30th October 2012 Bonnyrigg Rose 3. Civil Service Strollers 0

After the miserable weather over the past couple of days this match was subject to a 9.00am pitch inspection. I did not have much hope about the game going ahead but surprisingly the pitch passsed the referees inspection. I left home around 13.15 to catch the 13.30 31 bus out to Bonnyrigg. However I had forgotten that the Scotland v Tonga rugby international was on today and buses coming in past Murrayfield Stadium were delayed by the crowds in the area. The bus eventually arrived at around 13.45 with an expected journey time of just under an hour. Surprisingly the bus made up some time on the journey out and I got off in Bonnyrigg around 13. I had a short walk to the ground and paid my £4 concession admission charge before taking a stance in the covered enclosure, No programmes were available today as Bonnyrigg thought the game would be called off due to the weather forecast and did not want to have the expense of a print run. With the weather now looking fine I wandered across to the uncovered embankment to stand in the autumn sunshine  watch the match.

This was a top of the table clash in the Lowland League with top of the table Bonnyrigg against third place Civil Service Strollers (CSS). Bonnyrigg were without the suspended Lee Currie but otherwise a full strength. CSS  managed but former Edinburgh City boss Gary Jardine have a young side but have thus far exceeded expectations in the league. Jardine’s assistant is former Edinburgh City centre-half Joe Mbu, whose size is enough to intimidate most opposition players never mind his own players. 

CSS started the game well and after a slip by Alan Horne in the Bonnyrigg defence forced Rose keeper Mikey Andrews into action. Andrews blocked two shots before a third effort was cleared near the goal-line by Dean Brett to prevent CSS going ahead. Bonnyrigg seemed to be playing a log-ball game, punting the ball upfield for Kieran McGachie to flick on but the CSS defence held firm. When Rose finally tried some link up play George Hunter and McGachie played a one-two just outside the penalty box before sending Lewis Turner through on goal. CSS keeper Mac Whyte got down well to push his shot away for a corner. In the absence of the suspended Currie Neil Matynuik was charged with taking corners from the right. From his cross Callum Connolly had a header pushed away by Whyte before the ball was cleared. There was a strange incident just before halftime after an arial clash between McGachie and CSS central defence Mark McConnell just inside the CSS half. The defender went down injured and the referee stopped play to wave on the physio. McConnell then got up before the physio entered he pitch but was then told by the referee that he had to leave the field to have a blood injury treated. Jardine on the CSS bench was not happy as his side had to play with ten men until the bleeding had stopped.

The second half started much as the first wth CSS playing the better football. A long ball from Jordan Fairley sent Andrew Johnston through on goal on the left. He cut inside but the diving Andrews got down well to push his shot away for a fruitless corner. Connolly had to leave the field injured after the hour mark and was replaced by Scott Gary  with his brother Ross replacing Lewis Turner shortly after. The changes seemed to bring Rose to life and they finally went ahead after seventy-three minutes. McGachie made a run to the near post to meet a Brett corner and his flicked header gave Whyte no chance of making a save. Rose then replaced top scorer George Hunter with Keiran Hall as they went for a clinching goal. Rose scored a second in eighty-five minutes when the ball broke to Brad Barrett on the left inside the penalty area. His low cross was met by McGachie who shot home low into the net. 2-0 was tough on CSS given the way they had played but things got worse in the last minute. A corner from Martynuik was flicked home by substitute Hall in almost a cabin copy, albeit from the other side of the pitch of McGachie's first. I wandered round to the exit as the game drew to a case here I met ex-work colleague Steve. We both agreed that 3-0 was a harsh score against a good CSS side. I later found out th McGacgies two goals gave him one hundred strikes for the Rose, a good strike rate in two hundred and twenty-nine games. 

After the final whistle I walked back up to Bonnyrigg Toll to catch a bus back into town. I caught a 31 after a short wait but as the route was being diverted due to the rugby international I got off at Bernard Terrace and walked home from there, getting home around 17.50 after a good day out.

Teams

Bonnyrigg Rose: Andrews, Brett, Martynuik, Yound, Connolly, Horne, Turner, Stewart, McGachie, Hunter, Barrett.

Subs: S. Gray, R. Gray, Hall

Civil Service Strollers: Whyte, Irving, Failed, Brydon, McConnell, Duffy, Young, Balde, Valentine, Cole, Johnston.

Subs. Makovora, Faye.