William Hill Scottish Cup 4th Round

Bonnyrigg Rose 0 Clyde 1

Report by John Gilmour.

This season's William Hill Scottish Cup adventure for Bonnyrigg is finally over but what an adventure it has been. People say it’s not always the best team that wins the Cup it’s the luckiest and sadly for the Rose they had no luck on Saturday plus came up against a keeper in top form. Clyde would start favourites in this 4th round tie but the Rose followers never believed that at any time. They know just how good their side are and expected fireworks from the start. In front of a packed ground the players responded in style with pressure right from the kick off with Keiran McGachie, Lee Currie and Scott Gray all testing the Clyde defence with opportunities in the opening stages. Bonnyrigg were riding high and playing with confidence. Clyde’s only opportunity in the opening period fell to their talisman David Goodwillie with a spectacular overhead kick but Ewan Moyes was on hand to clear the danger.

Bonnyrigg started the second period in the same manner forcing their visitors onto the back foot, Again and again the created chances but they found Clyde keeper David Mitchell in inspired form, denying efforts form McGachie and Moyes. The Rose had the upper hand against the League One side but couldn’t convert the chances they created. Clyde rang the changes with twenty minutes remaining with the introduction of Love and Wallace for Howie and Wylde. It was substitute Love who with 10 minutes remaining managed to regain control of the ball in the Rose box and break the deadlock with a shot in off Weir's right post. Bonnyrigg mounted their usual last minute onslaught at the visitors but again keeper Mitchell wouldn’t be beaten. They had a very strong penalty claim for a ball that hit the hand of Rumsby turned away by the referee despite the protests by the Rose players.

In the end it was not to be and the Rose bowed out of the Scottish Cup. They have given their all in their pursuit of a spot in the 5th round and made the huge home support very happy with some wonderful performances this season already and hope for more to come. Alan Horne was the outstanding player of the pitch, keeping their main striker David Goodwillie very quiet indeed. This however is not unique to Alan as over the seasons he has been Man of the Match on many occasions and when the travelling support tell us that he was outstanding, that says it all. Well done Alan Horne.

Managers Interview.

“I couldn’t be prouder of this group of players. I felt we were the better side today and we deserved a replay at the very least. Over two games against two Division 1 teams we have shown that we can compete at that level and we have to take confidence from that. I thought it might have been a penalty as the ball came off the players arm, but the referee felt the ball played his arm after it came off another part of his body and it wasn’t deliberate. We still have a lot to play for and we must concentrate of the business in hand. I would like to thank the terrific support we had here today and we hope they keep getting behind us between now and the end of the season.”

Bonnyrigg Rose: Weir, Brett, Brown, Moyes, Horne, Stewart, McGachie, Currie, Martynuik (Docherty), Hunter (R Gray), S Gray (Turner). Subs: Andrews, Devlin, Baur.

Clyde: Mitchell, Lang, McNiff, Howie (Wallace), Rumsby, Grant, Smith (McMullin), Cuddihy, Goodwillie, Lamont, Wylde (Love). Subs: Lyon, Johnston, Rankin, McGee.

Bookings: Clyde: Cuddihy, Grant, Howie; Bonnyrigg: S Gray, Stewart, Turner.

Referee: Peter Stuart

Att: 2,213