South Region Challenge Cup 4th round
Report by John Gilmour

Dunipace 1 Bonnyrigg Rose 0

It was a much changed Bonnyrigg line up who crashed out of the Challenge Cup in the first of 3 games in 6 days leading up to the match at home to Montrose, factors which Boss Robbie Horn took into the game.

“I take responsibility for the line up, I pick the team and I believed they were good enough to win this game. We have these 3 games in 6 days so I gave some players a chance to get some game time and a chance to show ahead of the Montrose game, but I was really disappointed in our performance today, we should have done better.”

Even without long term injuries to Kieron McGachie and Lewis Turner, the line up did look strong. Out were Captain Johnny Stewart, Jonny Brown, Ewan Moyes, George Hunter, Ross Gray and keeper Mark Weir.

The first half was very even with neither side troubling the opposition keepers as they tested each other out. There was nothing to get either side’s supporters excited about.

Into the second half and it started the same as the first, none to shout about. Bonnyrigg had plenty of the pressure with nothing to show for it against a solid Dunipace defence. Then, in the 53rd minute Dunipace grabbed the lead with a screamer into the top corner from James O’Grady. This shook Bonnyrigg forcing them into changes in an attempt to grab a lifeline. The Rose pounded the Dunipace defence but they remained resolute giving nothing away. At times they had 11 men behind the ball packing the midfield with players, showing nothing up front. Bonnyrigg made the changes but still couldn’t score an equaliser. They had chances but poor decision making and stout defending kept their score sheet blank and so the exited from the Cup.

Robbies Interview.

“We must give credit to Dunipace, they were organised in defence, strong fit and disciplined. They packed their defence and midfield making it hard for us to find a way through. I’m really disappointed today in our performance as it wasn’t good enough. I rotated the squad today and we weren’t good enough and I take responsibility for that because I pick the team. We have those other 2 games this week and it would be unrealistic to expect the same 8 or 9 players to keep up the standard we’ve enjoyed recently. We needed to be careful about picking up any injuries ahead of our big Cup tie as well but today we had plenty of possession and failed to work their keeper enough, something which was really disappointing. Overall it was a very bad day at the office and one we’ll have to look carefully at.”

Dunipace: Kane, McPherson, Davidson, Galloway, McMahon, O’Grady, Craig, Thomson, Zoc(Dymock), McFadden, Nash(Stevenson). Subs: Shanks, Livingstone McLachan.

Bonnyrigg: Andrews, Brett, Baur, Young, Swanson(Hunter), Horne, Devlin(R Gray), Martyniuk, Docherty(Brown), Currie, S Gray. Subs: Weir, Moyes, Stewart.

Bookings: Dunipace: Galloway, Kane, Davidson.

Bonnyrigg: Martyniuk, Baur.

Referee: Kyle Hall