26th February 2020 Edinburgh University 0 Bonnyrigg Rose 2

Not much choice today for the game of the day in Edinburgh. I decided on Edinburgh University  v Bonnyrigg Rose at East Peffermill. Bonnyrigg need six points to win the Lowland League and gain a place in the playoffs. With the kickoff at 15.00 I decided to walk to Peffermill and left home at 13.30. I arrived at the ground around 14.35 and showed my Fanbase electronic ticket for entry. I also purchased a programme for £2 on entry. The cafe was still closed due to Covid restrictions but there was a catering van offering filled rolls and hot drinks. However there was a long queue so I took a position against the fence to watch the teams warming up. 

The University are currently sixteenth on the Lowland League table. They have a fifteen and twenty one point lead over Gretna and Vale of Leithen below them and it would take an extraordinary sequence of results for them to be relegated. Despite their lowly position they have some excellent forwards in Patrick Baird, Innes Lawson and Ben Spelman although Spelman started today on the bench. Bonnyrigg were missing Dean Brett and George Hunter through injury. Scott Gray, normally an attacking midfielder, filled in from.Brett at wingback while Sean Brown came in for Hunter up front.  Brown joined Rose on loan from East Fife in January having been on loan at Spartans for the first half of the season. He scored regularly for Spartans so has a good record at Lowland League level. 

In windy conditions the game started as I expected with Rose having most of the possession but unable to create clear chances. Ross Gray created an earl chance with  pass across the edge off the penalty area to Lee Currie. His shot however was dragged wide of the post. As halftime approached Rose created a couple more clear chances.Ross Gray was sent in behind for a one-on-one and looked destined to score when he let fly with a fierce volley on the bounce, only for Buxton to provide a superb stop. Just before the interval Callum Connolly played in Bradley Barrett but again Buxton did well to block his shot. 

The second half began much rather same as the first with Bonnyrigg doing most of the attacking. Finally Rose went ahead in fifty-eight minutes. Neil Martynuik and Barrett broke down the left and the University defence moved across to the left to cover. The ball was switched to Currie who passed it across the penalty area to the unmarked Scott Gray. From the edge of the six yard box Gray shot past Buxton into the net. The second goal arrived minutes later with Scott Gray again involved, He went down the right and forced two defenders to come out to cover before cutting the ball back to Johnny Stewart on the touchline in line with the edge of the penalty area. Stewart’s cross found Connolly in the canter of the penalty area and he nodded the ball down for Barrett to volley home from about eight yards. Bonnyrigg were now well in control and made a number of substitutions to allow squad members some match time. Nathan Evans had a couple of chances but Buxton confirmed his Man if the Match status by blocking his efforts. 

The final whistle went and result means Bonnyrigg will qualify for the play-offs with a win against Cumbernauld Colts on Tuesday night. Unfortunately I cannot go as I have a prior engagement.  I left East Peffermill and caught a 14 bus back to the old Odeon and from there walked to Lauriston Place to catch a 27 hone, arriving at 17.40 to watch Manchester City of Sky.

Teams

Edinburgh University: Buxton, Murray, Condie, Bannon, Paton, Ainsley, Maskery, Dick, Trialist, Baird, Lawson

Subs: Koutalides, Spelman, McGuire

Bonnyrigg Rose: Andrews, S. Gray, Martynuik, Young, Connelly, Horne, R. Gary, Stewart, Brown, Currie, Barrett.

Subs: Turner, McGachie, Evans, Wilson