Rampant Rose a Step Nearer Title

A dominant Bonnyrigg Rose cruised past Newtongrange Star in a tame encounter at New Victoria Park. Goals in each half from MCINTOSH and MCGACHIE were no more than the visitors deserved from a fairly one sided encounter. It was a game of few chances but a game where Rose had the bulk of the possession and always looked the likely winners.


Championship chasing Bonnyrigg Rose could hardly have picked a worse time to visit local rivals Newtongrange Star. The New Victoria Park side have only lost one of their last seven at home and knocked the visitors out of the a East of Scotland Cup at this venue two weeks ago. Both sides had good wins at the weekend - Star away at Bo'ness United and Rose at Dundonald in the Fife and Lothians Cup. Star sit comfortably in the top half of the table but Rose are in pole position to lift the Championship - although a win was crucial to their challenge. 

The game started slowly and there was ten minutes on the clock before the first real chance came. The Star keeper miskicked a pass back straight to Turner, but Dunn was in quickly with the block. From the resultant corner the ball eventually fell to Turner again and he volleyed well over.
After a quarter of an hour Hoskins found McLaren with a pass but the front man shot just wide from a good position.

With twenty minute played, the industrious Turner set up a shooting chance but Nelson's effort was too deliberate and went wide of the far post.

There was fully twenty one minutes played before the home side threatened. A good run by Morris presented Kris Renton with the chance of a snap shot, but it went wide. 

Bonnyrigg has most of the play and Hoskins sent a free kick straight at Renton half way through the half. Hoskins sent in a rasping effort minutes later after a Nelson free kick had been partially cleared - the ball stinging the hands of the Star keeper.

Just when the visitors thought they would have nothing to show for their domination of the first 45 minutes they scored a fine goal. Rose won a free kick in the centre circle and when the ball was flighted in McGachie headed it back across goal where MCINTOSH was there to bullet home a header.

No more than Rose deserved but disappointing for Star who had frustrated them up until that point.

Half Time Newtongrange Star 0; Bonnyrigg Rose 1

Star started the second period on the front foot and Thomson created something for Morris but he took too long to get his effort away. Cropley then put an effort wide.

However, normal service was resumed and Rose began to control the game again. McGachie has a shooting chance but missed his kick, before the same player shot over just before the hour. Minutes later McGachie was involved again but McIntosh's effort was wide.

In a rare Star attack Mortis had a chance after Dunn and Renton combined well,  but didn't test Andrews in the Rose goal.

With quarter of an hour left, Rose's sub Gray might have scored with his first touch but failed to hit the target.

The game continued in the same manner with Rose dominating possession and it came as no surprise when they added a second after 80 minutes. Nelson struck a free kick from twenty five yards which Renton couldn't hold and MCGACHIE netted the rebound.

With ninety minutes, played Andrews was called into action by a Thomson shot and a late flurry from the home team but Rose cruised to a comfortable win.

This was an accomplished performance by Rose who had no failures on the night. A solid back five which offered up nothing to Renton up front. Turner, as ever, put in a wholehearted display but McGachie led the line brilliantly and was man of the match. Star were beaten by the better side on the night. They gave little away at the back but created very few chances up front.

Rose host Hill of Beath Hawthorn on Saturday as they move towards a championship - only Kelty Hearts look like they have any chance of catching them. Next Tuesday Rose visit South Division champions Tranent in the Fife and Lothians Quarter Final. Star host Camelon on Saturday and visit Broxburn on Monday night.

Full Time Newtongrange Star 0 ; Bonnyrigg Rose 2

Teams
Newtongrange Star
Keiron Renton, Thomson, Deland, Dunn, Tolmie, Tulloch, Morris, Cherrie, Kris Renton, Cropley and Noble Subs Wilson, Cultress

Bonnyrigg Rose
Andrews, Horne, Hoskins, Stewart, Moyes, Young, McLaren, Turner, McGachie, Nelson and McIntosh Subs  Gray , Kidd, Tobin, Drummond

Referee

Stewart Luke, Assistants  Blair White and Emma Hingant


Gordon Baird
Neutral  Reporter