REPORT BY JOHN GILMOUR OF THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS

In this the tie that neither side wanted, both teams live to battle it out in a couple of weeks’ time after a cracking Scottish Junior Cup contest packed with action, sending-offs and a last-minute goal to earn Bo’ness, who finished the game with nine men, a draw.

In front of a bumper crowd Bonnyrigg kicked off, with four key players out through suspension and injury, against a Bo’ness side brimming with confidence after a good run of games. But Bo’ness soon had Bonnyrigg on the back foot and had several chances to open their account in the opening 15 minutes.

However, on the half hour, very much against the run of play, Bonnyrigg took the lead with a well-worked set piece. Kevin McDonald took a corner from the left and sent over an inviting cross to David White who knocked the ball over the line through a ruck of players.

Again Bo’ness pressed but were guilty of missed chances again and they were made to pay for their misses in the 40th minute when Bonnyrigg grabbed a second. Liam McKenna was sent sprawling in the box by Scott Gibb but, amazingly, the referee blew for a free kick a couple of yards out outside the box. Gibb was booked and this was to prove crucial minutes later. Kris Renton stepped up and curled a cracker into the top corner.

Bo’ness pressed again and in the 43rd minute pulled a goal back with a fabulous strike from Darren Gribben. Former Hearts player Robert Sloan crossed from the right where Steven Hislop headed on to Gribben who controlled the ball with one foot, swivelled to his left, and slammed a spectacular volley past David Hay.

The game was living up to all the expectations with goals, and chances, and all it need now was a sending-off which duly arrived with a couple of minutes to go in the first half when Gibb was booked again for a handball.

It was an action-packed second half with both sides having chances to score again.

The referee then decided the game needed controlling and proceeded to book eight players in a contest without a dirty tackle. His far side assistant was just as busy calling him over if a player fell down.

Bonnyrigg were looking to run down time in a game where they never really stamped their authority. They were a goal up and down to the last couple of minutes when they ran out of luck. Bo’ness forced a corner in the last minute. Gribben sprinted over to take it from the left and crossed deep into the heart of the six-yard box where Stuart Hunter rose to power a header down into the corner of the net and earn Bo’ness the draw they deserved.

Bonnyrigg: Hay, Horne, Gray, White, Woodburn, Gemmell, McKenna (McGachie), McDonald, Renton, Grady (Manson), Roseburgh. Subs: Main, Archibald, Patarek.

Bo’ness: Peat, Snowdon, Devine (Miller), Gibb, Hunter, Nimmo (B Jaconelli), Walker, Sloan, Hislop, Donnelly (Scott), Gribben. Subs: T Jaconelli, Wallace.