scoring touch there is every chance that the goals will come from 23-year-old former Falkirk player Chris Wood who has been on target an incredible 27 times so far this season.
"Chris has had an outstanding season so far," enthused Irvine. "He has scored some very important goals and he will, of course, be a key player for us again. We have a threat all over the pitch, however, so as long as we win I don’t mind who scores them."
Meanwhile, Whitburn boss Derek Strickland is worried that a lack of games over the past couple of weeks due to the weather could allow rustiness to creep into his side’s play.
"It hasn’t been ideal preparation for the game because we have only managed two matches in the last couple of months.
"That gives them the slight advantage because they played last week. We have been training hard though and hopefully that will be enough. If we can beat them that would really rule them out of things and we would be three games away from promotion.
"We have a full squad to pick from so we will go into the game and do our best to win."

WHEN discussing football matters the old adage ‘it’s a funny old game’ is often used and that phrase perfectly sums up the season so far for Whitburn boss Derek Strickland.
For most Junior outfits, sitting a point clear at the top of the table with a game in hand over your promotion rivals would be seen as a success. However, more is expected at Central Park.
There, league success must be combined with regional cup glory in at least one of the many competitions and this is where Strickland has run into problems.
Early exits in the first five local tournaments, most importantly in the OVD Scottish Junior Cup when a 3-1 defeat to Fauldhouse ended Whitburn’s participation in the competition, has seen the gloss taken off their Division One run.
With only the Streamline Taxis Cup remaining, Strickland admits he is at a loss to explain why his players have been unable to transfer their league form into cup ties but insists that everyone involved with Whitburn will be doing all they can to sort out the problem.
"We started the league campaign a little slowly and lost a few games near the start but since then we have improved," he said.
"We have done very well since then in the league but it’s the fact the cup form is not living up to this that everyone is talking about.
"The league is the most important thing to the club as everyone wants to win league titles but, having said that, I would rather be in a couple of cups as well.
"Our form in these competitions really hasn’t been good enough although it must be said that the draws have not been favourable to us either as we have played a lot of top teams.
"Other than that it is difficult to say why we aren’t playing as well."
And Strickland revealed that the club are doing their best to ensure that they at least book their place in the latter stages of the Streamline Taxis Cup.
He said: "We definitely want to make sure we stay involved in that and get a good run for the fans.
"We are still regarded as one of the bigger Junior clubs and we need to be competing well in as many competitions as possible."
One problem Strickland has been forced to face has been the absence of influential club captain Callum Milne, who was forced to hang up his boots for good after failing to shake of a troublesome injury.
"It was a massive blow when Callum had to stop playing," admitted Strickland.
"He is one of the players who has stood out over the last few years in Junior football and he was an experienced internationalist.
"Somebody like that is very hard to replace and I’m not sure it is even possible to do so.
"Had he been fit for all our cup games I’m sure he would have made a difference.
"He had a great effect on the players and is being greatly missed.
"He is gone, though, and it is up to the players that are here to ensure that our cup form starts to match that of the league."

FORMER Hibs player Callum Milne has taken the decision to hang up his boots for good after being told that he could end up having trouble walking if he didn’t quit the game.
The defender, who spent 11 seasons at Easter Road, also had a spell at Partick Thistle but has been playing in the Junior ranks with Whitburn for the last five years.
After a serious injury, though, he hadn’t featured this season until last weekend when he defied doctors - who had told him not to kick a ball again - and appeared as a second-half substitute in Whitburn’s 3-1 OVD Scottish Cup defeat at the hands of Fauldhouse.
After the game, however, he found himself in so much pain that he decided to finally listen to the experts and call it a day.
Milne, whose career highlights include captaining Whitburn to the OVD Scottish Junior Cup in 2000 and winning ten caps at Scottish junior international level admits it was a difficult decision to call time on the game he loves.
"I was absolutely gutted when I found out I had to give up," he said.
"Football is a big part of my life and I really wanted to keep playing but it proved impossible.
"I started having pain more than six months ago, so I went to see a specialist to see if things could get sorted out.
"He told me that I had an inflamed pubic bone which had been caused by years of wear and tear. He said I should rest but I didn’t really do that and kept playing for a while. The pain eventually became excruciating so I took the advice and took a break for a while.
"However, after a couple of months we were short of players for the OVD Scottish Cup game last weekend so I came on as a substitute but it became painful to sprint or kick the ball hard, so I knew it was time to call it a day.
"I couldn’t run at full pace and it got to the stage where kicking the ball any distance was very painful.
"It was a terrible decision to have to make but it had to be done."
37-year-old Milne’s career spanned 20 years and although it has been cut prematurely short he says that it has left him with some tremendous memories.
"I had always been a Hibs fan, as had all my family so to sign for them at 17 was incredible.
"I made my debut when I was just 18 against Dundee at Easter Road and that is something that I don’t think I will ever forget. That was one of my best days.
"I didn’t play as many games for them as I would have liked, maybe around 100, but it was still a great experience. I was on the bench more often than not but we had a lot of good players at the time so it was easier to take.
"I got to play with guys like Steve Archibald and represent the club I loved, so that was absolutely fantastic. I had some really happy times at Easter Road."
A move to Partick Thistle then followed where he spent five seasons but it was at Junior side Whitburn where he found times to rival his days in the Capital.
"Whitburn were the only junior team I would ever have gone to," he said.
"I just live five minutes up the road from the club and always had a soft spot for them. They were ambitious and that suited me, too.
"When they came in for me it wasn’t a hard decision to go there and join them. I had five very happy years with them.
"The highlight undoubtedly was winning the Scottish Cup in 2000. It was the first time that Whitburn had ever won it and to be involved was tremendous. It is still probably the biggest day in their history and I can say I was involved in that.
"I was also lucky enough to represent my country on a number of occasions and I was very proud to do that. There are a lot of good players to play at junior international level so it was an honour to play.
"I will be sad to have to give up all that up of course because I have had a lot of good times. I still have these to look back on, although it would have been nice to play on for a while yet."
So what does the future now hold for Milne?
"I suppose the only good thing to come from this will be that I can now go and see Hibs a bit more often.
"It’s been a while since I saw them so that will be good. I will of course keep up with Whitburn and go to some of their games as well. That will keep me busy for a while until I decide where my future lies.
"I have a son who likes football so it will give me a chance to take him along. He is a big Hibs fans as well so we can go along together."

