Two goals from Jordan Smith and a Kerr Young header has kept Bonnyrigg Rose’s perfect preseason campaign in-tact this afternoon at a sunny New Dundas Park.

The home side came flying out the traps, with it being evident that their match fitness is increasingly growing. Jamie Docherty started as he meant to go on for the duration of the match, finding acres of space down the right, breezing and brushing past the Whitehill defence. Within the opening 5 minutes, he drove a delightful ball across the face of the goal, yet neither Jordan Smith nor Jonny Stewart could latch onto it.

Docherty was supported well down the right flank by Dean Brett who found an equal amount of joy, driving past the defence, down to the byline on numerous occasions early doors but just failed to find the ever-present Smith. It was clear the youngster was looking to kick on from grabbing his debut goal for the club on Tuesday against Penicuik, with his sharpness and eagerness noticeable.

Such sharpness paid off just prior to the quarter-of-the-hour mark, as an inch perfect, long ball, deep from Kerr Young caught out the switched-off Whitehill defence yet was met timelessly by Smith, who lifted the ball over the ‘keeper to open the scoring.

Despite dominating possession, Rose failed to trouble Gilpin’s goal for the remainder of the half. Lee Currie tee-d up a free kick 20 yards out but fired it straight into the wall and Docherty’s strike ended up straight down the ‘keeper’s throat after a great solo run.

The visitors forced Mikey Andrews into a strong save with 10 minutes to half time while former Rose midfielder Steven Thomson had a pop at goal from 20 yards out that just skimmed the post to draw the opening 45 to an end.

It only took Robbie Horn’s side five minutes into the second half to double their lead. A short corner taken quickly found its way to Johnny Brown who lofted a lovely ball into the box which was only going to be met by the rising Young, who towered above all to make it 2-0 to the Rose.

A flurry of substitutions was the only real action of note for the majority of the second half. Bob Wilson, Currie and Docherty made way for Ross Gray, Andy Mair and Keiran McGachie

As a rather flat second 45 began to draw to a close, substitutes Mair and McGachie forced the visitors into a bit of last ditch defending. The latter offered something a little different up top and troubled the tiring Whitehill defence.

With five minutes remaining, Andrews, whose distribution was impressive all afternoon, fired a ball straight up the middle of the park towards McGachie who in turn headed it down into the path of his striking partner Smith, for him to smash home his second of the afternoon and make it 3-0.

The run out was yet another useful 90 minutes for Horn’s men as they made it four from four in preseason, with their next test being against Musselburgh Athletic this coming Tuesday.

Rose: Andrews, Brett, Brown, Young, Wilson (R.Gray 52’), Martynuik, Stewart, S.Gray, Currie (Mair 56’), Docherty (McGachie 69’), Smith

Att: 0