Linlithgow Rose: Scottish Cup tie v Ross County 'just another game'

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Linlithgow Rose's Kevin Kelbie celebratesImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Kevin Kelbie scored the winning goal in extra time

Kevin Kelbie secured Linlithgow Rose a historic Scottish Cup tie against Premiership side Ross County - then described it as "just another game".

The 30-year-old striker scored in extra time to knock out League One Forfar Athletic as Rose became the first junior league side to make the last 16.

"Some of the boys haven't played senior football and it will be happy days," Kelbie told BBC Scotland.

"We have just got to look forward to it. We'll take each game as it comes."

Kelbie has played senior football with Alloa Athletic, Greenock Morton and Stirling Albion.

But since 2012 he has been competing in the separate Scottish Junior Football League system and has spent the past two seasons with Linlithgow in the East Superleague.

"It's just another game basically. The most important thing is the game on Saturday now," said Kelbie. "It will be back to training on Thursday night and preparing for the Scottish Junior Cup - a replay away to Irvine Meadow.

"This will do us the world of good and we'll get a bit of fitness out of it too."

Image source, SNS
Image caption,

Rose were drawn away from home in every round of the Scottish Cup before winning their replay in Forfar

Rose have beaten Gala Fairydean Rovers of the Lowland League, Highland League sides Clachnaccudin and Wick Academy, having been drawn away from home in each round, then Forfar from League One.

Kelbie, who also had spells in Northern Irish football with Glentoran, Ballymena United and Glenavon after a sports scholarship at Northern Oklahoma College, had a couple of chances to score before his winning goal.

"I thought it had maybe slipped past us," he said. "I think everybody in the stadium thought it was going to penalties.

"In the second half, I cracked one off the post and I thought it was going in. You've just got to keep digging in and chances will come. Luckily enough, we got the wee breakthrough - happy days."