TWO-GOAL Colin Allison helped Fauldhouse take advantage of defensive mistakes to power their way into the draw for the fourth round of the OVD Scottish Junior Cup with a 3-1 win over Whitburn.
But, while delighted with the result, Fauldhouse boss Jim Harkins was far from happy with his side’s performance.
"I don’t think we played as well as we can," he said. "We held on well, though, and our defensive players were the best for us.
"We took advantage of the mistakes but were always dangerous on the break. Overall we can play better and to progress further we need to play a lot better."
Whitburn started strongly and were quickly buzzing around the Fauldhouse penalty box.
However, it was Fauldhouse who took the lead in 25 minutes.
A long cross ball from the left was headed into the net by Allison amidst a ruck of players from four yards out. Whitburn responded and were once again soon attacking the home defence. They missed a couple of chances before Ian Ramage equalised in 32 minutes.
Kenny Hannah, playing on the left wing, put a long cross ball into the heart of the Fauldhouse box and Ramage was on hand to blast the ball home.
At this point it looked like Whitburn would go on and win the game but once again their defensive frailties let them down not for the first time this season.
In 40 minutes Fauldhouse took a corner from the left, keeper Stuart Walker climbed above everyone but the ball slipped through his hands and fell nicely for Andy Cooper to score easily from five yards.
Whitburn had to make changes for the second half with Calum Milne coming on for Gary McSevenney.
Whitburn were then made to pay for another defensive mistake within five minutes of the restart.
Calum Milne was robbed of the ball on the left and Ian McMurray squared for Allison, all on his own, to easily beat Walker.
The game looked over and out but Whitburn pushed for a goal to give them hope.
They pushed the Fauldhouse defence back and only some great defending prevented them from getting a reward.
Whitburn boss Derek Strickland was dejected after the final whistle and bemoaned his team’s luck and shortage of players. "We only had nine fit players and were struggling from the start but I thought we had 80 per cent of the game over the 90 minutes," he said.
"We gifted them the goals. The selection was affected before the game as we had so many injuries.
"McSevenney should not have played today and we had to play Milne, who has not played for three months, so we were very severely restricted before the game had started."

Fauldhouse: Sandilands, Ballantyne, Donaghue, Reynolds, Cooper, Dickson, Storrer, McArthur, McMurray, Allison, Muir. Subs: Stuart, Patterson, McLaren, Easton, Hubbocks.

Whitburn: Walker, Clouston, McSevenney, Campbell, McDonald, Haddow, Hannah, Ramage, Gallagher, McGlynn, Nicol. Subs: Milne, Taylor, Haggart, Wilson, Beveridge.

FAULDHOUSE, conquerors of Glenafton in the last round, will be aiming to notch another notable scalp when they face local rivals Whitburn in the third round of the OVD Scottish Cup tomorrow.
The sides have already met twice this season, Whitburn winning at Fauldhouse and vice versa.
"It will be a very tough tie but we feel we have the players to get the result at the first time of asking," said Whitburn boss Derek Strickland.
"We hope to have Colin J Campbell and Peter Wilson back from injury and if so we will have a full squad apart from long-term injury victim Callum Milne."
Fauldhouse have a young team full of running and a potential match winner in last season’s region’s top scorer Ian McMurray.
"We beat one of the favourites last time and got off to a flying start with three goals in the first 15 minutes," said McMurray. "The same start would be nice, although we know how hard it will be against Whitburn."
Whitburn striker Davie McGlynn is confident of making his mark, saying: "It’s been tougher this season as the defenders know me better now and sometimes it is difficult to get an inch of space.
"But that then leaves space for our other strikers and it makes no difference to me who scores the winning goal."

 

KENNY HANNAH was the two-goal hero as Whitburn returned to joint-top spot in the battle for the East League title with a thrilling 4-3 win over Camelon.
The two teams served up a treat for the fans at Central Park as both sides looked to step up their bids for a place in the Super League next season.
Whitburn settled quickly and they were awarded a penalty in 22 minutes.
Davie McGlynn was pulled off the ball in the box by Menmuir, who was booked for the tackle. McGlynn took the kick himself and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Hannah scored his first in 27 minutes when he played a terrific one-two with Scott Gallagher before sending a right-foot drive into the net.
Camelon were dangerous on the break, though, and they pulled a goal back four minutes before half-time. Stuart Hunter sent over a cross from the left and Paul McGinlay stooped to head past Walker.
Buoyed by that, the visitors were back on level terms five minutes after the break, Chris McFadden heading home from a corner.
Whitburn settled again, though, and they regained the lead in 67 minutes, McGlynn twisting and turning the defence wide on the left and crossing for Hannah to blast the ball home at the second attempt.
Five minutes later McGlynn fired over a cross from the left and, after a goalmouth scramble, Gallagher sent a left-foot shot past Bowman to give Whitburn a two-goal cushion again.
But Camelon refused to throw in the towel and, after Darrel Drew had hit the bar, they made it 4-3 when, from a McGinlay header, Walker’s punch saw the ball end up in the net.
Camelon’s McGinlay was then denied by the woodwork before Bowman denied McGlynn after the Whitburn star had produced a sublime piece of skill.
"We played well," said Whitburn manager Derek Strickland. "We switched things round and got the rewards. We are now putting pressure on teams around us now as we get back on the goal trail."
He added: "Kenny Hannah’s two goals were a welcome return to form as it has been a couple of months without him scoring.
"Davie McGlynn again showed today how dangerous he is every time he plays."
Delighted goal hero Hannah said: "I hadn’t trained all week as I had a bad cold, so to get two goals was a bonus. "
Camelon manager Gordon Buchanan said: "I thought we were the better team but paid the price for giving away silly goals through bad defending.
"We still have few things to sort but it is starting to come together. We had a poor start to the season before I came here and I have a few plans for the January deadline."

