Bonnyrigg dropped out of the Soccer Shop Challenge Cup on Saturday afternoon, with Renfrew running out 3-0 winners at New Western Park.

The Rose got off to a good start with neat interplay from Alassan Jones and João Balde seeing the former drive into the box, showcasing some lovely footwork, but the new signing couldn’t keep his shot down.

With the visitors controlling the opening stages of the game, Renfrew’s first goal came as a real sucker punch. A miscommunication from Kerr Young and Bob Wilson at the back allowed Ciaran Divers a snapshot at the edge of the box that soured past Michael Andrews.

Rose responded with a couple of good chances. First a deep ball to the back post from Lee Currie nearly found Bradley Barrett, but the ref blew for a foul. Then, Jones and Balde linked up well, this time it was the latter who took fire at goal, but his shot on the turn fizzed wide.

Coming in for just his second start of the season, Michael Andrews was called into action to ensure Rose stayed in the game.

James Maclennan was slipped in and tried to decieve Andrews at his near post, but the keeper got down well to deny the striker. Minutes later, it was Andrews’ feet that stopped the shot, after a ricochet in the box fell to Maclennan again, who fooled Young in order to get his shot away.

The half ended with another chance for Bonnyrigg, coming from a Scott Gray ball into the feet of Bradley Barrett. The striker, making his first Rose start, rolled the defender to create the space to shoot, but he couldn’t generate enough power to trouble Thomas McLeay in the Renfrew goal.

Rose tried to make better use of the ball in the second half. Dean Hoskins played a lovely inside pass into the feet of Keiran McGachie, with the big striker teeing up Jones on the edge of the box. The midfielder’s shot wasn’t nearly fierce enough however, with McLeay holidng easily.

Both making their full debuts for the Rose, Jones and Barrett combined well to give the visitors one of their better chances of the game. Jones was able to avaid multiple cynical challenges from opposition players before feeding Barrett, but the striker delayed his strike and couldn’t direct it anywhere other than straight at the keeper.

Almost the entirety of the ground was in disbelief as the referee ignored the Rose shouts for handball with just over 20 minutes to go. A Currie corner caused havoc, and McGachie pounced to volley the ball goalwards before Bonnyrigg uproar, as the referee refused to point to the spot for Renfrew’s arm-assisted block.

Another Currie corner fell to McGachie, but the big man was incredibly unlucky not to continue his goalscoring streak, forced to watch his header bounce off the post.

Despite Bonnyrigg building momentum, the game slipped out of their reach thanks to a stunning strike from Scott Morton. Rose were desperately defending a counter attack when the ball fell to Morton from 20 yards out, the Renfrew number 9 catching it on the half volley and sending the ball flying past Andrews.

The final blow for the Rose came with almost the final kick of the game. Another counter attack ended with Divers’ touch and hit from the right-hand side of the box for his second and the hosts’ third goal of the game to round off a massively disappointing afternoon for Robbie Horn’s side.

Rose will be looking to bounce back from the premature conclusion to their cup campaign as they return to league action on Tuesday night, welcoming Vale of Leithen to New Dundas Park.

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