Hearts were up at Aberdeen today and I did not fancy the journey so decided to head to Bonnyrigg today. Scotland were playing Italy at Murrayfield today so buses were diverted at Haymarket, I walked from Haymarket to West Maitland Street and caught a 3 to Minto Street. After a short wait the diverted 31 arrived and I took it on to Bonnyrigg. I normally get off the 31 before the traffic lights at Bonnyrigg Toll but d chided to take it on till the next stop which is outside the ground. Bad mistake as it took three attempts for the bus to get through the lights and people who had got off at the previous stop arrived at the grounds before me. I paid my £7 entry and purchased a programme for £2. I saw Jim standing at a barrier on the grassy slope so walked over to join him. He had been at Tynecastle v Sauchie last night and with two sendings off and five goals it looked like I had missed a good game.
Bonnyrigg started todays game at the foot of League Two equal on points with Albion Rovers who have a game in hand. After a defeat last week at Stirling Albion who won 2-1 with an injury time winner Bonnyrigg needed a win today. Manager Robbie Horn made three changes for todays match. Robbie McGale, Aaron Arnott and Zander Murray dropped out with Dean Brett, Ross Gray and Kieran Mitchell moving into the starting eleven. East Fife are currently in a play-off position, currently standing fourth in the league table. However the league is very right and East Fife need to continue to pick up points to maintain their position. Their side included Ryan Schiavone, a former Hearts youth player, who was freed at the end of last season and Aidan Denholm who is on loan from Hearts. Denholm is one of the five younger Hearts players who have told they will not be getting a new contract at the end of the season. The loan move gives him an opportunity to impress other clubs with a view to.continuing his football career,
While East Fife had most of the early possession they were unable to test Paddy Martin in the Bonnyrigg. The first real chance came when Roses’ Alieu Faye allowed a throw-in to run across his body before shooting towards the goal. East Fife keeper Allan Fleming did. Well to get down and push the ball away for a corner. Shortly after Mitchell forced Fleming into a poor clearance from his penalty area. Faye tried a shot from just inside the Fife half which flew over the bar with Fleming stranded in the middle of the penalty area. Fleming then made another excellent save just before half-time when he pushed away a shot from Gray before Connolly volleyed wide of the goal.
The second half started quietly until EastFife went ahead in fifty-seven minutes. Alan Trouten, on the left of the penalty area, had a shot blocked by Josh Grigor. The striker gathered the rebound and jink round a couple of defenders before curling the ball across goal in the top corner giving Martin no chance. Rose then brought on Kieran McGachie to replace Faye. McGachie may not be the most skilful player but he puts himself about and rumbles up defenders. Fleming made an excellent save from a McGachie header before pushing a shot from another substitute, Zander Murray, over the bar. With fifteen minutes to go Bonnyrigg equalised. A Currie corner was headed in at the edge of the six yard box by Connolly. Rose continued to press with McGachie prominent but were unable grab another goal. The final whistle sounded giving each side a pint. This was a better result for East Fife than Bonnyrigg given that Albion Rovers had won 5-1 at Dumbarton.
After the game Jim gave me a lift back into Edinburgh. He dropped me off at Tollcross and Oveas home by 17.30. I was hoping to go and watch Musselburgh in another ground-hop game atv19.45 but after having something to eat was too late to catch a bus to Musselburgh. I ended up watching my recording of the second half of the rugby international. Blair Knghorn who played in the Hearts Academy scored a hat-trick of tries for Scotland.
Bonnyrigg Rose: Martin, Brett, Doan, Young, Grigor, Horne, R. Gray, Connolly, Faye, Currie, Mitchell.
Subs: McGachie, Murray, Rodden, Arnott.
East Fife: Fleming, Steele, Newton, McManus, Murdoch, Dunham, Walls, Schiavone, Trouten, Ferguson, Shepherd.
Subs: Denholm, Young.
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