Bonnyrigg consolidated their position at the top of the East Region SuperLeague with a convincing performance against St Andrews Utd yesterday, who had taken all three points in the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season.

With the Rose defending the Dundas St end in the first half, they had the lions share of the possession in the opening period without carving out any clear cut chances. Their first opportunity came on 20 minutes when McGachie was put through with only the keeper to beat. He squared it to McIntosh who tapped it into the empty net but the referee's assistant flag was raised for offside. 2 minutes later Bonnyrigg again thought they had taken the lead through a McIntosh eader from a Turner corner but referee Duncan Smith appeared to see an infringement in the box and the goal was disallowed. On 27 minutes it was third time lucky for the prolific frontman when a quick free quick found Scott Gray in the box, who rolled a pass out to Adam Nelson and his pinpoint cross from the left was headed into the net by Wayne McIntosh. Four minutes later Bonnyrigg doubled their lead when a high ball was well controlled by Kieran McGachie and he turned and shot low to the keeper's right in one movement. The assistant had again raised his flag for offside but after a consultation with the referee the goal stood despite protests from the Saints players.
Bonnyrigg went three up on thirty eight minutes through some great interplay between Gray and Turner on the right, with the former crossing into the box where it was bundled over the line by McIntosh at the second attempt. The score line remained the same for the opening half.
The healthy home support only had to wait for three minutes into the second half for Bonnyrigg's fourth. A mistake in the Saints defence meant the ball landed at McGachie's feet and the big striker coolly rounded the keeper and pass the ball into the net. This essentially killed off any hopes of a Saints comeback and the game understandably went flat for the next fifteen minutes. Robbie Hirn then rang the changes on 65 minutes with Stewart and Nelson replaced by Horne and McLaren. Three minutes later Rose were five ahead. McGachie controlled the ball well in the box with his back to goal and laid off to McIntosh, who in turn squared it to Scott Gray who unleashed a low drive which the keeper failed to keep out. Bonnyrigg's final substitution came shortly after with Ruairidh Donaldson making way for Ross Drummond.
Bonnyrigg made it six on 81 minutes when Gray played a great ball from left to right which allowed Fraser McLaren to break down the right hand side. Instead of shooting himself he unselfishly squared the ball past the onrushing keeper to Wayne McIntosh to tap into the empty net for his hat-trick.
Rose and McIntosh weren't done yet however and on 88 minutes he scored with an overhead kick, much to the raptures of the home support. Saints did have one effort of note before full time. Sibanda broke the offside trap and placed his shot well but Michael Andrews also did well to stand up well and deflect his effort with his left hand for a corner.
Bonnyrigg played well from start to finish and the players energy levels rarely dropped during the 90 minutes, despite the result being never in doubt long before that. Next up for the Rose is a visit to Newtown Park to face Bo'ness Utd on the 19th, 2:30 p.m. kick off.