Brilliant Rose Just Fail to Topple Battling Dumbarton

A fine performance by Bonnyrigg Rose saw them just fail to overcome a competent Dumbarton team - despite always looking the more likely to grab a winning goal. The home side, who were given little chance by the bookies, played with style and energy and created a number of good chances which they just couldn't convert and, with Martin  in the visitors goal in inspired form, they were denied the winner their play deserved.

Dumbarton arrived at New Dundas Park as overwhelming favourites with the bookmakers to advance to the fourth round of this season's Scottish Cup. However the Championship side have only two league wins to their name this season and sit one off the foot of the table. Bonnyrigg on the other hand, have taken the scalps of Scottish Highland Football League sides Turriff United and last season's champions, Cove Rangers in the last two rounds. The "Rose" are bang in contention in the McBookie.com East Super League - which they won last season.

Bonnyrigg did incredibly well to get this fixture on after a week of extremely low temperatures and it was thanks to volunteers who helped cover, then remove the covers from the pitch that the game could go ahead. Rose were rewarded with a bumper crowd of over 1500 with so many other games being cancelled, and on an excellent winter's afternoon there was a great atmosphere in the ground with the huge crowd tightly packed in. 

Rose started well and won an early corner before Dumbarton's Stirling's run on the left ended with a dangerous cross. The home side have a number of tall players in their ranks and in Nelson have a dead ball expert who is adept at finding them at set pieces. After eight minutes, Nelson did just that. He found Hoskins with a free kick but the centre back headed over. A minute later the same pair combined from a smartly taken short free kick but Hoskins couldn't deliver a cross. 

Stevenson then delivered a good cross at the other end but neither keeper had been troubled. That changed in Rose's next attack. Nelsons's cross wasn't cleared properly and when the ball broke to Young, his terrific shot was brilliantly stopped by Martin. 

Rose were now starting to dominate the game and increasingly pushing the visitors back and it wasn't obvious that the teams played at vastly different levels in the game. 

Half way through the half, the outstanding Donaldson tried his luck from range but his effort from 22 yards was over. When Dumbarton found themselves going forward they were susceptible to Rose's quick counter attacks. In one of these breaks,  fine interplay amongst , Kidd, McGachie and Turner nearly created a chance. 

With twenty five minutes gone, Nelson again found Hoskins with a pinpoint freekick but again his header went wide. 

At the other end Hoskins was again involved. His back header was short and only a fine double stop from Andrews kept McCallum from giving the visitors an undeserved opener. 

With the half hour approaching, Turner created for Kidd but the tall midfielder side footed the chance wide. McGachie then had a half chance but Pettigrew's fine tackle saved the day. 

Dumbarton were coming more into the game as the break approached and an Andrews redeemed himself at the second attempt after an error. 

It was an entertaining first forty five minutes with Rose passing the ball well and delivering chances from set pieces. Dumbarton were hanging on a little and carrying little threat in front of goal with Young and Hoskins solid at the back. 

Half Time-  Bonnyrigg Rose 0; Dumbarton 0

No changes at the break and Rose, now kicking up the slope were straight into the attack. Macintosh created a shooting chance for Young but it was wide. Dumbarton's first effort of the half was a Stevenson free kick which went wide. 

With fifty three minutes gone, McIntosh had a great chance but he was ruled offside when Hoskins headed a Nelson free kick back across goal to him. With fifty five minutes gone, Kidd threw himself at a cross from Turner but to no avail. 

Dumbarton's Stirling had a chance from a header but didn't trouble Andrews. 

Rose looked certain to score after fifty eight minutes, but Martin pulled off a fabulous stop from a McIntosh close range header from yet another excellent Nelson cross. 

Dumbarton made their first change but Rose were the dominant force now and Dumbarton were in little evidence as an attacking force. After sixty eight minutes, Horne found McGachie who laid it back for Nelson but his shot went over. 

Nelson had another effort with thirteen minutes left,  but his effort was again well saved by Martin. 

The game was quite open now with both teams bringing on fresh legs and Andrews did well to touch a Barr header over. 

With six minutes left Turner did brilliantly to win the ball in midfield and fed in McIntosh but last season's leading scorer shot wide. 

Dumbarton seemed to have settled for the draw and they stood firm at the back as Rose ran out of ideas late on. 

This was a splendid performance from the Junior side with every player performing at the top of their form. Special mention for Young and Donaldson but it was a superb team performance. Dumbarton were disappointing for a Championship side but organised and hard working - they simply had no cutting edge. Best for them were the outstanding Martin in goal and Stirling on the left. 

The referee Mr Finnie and his team worked well and let the game flow using the advantage rule cleverly. 

At the time of writing the replay is yet to be arranged but Bonnyrigg still have a real chance to do the Junior game proud!!!!

Full time Bonnyrigg Rose0; Dumbarton 0 

Teams
Bonnyrigg Rose

Andrews, Horne, Donaldson,Stewart, Hoskins, Young, Turner, Kidd, McGachie, Nelson and McIntosh Subs Moyes, Gray, McLaren, Archibald and Rooney 

Dumbarton 

Martin, Smith, Barr, Buchanan, Smith, Docherty, Stirling, Todd, Stevenson , Fleming and McCallum Subs Thomson, Lyden, Wright, Ewings and Crawford

Referee

Stephen Finnie

Assistant referees 

David McKniff
Alan Mulvanny 

Attendance 1552

Gordon Baird 

Neutral Reporter