League match day 6 sees the Rose return to home soil and play hosts to first time visitors (in a competitive fixture) Tynecastle FC. The away side have moved this season into a groundshare arrangement with Boroughmuir rugby club to the very impressive Meegetland complex from Saughton, who they shared with fellow Conference B side Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale previously. This season also marked the first time that they competed in the Scottish Cup (which gave some of us a chance to take in their new surroundings), bowing out at the first preliminary round stage to Shortlees AFC, who visited New Dundas Park in the second preliminary round. They have progressed to round three like ourselves in the South Challenge Cup where they make the trip to Gannochy Park to face the University of Stirling next Saturday but will take no further part in either the Qualifying or League Cups.
From their five league game to date they have accumulated seven points, with two wins over our opponents from last week Eyemouth Utd and a draw against local rivals LTHV. Defeats have come at Meggetland via the Juniors duo of Sauchie & Tranent, the latter occuring earlier this week. There will be a familiar face in the Tynecastle squad in the form of 2012 Superleague winner Stephen Thomson (defender, not the one currently on loan at Newtongrange!) and also goalkeeper Jamie Wilson, who had a brief spell with Bonnyrigg at the start of Robbie Horn's managerial tenure.
Last Saturday was the current interim management's first game in charge and no doubt it would have felt good to have ended it in victory against an organised Eyemouth Utd side played in tricky conditions. Unlikely to be too many changes to the squad for tomorrow's game as there will still be players missing due to injury/unavailability. The management team took in Tynecastle's midweek game at home to Tranent as they know given the short league format of this season that every point, and every goal, will no doubt count at the end of the season.
Half time entertainment will be provided by the 2008s after their sponsored walk. They will be holding a bucket collection at the ground to help with their fundraising efforts.