26th May 2019 East Kilbride v Bonnyrigg Rose 2-1
Last match of the season for me today as off on holiday on Wednesday. This was the final of the South Challenge Cup and being held at Meggetland. The ground which is used by both Tynecastle and Boroughmuir Rugby Club is a short walk along the canal for me. The left home just after 13.00 and arrived at the ground at 13.30. Paid my £6 admission and £2 for a programme and met Jim in the main stand. As the weather was sunny, albeit windy, we decided to move across to the grassy terracing opposite the main stand for the first half.
This was a match between the champions of the East of Scotland League, Bonnyrigg, and the Lowland League Champions, East Kilbride. Having won the championship play-offs in the East of Scotland League Bonnyrigg should have been promoted to the Lowland League for next season. It is a requirement now that teams in the Lowland League should have an SFA licence and Bonnyrigg's licence application has been rejected by the SFA. Bonnyrigg met all the licence requirements of the SFA at the start of this season but in December an additional requirement for floodlighting was introduced by the SFA. Despite Bonnyrigg having purchased floodlights and getting these installed during this close season the application was rejected. This was despite three clubs already in the Lowland League, Whitehall Welfare, Civil Service Strollers and Vale of Leithen, not having floodlights as their licences were granted before this condition was imposed. Bonnyrigg are fighting this decision and will have a point to prove against this year Lowland League Champions. East Kilbride won that league by eleven points and qualified to meet Cove Rangers in the playoff to decide who would get the opportunity of a further playoff against the bottom side in the SPFL with the possibility of entrance to the SPFL for next season. Cove however won the playoff 5-1 on aggregate and then beat Berwick Rangers to take their opponents place in the SPFL next season.
Both sides sent out strong teams although it was surprising to be that Bonnyrigg started with Aaron Murrell on the bench, given his scoring record since joining the club. To be honest the first half was not the most exciting. Both sides took a cautious approach with the bulk of the play in midfield and defences dominating as the two teams tried to assess their opponents strengths and weaknesses. Neither goalkeeper was troubled until about five minutes before half-time when a cross field ball from Lee Currie found Dean Brett running into the penalty area in pursuit. East Kilbride keeper Willie Muir was quickly off his line and dived to collect the ball before Brett could make contact.Just before the halftime break a cross from East Kilbride's Cammy Russell found Ross McNeill unmarked in the penalty area. His header from around ten yards looked like a certain goal until Michael Andrews who had initially looked as if he was going to his left to collect the ball dived to his right and with one hand was able to push the ball out for a corner before it could cross the line. It was a save that had to be seen to be believed and if the match had been televised would have be shown many times.Photo below, taken from the Bonnyrigg web site, shows us sheltering from the rain during the first half.
At halftime the rain started to become heavier and we wandered round to the main stand. We took up position on the main concourse above the seated area in line with the goal Bonnyrigg would be attacking in the second half. The second half started with Alan Horne making a good run from midfield towards the East Kilbride goal. He hit a strong low shot from around twenty yards but his effort ended up going past Muir's left hand post. East Kilbride took the lead after seventy-five minutes when they were awarded a free-kick in the centre of the pitch around thirty-five yards from goal. Russell hit a fierce dipping shot which rebounded off the Bonnyrigg crossbar. East Kilbride full-back BJ Coll was first to react and dived to head home the rebound from around eight yards. Almost straight from the kick-off Bonnyrigg had a chance when Ross Gray was pulled back by Craig Howie around twenty-five yards from goal wide on the right and Bonnyrigg were awarded free-kick. The defender had already been booked and many referees would have given a second yellow card and subsequent red for the foul. However given the position where the foul occurred and no clear goal scoring opportunity being denied Craig Napier was content to give a final warning. Lee Currie took the kick and his ambitious attempt flew high over the crossbar. Minutes later Bonnyrigg had another opportunity when Gray was again fouled this time around twenty yards out and further infield. Currie took the kick again and hit a well-struck shot across goal and into the far corner of the net to draw the teams level. In eighty-two minutes East Kilbride went back into the lead. A low cross into the penalty area from Sean Winter was not cleared by the Bonnyrigg defence and the ball found its way to Coll at the far post around ten yards from goal. His low shot gave Andrews no chance. Bonnyrigg brought on attacking substitutes Murrell and Louis Swanson as they pushed for an equaliser. As the game moved into injury time the ball came to Keith Lough around fifteen yards from goal in the centre of the penalty area. As he tried to turn and shoot the ball appeared to take a deflection of a defenders arm and was cleared. Despite Bonnyrigg protests no penalty was awarded and I think that the decision was correct as with a gale now blowing it would be difficult to be certain than any handball was deliberate. Bonnyrigg were unhappy with the decision and Currie continued his protests to the referee on the halfway line. I don't know what he said but the referee was not happy and showed him a red card. As the midfielder walked of the pitch Brett confronted the referee to continue the protests and he also was shown a red card. The whistle blew shortly afterwards leaving East Kilbride as the cup winners. At the presentation ceremony the referee and linesmen were first to be presented with their medals to a chorus of boo's from the Bonnyrigg supporters still in the ground.
