Superior Rosyth Make it Difficult for Themselves 

Despite always looking far more likely to win this tie, Rosyth allowed Easthouses to come back from three nil down after an hour, and four three after sixty eight minutes, to eventually see off a determined home side and even had the luxury of missing an added time penalty. This was a game short on quality but high on second half drama and Lily will feel that they might have snatched it when they got back to four all with thirteen minutes remaining. 

These sides came into this match in contrasting form. The home side have hit a mini slump and have lost their last two league matches, whereas Rosyth are unbeaten in three, having won a resounding Scottish Junior Cup First Round replay last Saturday against Bridge of Don Thistle. 

As this is Easthouses debut season in Junior football, this match was the first ever competitive fixture between the sides and on a good afternoon for football there was a disappointingly small crowd in attendance. 

The game was slow to settle to any pattern and their was fully ten minutes on the clock before there was a chance and it came for the visitors. From a Johnstone corner, Hutchinson shot from well out but his effort was deflected for another corner by Brown. 

Lily had their first real chance when after a fine run by Russell, the ball came to McDermott who blasted over. A few minutes later another fine cross by Shearer found no takers. 

Rosyth were looking more dangerous and after twenty minutes, McDiarmid had a shot deflected wide. A minute later McDiarmid played in Hampson but his effort again went wide. Minutes later a short corner allowed McCulloch to cross but Hampson's header went over - the visitors were dominating! 

Just after the half hour, the Lily keeper Combe was robbed by McDiarmid and the ball broke to Hampson who somehow managed to miss the target! 

With thirty five minutes played Easthouses won  a free kick twenty five yards out on the right. Shearer's effort was a super one - but it rebounded off the junction of bar and post with the keeper beaten. 

Almost immediately Rosyth broke away. Despite a lunging tackle in midfield, the referee Billy Cooper played a good advantage and when the ball found its way to Hampson, he fired the visitors into a deserved lead. 

Half Time Easthouses Lily 0; Rosyth 1

Easthouses nearly equalised right after the break but it was the visitors who increased their lead after forty eight minutes. Hampson was put through and and seemed to have loads of time before finishing in the far corner for his, and his side's second. 

Shearer who always looked dangerous put a half chance over minutes later and then shot wide as Easthouses tried to get back into it. However, after an hour,  a great switch of play saw Wilson control the ball well before crossing for McDiarmid to make it three nil. It looked all over but Easthouses were far from beaten. 

A minute after going three down, a good fun and finish by Young reduced the leeway and two minutes later, a poor clearance gave Shearer a shooting chance which he duly dispatched and it was three two for the visitors. 

A minute later, and the two goal lead was restored. A crude tackle in the area and referee Cooper had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Hampson stepped up and completed his hat trick.

Within five minutes, Easthouses had a penalty and skipper McQueenie made no mistake - it was becoming difficult to keep count as the goals were going in with amazing regularity!!

After seventy one minutes, the dangerous Hampson hit the post with another effort. 

With thirteen minutes remaining, Easthouses drew level and it was the goal of the game- a brilliant volleyed finish from twenty yards by Russell.

Easthouses looked the more likely now and substitute Scott could have put them ahead but his effort went just wide when it looked likely he'd score.   

After 80 minutes Rosyth got the winner. After an amazing miss by McDiarmid the ball broke back to him and he made no mistake with his second attempt. 

There were no more goals but goalkeeper Combe made a great save from MacMillan at the death and then saved a penalty from goal hero Hampson. 

This was a great second half for the neutral and the game might have gone either way but Rosyth always looked likely to see it out. 

Rosyth were well served by Hampson, McDiarmid, Johnstone and S Russsell. The home side had good performances from Shearer and Combe in goal.  

Next week Easthouses go to Whitburn looking to get back to winning ways in the league. Rosyth face Stoneyburn . 

Final Score Easthouses Lily 4; Rosyth 5 

Teams Easthouses Lily 

Combe, Campbell, McManus, McQueenie, Arthur, Shearer, Russell,Young, Brown, McDermott, Wilson Subs Barrie and Scott

Rosyth

Worley, McCulloch, M Robertson, Lewis, Murphy, Duffy, S Russell, Hutchison, Hampson, McDiarmid, Johnstone subs MacMillan, G Roberson, Denton and Kay 

Referee Billy Cooper 

Gordon Baird

Neutral Reporter