Gordon Herd’s half-time rollicking inspires Linlithgow Rose to double cup success

The Prestonfield men were 2-1 down at the interval following an opening 45 minutes which saw three penalties converted, with league champions Tranent well on top. Jamie Docherty struck twice for Tranent, before Mark Stowe pulled one back.

Gordon Herd’s side fought back after the interval, however, flying out the traps to overturn the one-goal deficit as striker Alan Docherty’s composed finish and Thom’s late header secured Rose’s second cup in a week, ending eight years without silverware.

“It’s special, it’s been a long time coming here – winning a trophy – and to get two in a week is just incredible. I am glad my family were here to watch me as well,” said Thom.

“It’s been a great season. We obviously fell short in the league, but to win two cups is tremendous, it means a lot. Last week there was a lot more pressure on us because it had been that long, but today, we came out feeling no pressure on us.”

Thom added: “We had a really poor first half by our standards. We came out flying in the second half after a rocketing from the management team at half-time, which was deserved, they overran us in the first half at times, they had more desire and that’s not like us.

“We came out in the second half and showed what we can do to get back into the game and win it. We were dominant in the second half, but we knew what they were capable of, in the games we have played against them [this season] they have come back into the game so we needed to concentrate.”

Tranent twice came back from two goals down in each of their league encounters this campaign, so revenge was sweet for Thom.

He added: “We actually said at half-time, ‘we need to do it to them today’, given the position we were in, so it was great to do it. We came close in