Monday September 25th 2023
Rose's Kieran McGachie heads for goal. All photographs by Joe Gilhooley LRPS.
Match report by Brendan Parkinson, of Bonnyrigg Rose FC
Bonnyrigg Rose 0 Stenhousemuir 1
Bonnyrigg Rose contested a top of the table clash at home to Stenhousemuir in a match that pitted cinch League Two’s 1st placed side against 2nd place.
It was also the league’s top scorer’s, Bonnyrigg Rose against the league’s best defence, that being the Warriors, so it was bound to be a closely-contested affair. Robbie Horn made 3 changes for the visit of Stenhousemuir with Lee Currie, Zander Murray and Conor Doan coming into the team to replace Ross Gray, Callum Connolly and Smart Osadolor.
Given the importance of the game to both sides, the match was very cagey in early stages with neither side able to create any clear-cut chances.
It took until 20 minutes into the contest for the first shot on target of the game as Reis Peggie’s volley from outside the area was saved by Darren Jamieson in the Stenny goal.
Zander Murray, still searching for his first Rose goal, was next to go close as his low-drilled strike was denied by Jamieson.
Stenhousemuir started to ramp up the pressure before the break and after some nervy, error-strewn moments at the back for Rose the Warriors almost took the lead as Paddy Martin got down well to deny a long range effort that found it’s way through a crowded box.
There were some moments for both sides in the first-half, but the opening goal wouldn’t come until later on in the second as on 66 minutes Edin Lynch rose highest to meet the corner and powered his header past Martin to put Stenhousemuir a goal to the good.
Robbie Horn brought on some attacking reinforcements as Dean Watson, Keiran McGachie and Bradley Barrett all made their way onto the field for the final 15 minutes.
However, the equaliser Rose were looking for wouldn’t materialise as they peppered the Stenhousemuir box with high ball after high ball but the Warriors stood strong and defended like their lives depended on it.
One of the final moments of the game was a controversial penalty call as Dean Watson appeared to have been fouled inside the Stenhousemuir box, but the referee determined the foul to have been outside the area.
Bonnyrigg Rose will look to get back in the win column and they look to navigate their way through a tricky few weeks when they make the short journey to Ainslie Park to take on Spartans next weekend.
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