Linlithgow Rose apologise after trouble at Forfar

Linlithgow Rose have hit out at the supporters who "disgraced" their club during the abandoned William Hill Scottish Cup replay at Forfar.

Smoke bombs were thrown on to the Station Park pitch, damaging the surface, as the fourth-round contest began on Tuesday night.

The match, for the right to face Ross County, was soon abandoned because of floodlight failure and police apprehended several fans who ran on to the pitch.

A statement from the Scottish Juniors club read: "A group of people purporting to be Linlithgow Rose supporters disgraced the name of our football club, our community and our town.

"These people have no place at football with Linlithgow Rose or anyone else. We apologise to our hosts at Forfar - we are aghast at what we all saw."

The statement continued: "Club officials are fully aware that our true supporters - who came in their hundreds - have been absolutely embarrassed by what they saw at Forfar.

"We are a community club first and foremost, we are rooted in the town of Linlithgow and we will always try to represent the town to the very best of our ability.

"Tonight some among our townsfolk let us all down very badly and we will do everything possible to ensure this doesn't happen again."

Forfar said they were "distraught" over the floodlight failure.

Forfar chairman Alastair Donald, who said there was a "little bit of damage" to the pitch, added: "I also want to state that FAFC do not hold Linlithgow Rose responsible for the idiots that attempted to disrupt the game with flares.

"It is nearly impossible to police such incidents like this inside grounds as much bigger clubs than us have found out.

"I have to praise Linlithgow Rose officials who went out of their way to plead with the perpetrators to cease their actions.

"I understand there were some arrests made so we will leave that to the police."