2nd September 2023 Bonnyrigg Rose 5 Elgin City 1
With Hearts match being moved to Sunday to accommodate Thursdays 4-0 defeat in Greece I had a wide choice off matches to attend today. With the match kicking off at 15.00 I walked down tonHaymarket to catch the 13.45 bus to Bonnyrigg. The bus was was diverted due to roadworks for the new cycle way and thankfully it stopped at the lights at Lansdowne Crescent allowing me time to get across the road and catch it at the stop. The bus was heading to Poltonhall so I got off in Dobbie’s Road around 14.30 and walked back to thr ground. I paid my £9 admission and spent a further £2 on a programme. As the sun was shining I headed to the grassy uncovered side of the ground and took up a position against a crush barrier. There was a minutes silence before the kickoff in memory of Archie Young who played in Bonnyrigg team that won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1966. No-one has played more matches for Bonnyrigg and he died last week aged 90.
Rose have started the season well and currently have eight points from their first four games. They have made a number of changes to their squad with Dean Brett, Alan Horne, Scott Gray and Mark Weir all moving on. However they have brought in a number of younger players such as Angus Mailer, Reis Peggie, Robbie McGale, Jason Jarvis and Dean Watson. The youthful injection seems to be working thus far and hopefully will continue throughout the season. City player-manager Ross Draper has kept with the nucleus of the side that finished in ninth place last season, with the Ex ICT & Ross County midfielder using his network in the north of Scotland with five of his seven new signings brought in on loan (2 from Aberdeen and 3 from Ross County). One notable departure from last season’s squad is prolific marksman Kane Hester, who moved to League 1 side Montrose in the close season. Like many fixtures in the league this season, City’s opening four fixtures have all been tight affairs, with two draws and two defeats by the odd goal and will be bolstered by a point at home to who many had seen as pre-season favourites East Fife last Saturday.
To be honest the first half hour or so of the matches not that great. There was little goalmouth action as both sides struggled to gain control. This however changed after forty minutes when Rose won a corner on the left. Lee Currie took the kick but instead of his normal accurate delivery into the goalmouth he passed the ball low towards the penalty area. Neil Matynuik was rushing into the box but was fouled by Elgin's Nathan Cooney about twelve yards from the goal-line on the left. Referee Scott Lambie had no hesitation in awarding a penalty and Martynuik got up and shot into the corner of the net to put Bonnyrigg ahead. Three minutes later Bonnyrigg scored a second. Elgin keeper Tommy McHale mishit an attempted clearance and Smart Osadolor had a shot blocked, follow-ups from Ross Gary and Currie were also blocked at the expense of a corner. Again Currie took the kick and this time directed the ball to the centre of the goal around the edge of the six yard box. Josh Grigor jumped well to head the ball into the top of the goal net for a 2-0 halftime lead.
During the break I treated myself to a steak and haggis pie and a Diet Coke. It cost £4.50 while at Tynecastle it would have probably been around £6. Elgin brought on Mitch Taylor and Ben Barron at halftime. The Rose however seemed undeterred as they started the second period in much the same vein as they finished the first and made it three with just three minutes on the clock. Reis Peggie ran onto a pass from Alieu Faye on the left. The fullback looked up and from around twenty five yards shot across goal into the far corner of the net for his first Bonnyrigg goal. A minute later Bonnyrigg went four up when Osadolor robbed Rory McEwan around thirty yards from goal. The forward raced towards the penalty area and slotted the ball low passed McHale from the edge of the box. With a four goal lead Bonnyrigg ere happy to play out time and made number of substitutions with Currie, Gray, Peggie and Osadolor being replaced by Calum Connolly, Conor Doan, Bradley Barrett and Dean Watson. Elgin however pulled a goal back after seventy-four minutes when Ross Dingwall was fouled by Robbie McGale in the penalty area. To me it seemed like a needless foul as Dingwall was heading away from goal and out of the box. Dingwall took the kick himself and gave Paddy Martin no chance with a fine shot. Rose brought on Zander Miller as their final substitute and he created the final goal in injury time when he raced into the penalty box and was pulled back by a defender as he prepared to shoot. Martynuik again took the kick and again fired the ball past McHale for a 5-1 victory and three points for Bonnyrigg. The win put Bonnyrigg top of League two on goal difference ahead of Dumbarton and Stranraer on goal difference with all three on eleven points.
After the final whistle I walked to Bonnyrigg High Street and caught a 31 bus back into town at 17.07. I got off at Surgeons Hall and jumped onto a 2 to Fountainbridge arriving home at 18.00 after a good day out.
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