I did not stay for the presentation as Jim and I left the ground before East Kilbride were handed the trophy. Jim headed for his car to get home and I walked home alongside the canal arriving back around 16.20. As I go off on holiday on Wednesday I don't know what I am going to do with no live football to watch until the pre-season friendlies start in early July. I suppose there is the Women's World Cup with a Scottish interest to watch on TV next month to fill part of the gap.
TeamsBoth sides sent out strong teams although it was surprising to be that Bonnyrigg started with Aaron Murrell on the bench, given his scoring record since joining the club. To be honest the first half was not the most exciting. Both sides took a cautious approach with the bulk of the play in midfield and defences dominating as the two teams tried to assess their opponents strengths and weaknesses. Neither goalkeeper was troubled until about five minutes before half-time when a cross field ball from Lee Currie found Dean Brett running into the penalty area in pursuit. East Kilbride keeper Willie Muir was quickly off his line and dived to collect the ball before Brett could make contact.Just before the halftime break a cross from East Kilbride's Cammy Russell found Ross McNeill unmarked in the penalty area. His header from around ten yards looked like a certain goal until Michael Andrews who had initially looked as if he was going to his left to collect the ball dived to his right and with one hand was able to push the ball out for a corner before it could cross the line. It was a save that had to be seen to be believed and if the match had been televised would have be shown many times.Photo below, taken from the Bonnyrigg web site, shows us sheltering from the rain during the first half.
At halftime the rain started to become heavier and we wandered round to the main stand. We took up position on the main concourse above the seated area in line with the goal Bonnyrigg would be attacking in the second half. The second half started with Alan Horne making a good run from midfield towards the East Kilbride goal. He hit a strong low shot from around twenty yards but his effort ended up going past Muir's left hand post. East Kilbride took the lead after seventy-five minutes when they were awarded a free-kick in the centre of the pitch around thirty-five yards from goal. Russell hit a fierce dipping shot which rebounded off the Bonnyrigg crossbar. East Kilbride full-back BJ Coll was first to react and dived to head home the rebound from around eight yards. Almost straight from the kick-off Bonnyrigg had a chance when Ross Gray was pulled back by Craig Howie around twenty-five yards from goal wide on the right and Bonnyrigg were awarded free-kick. The defender had already been booked and many referees would have given a second yellow card and subsequent red for the foul. However given the position where the foul occurred and no clear goal scoring opportunity being denied Craig Napier was content to give a final warning. Lee Currie took the kick and his ambitious attempt flew high over the crossbar. Minutes later Bonnyrigg had another opportunity when Gray was again fouled this time around twenty yards out and further infield. Currie took the kick again and hit a well-struck shot across goal and into the far corner of the net to draw the teams level. In eighty-two minutes East Kilbride went back into the lead. A low cross into the penalty area from Sean Winter was not cleared by the Bonnyrigg defence and the ball found its way to Coll at the far post around ten yards from goal. His low shot gave Andrews no chance. Bonnyrigg brought on attacking substitutes Murrell and Louis Swanson as they pushed for an equaliser. As the game moved into injury time the ball came to Keith Lough around fifteen yards from goal in the centre of the penalty area. As he tried to turn and shoot the ball appeared to take a deflection of a defenders arm and was cleared. Despite Bonnyrigg protests no penalty was awarded and I think that the decision was correct as with a gale now blowing it would be difficult to be certain than any handball was deliberate. Bonnyrigg were unhappy with the decision and Currie continued his protests to the referee on the halfway line. I don't know what he said but the referee was not happy and showed him a red card. As the midfielder walked of the pitch Brett confronted the referee to continue the protests and he also was shown a red card. The whistle blew shortly afterwards leaving East Kilbride as the cup winners. At the presentation ceremony the referee and linesmen were first to be presented with their medals to a chorus of boo's from the Bonnyrigg supporters still in the ground.
I did not stay for the presentation as Jim and I left the ground before East Kilbride were handed the trophy. Jim headed for his car to get home and I walked home alongside the canal arriving back around 16.20. As I go off on holiday on Wednesday I don't know what I am going to do with no live football to watch until the pre-season friendlies start in early July. I suppose there is the Women's World Cup with a Scottish interest to watch on TV next month to fill part of the gap.
East Kilbride: Muir, Stevenson, Coll, Howie, Reid, Holmes, Winter, Brady, McNeil, Russell, Woods.
Subs: Anderson, Longworth
Bonnyrigg Rose: Andrews, Brett, Brown, K.Young, Moyes, Martynuik, Horne, Stewart, Lough, Currie, Gray.
Subs: Swanson, Murrell.
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