12th April 2022 The Spartans 1 Bonnyrigg Rose 4

 

Another visit to Ainslie park tonight for Spartans v Bonnyrigg in the South of  Scotland Calling Cup semi-final. With the lighter night now coming in I was gong to walk to the ground. However after a slighly earlier meal the rain was pouring down outside and I decided it would be better to take a bus. I walked to Tollcross to catch a 27 at 18.45 but soon realised this was a bad move. The bus took around twenty minutes to get from Forrest Road to Hanover Street, a distance I could walk in around ten minutes. With temporary lights, heavy traffic, other buses being diverted onto this route and the road narrow approaching the High Street the journey was a nightmare. I texted Jim and said i was running late and could he get me a programme if there was one being issued. As you can see from the picture he obliged. I arrived a Morrisons at Ferry Road around 19.25 and walked down the hill to Ainslie Park. My season ticket was valid, season ticket holders only have to pay for Scottish Cup tis at Spartans, and I was in the ground around 19.35. He gave my my programme and I gave him a copy of last weeks Edinburgh City issue as he had been on holiday in Italy. We stood chatting at the perimeter fence at the car end as the teams warmed up and Alex joined us just as they were going to kick-off. Sportingly Spartans formed a guard of honour as Bonnyrigg entered the field, acknowledging their status as Lowland league champions this season. 

Spartans were missing Ian McFarland, suspended, and Cammy Russell, out with concussion, in addition to long term absentees Euan Smith, Aaron Murrell and Mikey Allan. Calum Burns came into central defence with Alan Brown, wearing number eight, at left-back. Sam Newman moved into Russell's wide left attacking role in midfield. Bonnyrigg made a number of changes from Saturday's title celebration side. Sean Brown having played for Spartans earlier in the competition was cup-tied and manager Robbie Horn was keen to rotate his side ahead of the upcoming play-off fixtures. Bob Wilson came into central defence with Lewis Turner in a wide right attacking role. Up front Kieran Hall partnered George Hunter. 

Th train was getting heavier as the match kicked-off but as the stand was almost full and Jim had a large golf umbrella we decide to stay at the perimeter fence. Bonnyrigg started well and opened the scoring in two minutes. Hunter made a run into the right of the penalty area and cut the ball across goal. From where I was standing at the other end of the ground it looked as if goalkeeper Jack Newman could have got down to intercept the pass. However he missed it and the ball ran to Bradley Barrett to shoot into an empty net. The rain was not help the condition of the pitch and Hunter slipped and fell after another run into the area. The referee thought otherwise and booked the forward for diving. How he would dive when there as no-one within a yard of him is beyond my comprehension. Spartans were pressing for an equaliser with Craig Brown having couple of attempts comfortably saved by Mikey Andrews in the Bonnyrigg goal. Bonnyrigg scored a second in forty-two minutes. Wing-back Scott Gray broke down the right and sent over a perfect cross for Keiran Hall to head home. 

The second half started with the rain till teeming down and Bonnyrigg had an lucky escape after fifty-one minutes. Keeper Andrews slipped when taking a touch on a pass and Blair Henderson pounced on the ball. His shot from about eight yards cannoned off the post and Andrews was able to grab the rebound. Two minutes later Henderson hit the other post. After a flowing move down the left Henderson fired in a shot from the edge of the penalty area which hit the woodwork and cannoned away to safety. Bonnyrigg decided enough was enough and scored a third on the hour mark. Again the Gray/Hall partnership was involved with the former sending a low cross across the six yard box from the right and the striker sliding in to net at the far post. They then scored a fourth in seventy-eight minutes after winning a corner on the right. Lee Currie passed the ball to Barrett lurking on the edge of the penalty area and his low shot gave Newman no chance of making a save. There was a strange incident shortly afterwards when Spartans Mikey Herd and Barrett clashed near the touchline. Barrett went down holding his face after what looked like an accidental poke in the eye from Herd. The referee blew his whistle to stop play and Herd shouted -‘you can’t stop play it’s not a head injury’.after Barrett recovered play restarted with a free-kick to Bonnyrigg for, I presume, dangerous play. Jamie Dishington then scored an excellent individual goal in eighty-eight minutes to give Spartans a consolation. He cut in from the right and beat two defenders before firing high into the net past Andrews from about ten yards. The final whistle came shortly afterwards with Bonnyrigg now having a chance to lift a second trophy this season.

After the final whistle we walked towards the leisure centre where I left Jim and Alex to head up the steps towards Ferry Road. As usual I has just missed a 27 so rather than wait fourteen minutes I walked to Crewe Toll. I caught a 29 there to Princes Street then hopped on a 10 and after a short walk I was one at 2220 after a decent nights entertainment. 

Teams

Spartans: J. Newman, Herd, S. Newman, Waugh, Burns, C. Brown, Dishington, A. Brown, Henderson, Maxwell, Whyte

Subs: Jones, Caves, A. Smith

Bonnyrigg Rose: Andrews, S. Gray, Martyniuk, Young, Wilson, Connolly, Turner, Hunter, Hall, Currie, Barrett.

Subs: Evans, Brett, McGachie.