Match Report Bonnyrigg Rose v Spartans FC 05/03/2024

Match Report written by Harry Robertson

Three changes were made by the manager for the line-up from the weekend game against Stenhousemuir, Sam Gormley comes into the team for his first start for the Rose after Kerr Young suffered an injury in the previous fixture. Conor Doan fills in at left back and Callum Connolly back in the midfield. In the very recent last meeting between the two it ended 2-1 to Spartans.

The game gets off to a quick start with chances for both teams within the first twenty minutes. Bonnyrigg’s first chance comes from a lovely ball played into the box by Aaron Dunsmore, which is met by Dean Watson’s head, but it goes just wide of the target. The Rose then have two more good efforts from Dean Watson and Lee Currie, however both strikes miss the target.

Spartans went ahead after 20 minutes after the ball pin-balls around the box it fell to Marc McNulty who slotted it past Paddy Martin’s near post and the away team go ahead.

Keiran McGachie gets an equaliser for Bonnyrigg before the break, the ball is played through to him making it a short race with Blair Carswell from his goal. McGachie gets his foot to it and chips it over the keeper and into the net to level the game.

The start to the second half was not what the Rose were hoping for, a challenge goes in within the penalty area which is given and Blair Henderson converts to put his team back ahead in the 50th minute.

Bonnyrigg make three changes after the hour as Jonny Stewart, Dean Watson and Aaron Dunsmore come off for Ross Gray, Bradley Barrett and Declan Byrne.

Neither team trouble each other for some time and the game goes a bit stagnant. But, in the 85th minute, the frustration is shown by Neil Martyniuk who put a strong challenge in on Cammy Russell and is shown a straight red card by the referee, putting the home side down to 10 men with 5 minutes to go.

Bonnyrigg respond, putting pressure on Spartans in the last minute of the game with two corners which they looked to attack. The second corner is cleared then put back into the box towards Bradley Barrett who gets a boot to the head when attempting to play the ball. The referee gave a penalty with 90 minutes on the clock. Declan Byrne stepped up to the spot and scored in the dying seconds of the game to make it 2-2, gaining his first goal for the club.

A point for Bonnyrigg put them one behind Forfar and in 7th place. They play Elgin City away at the weekend and look to get all three points from the fixture with the Rose fans right behind them.