Whitburn: Walker, Clouston, McDonald, Campbell, Henderson, Haddow, Hannah, Ramage, Gallagher, McGlynn, Taylor. Subs: McSevenney, Nicol, Barker, Haggart, Beveridge.

Camelon: Bowman, Carlaw, Hunter, Menmuir, Mitchell, Sinclair, Lockhart, Drew, McFadden, McGinlay, Quinn. Subs: Millar, Bell, Moffat, Thomson, Wilkinson.

Referee: C Charleston.

LLYOD HADDOW was part of the Stenhousemuir side that beat Dundee United to lift the Challenge Cup back in 1995, a moment that remains his greatest success in football, but he admits that helping current club Whitburn to win promotion into the Super League would be right up there with that triumph.
The 31-year-old has spent two years at Central Park since moving back into the junior game and his side currently sit in third place in the East District Division 1 although if they win their game in hand they can jump to top spot.
And despite experiencing that cup success with Stenhousemuir Haddow insists that helping Whitburn to win promotion would mean every bit as much to him.
"The cup win was obviously great because it was the first time that Stenhousemuir had won anything for more than 100 years. To win the league with Whitburn and get promoted would be great though and something that all the lads in the team are aiming for."
Haddow and his team-mates can move a step closer to promotion if they take maximum points against Camelon tomorrow afternoon, but he insists that there is more than just the possibility of jumping to the top of the table at stake.
"We played them earlier in the season and lost 3-1 at their ground. It was one of these games though that we just didn’t seem to get any lucky breaks.
"We had a penalty appeal turned down and a goal disallowed for offside that we felt should have stood. We played well and certainly weren’t outplayed so we feel we have a bit of a point to prove after that defeat.
"Obviously with the chance to go to the top of the league that will make the game that little bit more important so we will be going for the win."
Results like that defeat to Camelon have dented Whitburn’s promotion charge with Haddow admitting that they have been guilty of dominating matches but still losing on more than one occasion this season.
"In the past seasons we have maybe got away with making mistakes but this year we seem to have been punished for some reason. I’m not sure why this is to be honest but it is something we need to cut out. We have already been knocked out of two cup competitions so the league is now a priority.
"We haven’t been outplayed very often which is a good sign but in the end it’s the results that count."
However despite their tendency to drop points in games they shouldn’t, the former Motherwell, Alloa and Stenhousemuir player is confident that the work ethic and desire to win that exists at Central Park will see his team keep alive their promotion hopes right to the death.
"Whether it is a friendly match or just a bounce game in training I want to win," he said.
"That’s just the way I am and always have been. I don’t like to come second best and never have. I’m not the only player in the side that has this sort of attitude either and that can only help Whitburn.
"We have a big game this weekend and with home advantage we have to be looking to win. We have the players to do well and we now have to start showing that."
Whitburn will still be without the services of former Hibs player Callum Milne who remains a long-term injury victim while Colin Campbell is also set to miss the tie through injury.

WHITBURN secretary Bruce Russell insists the West Lothian side have "no regrets" over snubbing the East Super League - then revealed their decision to turn their back on the glamour set-up has not weakened the club’s pulling power.
While other East Region sides have locked horns with the top teams from Fife and Dundee this term, Whitburn have been plying their trade in their traditional stomping ground.
Russell revealed the decision not to move has been rewarded with ’Burn fans continuing to back their side by turning out in numbers at Central Park.
The Whitburn secretary believes the club’s decision to stay "local" is tailored to their fans' needs, insisting the more mature Junior supporter would not welcome a ‘ long trip across the Tay in the middle of winter".
Whitburn’s appeal does not appear only to be restricted to the terraces, Russell believes the club’s community spirit has helped them hang on to the player Central Park fans have labelled ‘the best striker in the Junior game’.
Russell revealed Whitburn ran the gauntlet of a group of Junior clubs who tried to wrestle the services of top striker David McGlynn from their grasp. Despite being offered a better deal elsewhere, McGlynn pledged loyalty to Whitburn boss Derek Strickland and has blasted home 11 in six games so far this season.
Russell insists McGlynn is not benefiting from the easy option but could bag goals at any level. Russell said: " We are delighted Davie stayed with the club. He was subject to a few inquiries and could probably have got a better deal elsewhere. But he likes Whitburn, he likes the set up and atmosphere at the club.
"He is also impressed with the way Derek Strickland manages the team and how he lets him play to his strength. He will score goals anywhere in the Junior ranks, he has already proved that and I’m confident he could go on and score goals at a higher level".

