2.30pm 19 August 2023
Scottish FA, South Challenge Cup, First Round
Linton Hotspur 3 Livingston United 5 aet (att 101)
I needed to head north this weekend for work-related reasons, so took the opportunity to get another step closer to completing visits to all the clubs in Scotland's football pyramid.
Linton Hotspur are among the latest additions to that list, having joined the East of Scotland League after playing amateur football in the Lothian and Edinburgh League.
So far the step up has proved a tough one, with three defeats from three in the league and a cup defeat. This cup tie gave them a realistic chance of a positive result though, against a Livingston United side with one league point and just a place above them in the table.
Sadly for Linton it ended in another defeat, but it took extra time to separate the teams and, for the neutral, it was a great game to watch.
Livingston scored first but it didn't take the home side long to level. At 1-1 Linton were in the ascendency and it was no surprise that they went into half time 2-1 ahead.
Two second half penalties for Livingston, both clear and correct, turned the game around again. Then with about 15 minutes to go Linton got their third to level the score again.
The away side looked the more dangerous going forward, and two goals in the opening period of extra time settled the outcome.
Linton's New Moor Park, in West Linton, ground was already a bit of a gem for an amateur club. Improvements for the East of Scotland League make it a lovely place to watch a game.
There's a seated stand on one side, cover opposite (although the adjacent dugouts make viewing from there a challenge) and a clubhouse incorporating a snack bar. Linton Hotspur seem a fine addition to Scottish senior football.
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