Linlithgow Rose vs Dumbarton

Dumbarton drew first blood inside two minutes. Scott Honeyman found the net early to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at Prestonfield.

Linlithgow Rose responded through Lucas Stenhouse, who equalised in the 19th minute. The momentum swung further towards the home side when Calum Rae put Rose ahead in the 38th minute, and the hosts carried a 2-1 lead into half-time.

Dumbarton came out firing after the break. Leighton McIntosh levelled in the 52nd minute, and Aedan Gilfedder made it 3-2 to the visitors just three minutes later — two goals in a four-minute spell that turned the game on its head.

Rose refused to fold. Gianluca Elsaway (registered as E. Saway in match data) equalised in the 82nd minute to make it 3-3. With time running out, a Linlithgow Rose trialist — wearing the number 18 shirt — stabbed home in the 89th minute to complete the comeback and seal a 4-3 win.

Dumbarton’s second-half double inside four minutes (McIntosh 52′, Gilfedder 55′) appeared to have wrestled control of the friendly away from the hosts. But Rose’s response was immediate and sustained: Elsaway’s 82nd-minute equaliser kept the pressure on, and the trialist’s finish with a minute of normal time remaining proved the decisive moment. The collapse of Dumbarton’s lead across the final eight minutes suggests fitness was already a factor this early in pre-season.

• Scott Honeyman (Dumbarton): Opened the scoring inside two minutes and was a threat throughout his time on the pitch.
• Lucas Stenhouse (Linlithgow Rose): The equaliser that started Rose’s recovery, showing composure to finish from inside the box.
• Gianluca Elsaway (Linlithgow Rose): His 82nd-minute leveller set the stage for the late winner, the second goal of the afternoon that kept Rose in the contest.
• Trialist (Linlithgow Rose): The number 18 won it with an 89th-minute finish — an encouraging sign for a player hoping to earn a contract.

Player of the match: Gianluca Elsaway — pivotal goal at a crucial moment, and constant energy in the Rose attack.

The provider data records seven goals from just 12 shots on target across the 90 minutes, reflecting a high-conversion friendly where neither defence was at full sharpness. Dumbarton’s two quickfire goals after half-time (52′, 55′) show they started the second half stronger, but Linlithgow Rose’s response — two goals in the final eight minutes — signals superior depth and fitness at this early stage of pre-season. No cards were shown, consistent with a pre-season fixture where both sides prioritised minutes over aggression.

Linlithgow Rose, who won the 2025/26 Park’s Motor Group Lowland League with 75 points from 34 games (24 wins), continue their pre-season preparations ahead of their next friendly at home to Strathspey Thistle on 27 June. The club also has the East of Scotland Cup Final against The Spartans on 4 July, and Premier Sports Cup group-stage fixtures beginning on 11 July away at Greenock Morton.

Dumbarton continue their pre-season build-up to the 2026/27 Scottish League One campaign, with further friendlies scheduled in the coming weeks.

A thoroughly entertaining pre-season friendly that delivered seven goals and genuine competitive edge. Linlithgow Rose’s character to come from behind twice bodes well for their busy summer schedule, while Dumbarton will want to tighten up defensively after letting a 3-2 lead slip. For a trialist to score the winner only adds to the feel-good factor at Prestonfield.