CROCKED Sauchie boss Willie Irvine today said he had no fears about a clash with Whitburn - and one of the toughest players in Junior football - saying: "Bruce Clouston is hard, but he’s fair."
The sides meet in the quarter-final of the Carlsberg League Cup at Beechwood Park tonight (kick-off, 6.45pm).
Sauchie are on a high with three straight wins, but player-boss Irvine’s plans have been wrecked by a series of injuries which have opened his eyes to Junior football.
"I didn’t know what to expect when I came to Sauchie," said the former Hibs and Alloa striker, "but in 20 years of professional football, I’ve never had someone deliberately try to break my leg.
"It happened against Dunbar in my second game and put me out for four weeks - and the referee didn’t even award a foul.
"We’ve also lost Stuart Kerr, Paul Shanks and Craig Clark for tonight’s game. I don’t know if teams are surprised at the way we have started the season and are putting the boot in, but it’s extremely disappointing, dishonest really.
"At least with a player like Bruce Clouston, seen as one of the toughest players in Junior football, you know what you are going to get. I played against him for years when he was at Arbroath. He’s hard and competitive but doesn’t resort to the cynical off-the-ball stuff I’ve seen in our first three games."

BRUCE CLOUSTON today gave Whitburn a cup-final boost by pledging himself to the club for the rest of his career.
And, as he savoured the goal which sent the West Lothian club on their way to a possible trophy double, the veteran defender claimed he still had years left in him.
Whitburn meet Linlithgow Rose in the final of the Brown Cup at Armadale Thistle’s Volunteer Park tonight (7pm).
It was set to be Clouston’s last game for the Central Park side, with the 36-year-old set to retire from Junior football.
However, Whitburn’s decision not to accept promotion to the new East of Scotland Super League has prompted him into a U-turn.
"I’m happy to finish my career here now," said the right back, who joined Whitburn from Arbroath in 1993 and cemented his reputation as one of Junior football’s most uncompromising defenders.
"I’ll be staying for another season at least. Look at (former Whitburn captain) Stevie Prior. He was still playing at 38, so there’s no reason why I can’t."
Clouston doubled his goal tally for the season at the weekend when he opened the scoring in Whitburn’s 2-1 win over Musselburgh Athletic in the final of the Calder’s East of Scotland Cup.
"I usually only score one a season but what a time to pick to score my second! The East of Scotland Cup is a great trophy to win."
Whitburn will start as underdogs tonight against a Linlithgow side gunning for their sixth trophy in a remarkable season.
The Scottish Cup winners finished 15 points ahead of second-placed Whitburn in Division One and failed to concede a goal in two wins over their arch-rivals.
"We have to go into the game expecting to win, otherwise there would be no point in turning up," said Whitburn assistant boss Dan McComiskey.
Lloyd Haddow is available for Whitburn despite being sent off in Saturday’s final. However, Stuart Gilmour, who scored their second goal, must wait to learn if he can be released from police college.

SCOTT PORTEOUS today denied trying to con Whitburn out of the Calder’s East of Scotland Cup - and claimed he was too greedy to be a diver.
The Musselburgh Athletic striker looked to have given his side a gilt-edged chance to open the scoring in Saturday’s Newbyres Park showdown.
He had the goal at his mercy after a 44th-minute slip by Callum Milne but was hauled down by goalkeeper Stewart Walker in the box. Referee Crawford Allan reached for a card and, while Walker - fearing red - removed his gloves, the controversial whistler booked Porteous instead.
Few doubted it was a penalty but Whitburn never looked back from their reprieve, going on to win 2-1.
"As I went past, Frankie (Walker) took my left leg away from me," insisted Porteous. "Why would I dive when I had an open goal in front of me?
"There’s always a chance of missing a penalty, so if I could have stayed on my feet and scored, I would have done."
Things got worse for Porteous, who had a lob cleared off the line at the start of the second half, when the players he saw scoring were Whitburn’s Bruce Clouston and Stuart Gilmour. Defender Clouston, who gave fans a double boost by revealing he had reversed his decision to retire at the end of the season, scored only his second goal of the season after 50 minutes.
The danger initially seemed to have passed when the ball was cleared after ’Burgh keeper Craig Cunningham fumbled David McGlynn’s cross. However, it only rolled as far as Clouston who, spotted the goalkeeper off his line, and let fly, high and true, into the far corner.
Gilmour made it 2-0 from close range in the 64th minute after Lloyd Haddow made space for a low cross along the byline. That appeared to be the end for the Musselburgh players, who accused McGlynn of diving in the second half, but got no change from referee Allan, who was handling his last Junior game before moving to Grade One status next season.
However, from adversity, the East Lothian mustered a spirited fightback and reduced the deficit in the 76th minute.
Once again, ex-Hibs defender Milne was slow to react, allowing substitute Kevin Hall to get on the end of a long free-kick played from defence. Walker, perhaps reflecting on his first-half let-off, raced from his line but stayed on his feet. In the end, it made no difference and he could only watch as the ball sailed over his head into the unguarded net.
Hall felt it should have been 2-2 and signalled as much to the linesman. His two-fingered gesture, however, earned him the game’s seventh booking.
The goal gave Musselburgh a lift but not even the dismissal of Haddow, booked for the second time for impeding the breaking Hall, could alter the destination of the cup, which went to Whitburn for the sixth time, their second win in four years.
Musselburgh, who last lifted the East of Scotland Cup in 1937, were left seeking their first cup final win since 1967.
Whitburn No.2 Dan McComiskey, deputising for the holidaying Derek Strickland, had no doubts his side deserved the glory. "I thought we were the best team by far and, even when they got their lifeline late on, we were the only team who looked like scoring," he said.
McComiskey then rubbed salt into Musselburgh’s wounds by claiming he also thought it was a penalty. "From where I was standing it looked as if Frankie’s brought down Porto but, fortunately for us, the referee was closer to the incident than me," he said.
"Going in at half-time 1-0 down, it might have been a different story."
Whitburn, who finished second in Division One, have a chance to double their trophy haul on Wednesday, when they face league champs Linlithgow Rose in the Brown Cup final.
"The players have worked their socks off and now they have one more gigantic effort against the team of the season," added McComiskey.
Musselburgh boss Gordon Smith was banned from the dug-out following an outburst at a game in April, and he would not have endeared himself to the association beaks by offering his runners-up trophy to referee Allan.
"We didn’t play well but the penalty changed the game," he said, with admirable restraint.

