9th August 2022 Bonnyrigg Rose 0 Livingston B 0 Livingston won 3-1on penalties

 

Tuesday night and the first round of the SPFL Challenge Trophy. This is the round where SPL ‘B’ take part and I decided to head out to Bonnyrigg to watch the SPFL newcomers against the Livingston B side. I wandered down to Haymarket around 18.30 to catch a 31 bus to Bonnyrigg. A 31 to. Bonnyrigg arrived at the same time as one to Polton Mill and I caught the Polton Mill bus having just missed the Bonnyrigg bus. With the two buses continually passing each other the journey was quicker than normal and I arrived in Bonnyrigg around 19.15. I arrived at the ground minutes later and paid my £5 entry charge. Surprisingly there were no programmes available for the game tonight. I wandered round to the grassy embankment and took up a position against a barrier near the goal line. 

Robbie Horn made eight changes for the first round clash following Saturday’s league victory over East Fife – with the standout rotations being Mikey Andrews starting in goal, Zach Khan making his first ever competitive Rose start and the full return of Lee Currie following his recovery from a hernia injury.

As expected against a youthful Livi outfit, Rose started strong as the first of many chances fell to Kieran Hall inside three minutes. Khan, eager to express himself, burst down the left flank and picked out Keiran McGachie in the mixer, with the big man able to knock the ball into Hall’s path. Unfortunately, our Geordie frontman blasted over from close range under heavy pressure.After fifteen minutes of more half chances, Brett broke into the Livi penalty area and was clumsily brought down. Sensing an opportunity to net two goals in two games, Deano stepped up to the spot but was thwarted when Russian ‘keeper Ivan Konovalov got down quick to save his low spot kick.

The second half got underway and the 600-plus Rose fans in attendance were excited at the prospect of goals flying in once the deadlock was finally broken.

A dangerous McGachie cutback was cleared away before a simple tap-in could occur. McGachie stabbed the ball wide following some excellent play from Young. Young then tested Konovalov himself at his front post but a strong stop kept the score level. Hall headed over from close range. Currie’s ferocious strike across goal was headed on by Hall but the ball zipped just wide of the far post. Scott Gray, brought on alongside his brother Ross to freshen things up, skipped past Che Reilly but after taking aim at goal was denied by another stop from Konovalov. Less than a minute later, McGachie did fantastically well to twist his body enough to get on the end of a Turner ball into the mixer, but his header whizzed over the bar. Off the bench, Neil Martyniuk gave the experienced Livi ‘keeper his umpteenth test of the tie with a powerful lashed effort, before Scott Gray cut inside from the right flank and let off a fierce left-footed strike destined for the goal, only to be denied by another top stop from Konovalov.

Young fired agonisingly wide from inside the area with five minutes to go, before a flurry of half-chances and a late, late penalty shout following a clattering handed out to McGachie by an over-exuberant Konovalov rounded out 99 minutes of goalless action.

With the score incredibly still level – despite Rose leading the young visitors 27 to 2 on the shot count – the tie headed to penalties. An eager NPD crowd, no longer bathed in sunshine but rather watching on under the floodlights, were hoping for our penalty maestros to finish the tough tie off. I thought the game was going to extra time so headed of the catch a bus back into town. Unfortunately the match went direct to penalties and I missed the conclusion. 

Martyniuk and Currie both had their penalty kicks saved well by Konovalov, before Turner smashed his home to give the Rose a chance – as Livi had coolly netted all three of their own up to this point. A further lifeline was handed out as Michael Aitken missed his spot kick for the visitors but Doan was unable to convert his either. Rose 1, Livi 3.