Goals from Roseburgh, Manson and ex Musselburgh player Renton ensured it was two home league wins in as many weeks for the Rose.

The game went ahead despite the heavy rain which had fallen over the preceding days, and it is a testament to the work carried out on the pitch during the close season.
With the Rose defending the Dundas St end in the first half the opening chance fell to Myles after a ball played through the middle but Hay came out quickly to save with his feet and snuff out the danger.

On the half hour mark Bonnyrigg went one up. An Archibald cross from his right into the box is headed clear by the Musselburgh defence, only into the path of Liam Mckenna who catches the volley flush and his shot cracks off the crossbar. The resulting rebound falls to Roseburgh outside the box and does well to keep the volley down and score.

With the remainder of the half played out largely in midfield the team talk from both managers must have had an effect as both teams upped the tempo immediately at the start of the second half.

In an end-to-end three minute period five minutes into the second half a free kick from the right whipped into the box by Musselburgh’s Mckenna evades everyone where all it needed was the faintest of touches for the equaliser. A quick attack from the Rose followed and a Grady cross goes behind the advancing Manson, with Currie following up but his volley went over the bar. It was Musselburgh’s turn to cross into the box, which was controlled close to the goal line by Archibald and despite the protests of the Musselburgh players and management that he had used his hand the ref waved play on.

It was a day for players to stay on their feet due to the conditions and a meaty looking challenge from Hunter in the Rose box warranted a second yellow card in the ref’s opinions and he was duly sent off.

Shortly afterwards Davy McGlynn takes Myles off for ex Rose player Stevie Thompson in order to take something from the game but the gaps started to appear due to being one man short.

Stephen Manson was finding a lot of space down his left flank and it was on one of his runs on seventy one minutes that the Rose double their lead. He picked up the ball on halfway and made a beeline for goal. With the defenders backing off he continued and ran into traffic but an error by Murray gave it back to him and he drilled a shot low and found the back of the net.
Musselburgh did have a chance shortly afterwards with the impressive Mckenna shooting just inside the box but was saved well by Hay.

With fifteen minutes to go the Rose made a couple of changes with Gray and Renton on for Roseburgh and Currie.

Five minutes later Bonnyrigg were three up, with Manson again driving towards goal, his shot well blocked by keeper but Renton picked up the rebound, turned and shot left footed low to Adams’ right.

Bonnyrigg: Hay, Horne, White, Woodburn, Archibald, Roseburgh,(Gray),Gemmill, Manson, McKenna, Currie (Renton),Grady, Subs not used: Patarek, McDonald, McGachie

Musselburgh Athletic: Adams, Myles, Murray, Hamilton, Miller, Hunter, McKenna, Turner, Harvey, King, Martin Subs: S.Thomson, Moffatt, C. Thomson, Sinclair, Cornet

HT 1-0 FT 3-0