Musselburgh: Cunningham, Combe, Ritchie (Dunn 68), Meikle, Salton, Nisbet, Ryrie, Hay, Porteous, Brigain (Fusco 68), Campbell (Hall 55). Subs (not used): Livingstone, Berwick.

Whitburn: Walker, Clouston, Milne, CJ Campbell, Gilmour, Ramage, Hannah, Haddow, Gallacher (C Campbell 72), McGlynn (Coulter 81), Taylor. Subs (not used): Easton, Barker, McMillan.

WHITBURN boss Derek Strickland steered his side to the final of the Brown Cup at rain-lashed Central Park with a 2-1 victory over local rivals Blackburn then revealed: "I won’t be at the final as I’m on holiday."
Strickland admitted the weather had left the game touch and go but hard work by the Whitburn committee ensured it went ahead and the ex-Ranger was delighted his backroom staff were rewarded with the victory which sets up a June 8th showdown against the winners of the Fauldhouse versus Linlithgow semi-final tomorrow night.
Second-half goals from Kenny Hannah and Charlie Barker booked Whitburn’s place in the final despite a late Mark Campbell consolation for Blackburn.
Strickland’s own booking of a seven-day break in Lanzarote, however, means he will miss his side’s last two games of the season - both cup finals. The Whitburn boss, who admitted it was hard enough to gingerly pick his way across the Central Park "quagmire" after Saturday’s game never mind play football on it will keep in touch with the team’s progress through assistant Dan McComiskey. And he is confident McComiskey is equal to the task of steering Whitburn to a silverware double.
He said: "It was a bit scrappy, conditions were poor and it was like a ploughed field at the end of the match. I’m just delighted to get into the final, the pitch may have been a leveller but I thought we deserved to win.
"I knew Mickey Lynch would have them well organised. He made it difficult for us and in the end it was a relief to hear the final whistle after we gave away a bad goal.
"We are now looking forward to the final that’s the second we are in which can’t be bad.
"Unfortunately for me I took a chance on an early holiday this year and it hasn’t worked out as I’ll miss both finals but the boys will do fine without me. I’ll be on the phone on the match days but my assistant, Dan McComiskey, will be in total charge when I’m away.
"It will be up to him to make the decisions and I’ve total confidence in him."
Blackburn boss Lynch, a former Whitburn player and close friend of Strickland, was left fuming over his side’s exit. He knew as underdogs his side needed a slice of luck to be in with a chance of causing an upset but felt it was not going to be Blackburn’s day when a number of crucial decisions didn’t go their way.
Lynch believes his side were denied a stonewall first-half penalty when Mark Campbell fell to the ground in a tussle with the home keeper and he insisted had the referee pointed to the spot at that stage it would have put the skids under Whitburn and set up the shock result he was after.
Despite feeling aggrieved however the Blackburn boss admitted he was proud of his players and chose to pay tribute to Whitburn and their supporters.
He said: "Whitburn are a good team and we ran them very close but I’m totally disappointed about the result.
"We needed to get a few breaks but that didn’t happen and Whitburn deserved to win. But I’m very pleased with the way that my boys played, their commitment was first class.
"I wish Whitburn all the best for the final, I have the utmost respect for Derek Strickland and hope for them and their supporters who were great on Saturday that they win a cup this season."

IAIN RAMAGE was today cast as the player who could have wrecked Junior football’s new Super League.
The Whitburn midfielder hit an injury-time equaliser last night to deny Bo’ness United a place in the new set-up.
Whitburn, who are guaranteed second place in Division One, have already stated they won’t enter the league, which will feature the top five teams from the East Region, four from Tayside and three from Fife.
However, with Camelon and now Bo’ness failing to qualify, champions Linlithgow Rose and Bathgate Thistle are understood to be reconsidering their position.
Rose secretary David Roy today admitted there was a 30 per cent chance his club - the best in Scotland after winning the OVD Cup on Sunday - would vote to stay put.
Ironically, had Bo’ness completed the necessary 3-0 win at Central Park last night - goals from Dale Ryan and Alan Mooney gave them a 2-0 first-half lead - Whitburn might have been persuaded into a U-turn. An East contingent of Linlithgow, Whitburn, Bathgate, Bonnyrigg and Bo’ness would have been an attractive proposition for the big five.
However, late counters from Lloyd Haddow and Ramage last night spoiled that.
Edinburgh United qualify directly in fifth place, while sixth-placed Arniston Rangers would enter the Super League instead of Whitburn. Pressure is expected to be brought to bear on Whitburn, Scottish Cup winners in 1999, to change their mind.
However, club secretary Bruce Russell said: "The committee made its decision last month and there are no plans to re-vote on the matter.
"As far as I am concerned, we are staying in the East League. We have a meeting on Sunday but the subject is not on the agenda."

Linlithgow’s position as Scottish Cup holders makes it difficult for them to pull out. They also put a counter-proposal to the Scottish Junior FA’s membership at last year’s AGM and a negative stance could be seen as sour grapes.
Roy said: "We feel that in our position we wouldn’t want to be seen to be rocking the boat.
"We have a meeting on Monday, when the Super League will be talked about.
"At the moment I would say it was 70:30 in favour of us going."
Amid the confusion, Linlithgow left no one in any doubt about their quality last night with a 5-0 win over Edinburgh United in the semi-final of the St Michael’s Cup.
Doubles from David Flynn and Stevie Dickov, and a rare David Beaton header, earned them a final against Fauldhouse United on Wednesday, June 5.

Bo’ness looked to be heading for a similar scoreline at Whitburn.
However, John Black and Ryan both squandered open-goal chances at the start of the second half. Black then had an effort pushed past the post by goalkeeper Stewart Walker, who also denied Mooney a second.
Gary Smith, striding forward from defence, also saw his attempt slip agonisingly past the post.
Eventually, injury-hit Bo’ness ran out of steam. Haddow headed a Charlie Barker shot in the 87th minute and Ramage had the last word with a 20-yard shot.
"As soon as Whitburn decided not to enter the Super League, I knew other clubs would waver," said Ramage.
"But I wasn’t thinking about that. We have a semi-final (against Blackburn) on Saturday and we didn’t want to go into it on a defeat. In saying that, we still stole a draw."

THOSE forever inclined to peddle hoary stereotypes about Scotland’s junior footballers being locked in an endless cycle of sweaty jockstraps and fetid groin strains may have to revise their opinions, given the radical plans being fermented by the custodians of the SJFA.

Because, at the conclusion of a tedious SPL campaign riven by internecine warfare and with hundreds of players in the process of collecting their P45s, the juniors have taken direct action while their senior counterparts talked themselves into an impasse.
In August, six regions will be pared to three - east, west and north - when the SJFA introduce a contentious Superleague, which will pit Ayrshire’s best against their Central and Glasgow rivals, and the East of Scotland League clubs will join forces with leading lights from Fife and Tayside. (The north has been restructured internally).
So far, so controversial.
Indeed, the proposals have persuaded one high-profile team - the 2000 trophy-guzzling and Junior Cup-winning Whitburn - to refuse to participate in the shake-up.
"Yes, we have gained promotion to the Superleague, but we will be using our opt-out clause and staying as part of the old system," said Bruce Russell, secretary of the West Lothian club. "It may sound strange that we don’t want to be involved in a higher standard of competition, but when you look at the map and work out the amount of travelling involved on wet, winter days, it doesn’t sound all that tempting to us.
"I am not saying that we will never join the new format, but we remain unconvinced as to its merits.... and we are not convinced that this concept will be a success."

That seems a faintly-absurd argument, given the enthusiasm exhibited by the majority of Scotland’s significant junior organisations towards this bold initiative.
"The enhanced Superleagues should produce some terrific competition, particularly in the west of Scotland, and the reality is that we definitely required something to breathe fresh life into the game," said SJFA spokesman Tom Johnston.
"Of course, it promises to be a cut-throat environment, and I can appreciate that with three clubs [of 12] facing relegation in the first season, there will be no easy matches. But we have to be proactive."
As if this notion were not ambitious enough, the SJFA are also in discussion with the SFA that would grant the three district league champions entry into the qualifying round of the Tennent’s Scottish Cup, amid the likes of Whitehill Welfare and Gala Fairydean.
Talks are at a preliminary stage, but this brings closer the possibility of Rangers and Celtic meeting Arniston Rangers and Blantyre Celtic in the third round from season 2003-04.

WHITBURN today set their sights on winning back the Division One trophy next season - after announcing they won’t be joining the new Super League.
The top Junior football outfit handed the title to Linlithgow Rose when they lost 1-0 at Camelon on Monday. And they had salt rubbed into their wounds by the new champs last night, losing 2-0 and being forced to watch Rose being presented with the trophy.
It was Whitburn’s third successive league defeat and leaves them struggling to make the top five.
However, that is no longer a priority for the Central Park club, who have said they won’t join the cream of the East Region, Fife and Tayside in the new set-up.
"The committee has decided unanimously that if we finish in the top five and are invited to join the new Super League, we will decline," said Whitburn secretary Bruce Russell. "We don’t feel the new set-up is in the best interests of the club."
"We still think there are other East Region clubs sitting on the fence but we’ve made our decision and it’s now up to them to decide."
As things stand, Bathgate Thistle, Bonnyrigg Rose, Arniston Rangers and Edinburgh United would progress with Linlithgow to the Super League.
Today, Whitburn boss Derek Strickland backed his committee’s decision.
He said: "I was at the meeting and I agreed that the Super League isn’t the right thing for Whitburn."
"It’s been pushed through for the Glasgow and Ayrshire clubs and no-one has looked at the rest of the country.
"Our league is strong enough as it stands. Since 1995, Camelon and Whitburn have both won the Scottish Cup from the East Region and also reached the final. Linlithgow are in the final and could win it this year."

COLIN CAMPBELL got Whitburn - and veteran winger Paul Taylor - out of jail in the semi-final of the Calder’s East of Scotland Cup last night.
Camelon were on their way to the final until the substitute striker pounced in injury-time to earn a 1-1 draw.
No-one was more relieved than Taylor, whose sloppy pass in the 84th minute led to Darryl Drew’s 30-yard wonder-goal.
Today, however, the player who celebrated his 500th game for Whitburn earlier this month, said he never feared being the fall-guy.
"I always felt we were capable of getting a goal back, even with just a few minutes left," said Taylor.
"On paper it looks like we stole it, but we had created a few chances throughout the game - especially in the first half.
"I didn’t ever think I had sold the game with my mistake and I was confident we could snatch the equaliser."
Two previous meetings of the sides this month had produced nine goals, with Whitburn winning 3-1 and 4-1.
However, long before the end of last night’s semi-final it seemed certain that one goal would settle it and that honour looked to have fallen to Drew after Taylor gave the ball away in midfield.
Drew strode forward, looked up and unleashed a long-range effort which grazed the underside of the crossbar on its way past stranded Whitburn goalkeeper Stewart Walker.
Fearing the worst after Saturday’s similar 1-0 defeat at Thornton in the Heineken Cup, many Whitburn fans headed home.
Those who stayed were rewarded with Campbell’s equaliser - only his second goal since rejoining Whitburn from Bo’ness United in December. He chased a bouncing pass from Iain Ramage and, when goalkeeper Murray Bowman and defender Stevie Menmuir collided, nipped in behind them to direct the loose ball into the net.
Stuart Hunter tried valiantly to clear the ball but, for the first time in an otherwise outstanding performance, it wasn’t enough.
"It was a long, hopeful ball, but I don’t believe in giving defenders an easy ride and it paid off," said Campbell. While Whitburn celebrated, the three defenders were left face down in the turf.
Afterwards, however, Camelon boss Eric Sinclair was quick to point out that his team may be down but they are not out.
"I’d have taken Whitburn in a semi-final at home before last night so, at the end of the day, we’re no worse off," he said.
"Maybe at 1-0, we had a wee chance to get a second but that’s football. We just have to get on with it."
Ironically, while a date for the replay is being arranged, the sides will have prepare for a league clash at Carmuirs Park next Monday.
It will be both Whitburn and Camelon’s eighth game in 17 days.
"People will say that last night was a dour battle but it’s not easy for the players with so many games at this stage of the season," added Sinclair.
Regardless of the excuses, there were precious few chances to break the tedium last night.
Perhaps the best came from a mistake, with Camelon’s Chris McFadden intercepting a short pass-back from Matty Coulter in the 65th minute, only to slice the ball wide.
Moments later, Mark McKeever found McFadden at the near post with a fine right-wing cross, but the 22-goal striker’s glancing header was deflected for a corner.
Whitburn had their chances, mostly in the first half, but Lloyd Haddow should have done better than fire a weak shot at goalkeeper Bowman in the 70th minute.
Drew’s fourth goal of the season was the highlight but he made a more telling contribution minutes later when he cleared David McGlynn’s header off the line.
"I thought a draw was a fair result," said Whitburn boss Derek Strickland.
"We could have gone in at half-time two or three up but we didn’t play at all in the second half," he added.
A week ago, Strickland was coming to terms with a 4-1 defeat by Second Division Fauldhouse United in the St Michael’s Cup.
After facing a third cup exit in eight days, he added: "Maybe getting that wee bit of luck last night can be a turning point for us."

LLOYD HADDOW could be set to give Whitburn a massive end-of-season boost - just a few months after suffering a life-threatening head injury.
The former Stenhousemuir midfielder fractured his skull in a Scottish Cup clash with Newburgh in December and required emergency surgery for a blood clot.
However, he was on the bench on Saturday for Whitburn’s comfortable 3-0 win over Sauchie in the quarter-final of the Calder’s East of Scotland Cup.
Although not yet allowed to play, Haddow’s appearance on the sidelines marked another milestone on his road to recovery.
And today, Whitburn boss Derek Strickland, whose side still have nine league games to play and are still in all four local cups, admitted the player could yet figure in the run in.
"It was a very serious injury and, at the time, we were resigned to losing Lloyd for the rest of the season," he said. "Although he’s doing light training, we’re still in that frame of mind but it would be a big boost to us if he could play.
"He’s feeling fine, with no headaches now, and is off his medication. He has a scan a week on Tuesday which could give him the all-clear to start playing again."
With David McGlynn and defender Colin Campbell missing, and veteran Matty Coulter making his debut, Whitburn again had just one fit player on the bench.
However, goals from Scott Gallacher, Paul Taylor and striker Colin Campbell earned them a semi-final at home to Camelon.

ONE of Sir Alex Ferguson’s last signings in Scotland was today preparing to mark a 500th appearance for his club with a do-or-die league clash.
Defeat would end any lingering hopes of retaining a title his side have won more than any other team over the last two decades.
Victory would set up a grandstand finish to the season, with the current league leaders still to be faced. However, this isn’t the Premiership, and it isn’t Manchester United.
Instead, more than 15 years after Sir Alex took him to Aberdeen, Paul Taylor will line-up for Whitburn Juniors in Division One of the John Walker League.
If he had played his 500 games for the Old Trafford side - or even the Dons - he would probably be a millionaire by now, arriving at the game in a Ferrari.
Tomorrow, the 35-year-old winger will probably drive to Central Park for the home clash against Newtongrange Star in the taxi he drives around Edinburgh’s streets.
He will patrol his regular left-wing beat, joke with the fans, moan at referees and pick up a brown envelope with his expenses at the end of the game and look back on how a taste of the big time almost WRECKED his football career.
"When I first came to Whitburn, I thought it was going to be easy," said Taylor, who lasted just six months at Aberdeen, but went on to have spells with Mansfield Town, Dunfermline and Berwick Rangers, and even had a stint in Finland.
Not even words of warning from his father, Kenny, who had played for Whitburn before him, could quell his bravado.
"I was just like most players when they come back from Senior football," added Taylor. "Basically, I thought I knew it all.
"As it happened, I didn’t get off to the best of starts.
"I was signed by the committee. The managers at the time, George Fairley and his brother Brian, had never seen me play.
"I remember them telling me that I would have six games to bed-in without being dropped, so I would have a run of games to prove myself.
"What happened? After the sixth game, I was dropped. I was sitting there on the bench at Bo’ness thinking that I was going to have to get my finger out if I was going to keep playing.
"Looking back, it was the kick in the backside I needed."
It proved to be a turning point and, since making his debut against Blackburn United in August 1987, Taylor has played 499 games for Whitburn.
Even the disappointment of not making the starting line-up for the club’s Scottish Junior Cup final success in 2000 has left his loyalty intact.
"We reached the semi-final of the Scottish the first season I was there and the next season was probably the best team Whitburn has ever had. Seven of us went Senior at the end of the season."
Taylor had three more years at East Fife before work commitments took him back to Whitburn, where he is now the club’s longest-serving player.
Tomorrow, he will attempt to use that experience to maintain the pressure on Division One leaders Linlithgow Rose, who are 12 points clear at the top but have played three more games.
"Newtongrange are not going well at the moment but it’s still a hard game for us," said Taylor, ignoring a 4-0 win over the Midlothian side earlier in the season. "Linlithgow obviously have the points in the bag but we have games in hand and still have them to play. It’s not over yet.
"Last season we went on a great run, when we won 20 games in a row.
"Although we don’t have a big squad, the team spirit is great and we have a great bunch of boys. Our first XI is as good as any."
Boosted by last week’s 4-1 win over Camelon, Whitburn will face an injury-hit Newtongrange side aiming to halt a run of five successive defeats.

 

From the West Lothian Courier 29-03-02

In the First Division, the clash between Whitburn and Newtongrange sees Whitburn winger Paul Taylor play his 500th game for the club. This is a tremendous achievement for any player and the club will honour him with a special presentation after the game. It is a remarkable milestone for Taylor, who is a special player in the hearts of the Burnie fans.

 

Whitburn v Camelon match report

 

From the West Lothian Courier 29-03-02

 

Whitburn thrashed Camelon 4-1 in an ill-tempered match at Central Park in the same competition. Camelon had Mark Quinn sent off after 25 minutes for kicking out at Paul Taylor and as a result, the Burnie took the lead. Kenny Hannah connected with a Stuart Gilmour cross to score the first of a double after 31 minutes.
Whitburn could not extend their advantage until mid-way through the second half, when Hannah struck after good set-up play by Gilmour and Davy McGlynn.
Stuart Hunter pulled a goal back for the away side, however Davy McGlynn and Stuart Gilmour netted to ensure a comfortable victory for the Central Park side.
Burnie boss Derek Strickland commented: "It was a very professional performance under the circumstances. It was a job to keep 11 men on the park, but we showed good discipline and 4-1 was about right. We have scored eight goals in two games now that we are playing every week and we are happy to play strong teams like Camelon."

 

DON’T try to convince Stewart Walker that Whitburn’s squad crisis is making the players complacent - because he’s got TWO goalkeepers after his gloves.
The Central Park side only had 14 players available for Saturday’s Heineken Fife & Lothians Cup clash with Bonnybridge, which they won 3-0.
One of them, transfer-listed striker Scott Gallacher only agreed to play after clear-the-air talks with boss Derek Strickland. The rest knew that even if they had lost to the Division Two side, there would be little chance of anyone being dropped for next week.
Except, that is, for Walker, who has Billy Wilson and Rab Beveridge fighting for his spot, and turned in a performance to prove it.
"It’s crazy that we have such a small squad and three of them are goalkeepers, but it’s keeping me on my toes," said Walker, who denied Bonnybridge four times in the opening ten minutes.
He smothered a low shot from Gordon Wilcox, then palmed away a stinging long-range effort from the same player. From the corner, he tipped a Paddy Donnelly drive over the bar and then, moments later, got fingertips to an Ally Letham blast.
"That’s what I’m there to do; I have to make these saves," said Walker. "Okay, so I don’t normally expect to have to make four saves like that on the trot, but they put us under a bit of pressure at the start. Hopefully, I’ve saved them to turn the game round."
No-one will ever know how Whitburn - surprisingly knocked from the Scottish Junior Cup by Oakley United in their last game - would have coped with going a goal down to the Division Two side. However, a goal before half-time from unmarked defender Fraser Easton, who headed home a Kenny Hannah corner in the 41st minute, took the pressure off.
Gallacher made it 2-0 after an hour, when he swept a rebound home after Hannah and Stuart Gilmour had efforts blocked. However, Walker almost turned from hero to villain, when he tripped Wilcox, only for referee Crawford Allan to wave play on.
"I thought it was a penalty but the ref didn’t see it, so I had a big sigh of relief," admitted Walker. "It would had given us a bit of struggle in the second half."
As it happened, justice was served moments later when Allan waved aside claims for a penalty after Gary Cunningham blatantly handled Gallacher’s shot. After that, there was only ever going to be one winner, although Hannah’s glorious curling shot created a margin of defeat that Bonnybridge didn’t deserve.
"On paper, 3-0, people will think Whitburn cruised it but it definitely that wasn’t the case," said Bonnybridge boss Gary Wilcox, who won the League Cup alongside Walker in 1999, when both were at Harthill Royal.
"Before the game, I told my lads that Whitburn’s best player was the goalie and I was proved right. He had four unbelievable saves in the first ten minutes and if one of them had gone in, who knows? But we can take a lot out the game. The work-rate was tremendous and the commitment was brilliant. Even in the last ten minutes, we were the team that was driving forward."
To their credit, Whitburn, who named assistant boss Dan McComiskey as their second sub, never looked like a team lacking competition for places. Nevertheless, manager Strickland will this week step up his search for new players. In recent weeks, he has lost Mark Wilson to Stenhousmuir and seen Alan MacKenzie return to Australia.
Colin Campbell was cup-tied on Saturday, Lloyd Haddow is out for the rest of the season after fracturing his scull, while Gilmour leaves to join the police later this month.
"We’re obviously not happy with the number of players we have, and we need to strengthen, but we have a few irons in the fire," said Strickland. "We’re being priced out of the Junior market so we’re looking to go down different avenues and bring some young ones in."
Whitburn, beaten finalists last year, will join Pumpherston, St Andrew’s and holders Linlithgow in the quarter-finals, however, the rest of the last-16 ties were postponed.