The first opportunity fell the way of the Rose following a looping cross from Kerr Young on the right-hand side that was taken down beautifully on the knee of George Hunter. The striker then swivelled and got his shot away, but the ball ricocheted off two Musselburgh defenders and then bounced off the post. Strike partner Kieran McGachie was adjudged to be offside on the follow up.

The hosts had their first chance of the game just five minutes later. Nathan Evans drifted inside from the left and unleashed a ferocious strike on goal, evoking a fantastic safe from Mark Weir down to his right.

Both sides approached the game with a great amount of intensity, and those inside the ground could have been forgiven for forgetting that it was still pre-season.

The hosts had a couple of good chances with Evans and Conor Thomson bearing down on goal, but neither could find the target and give their side the lead. Lee Currie tried his luck from the edge of the box as the half drew to a close, but the midfielder’s shot was tame enough for Paul Grant to collect easily in the Musselburgh goal.

While the first half was an entertaining affair, there was a marked improvement in quality from both sides throughout the second 45 as the goals came rushing in.

It took just four second half minutes for the Rose to take the lead with a great team move. Young returned a long ball downfield with a thunderous header which was delightfully controlled again by Hunter, who turned to feed Lewis Turner on the right-hand side. The midfielder then delivered a teasing cross into the box, which was subsequently rifled home into the bottom right corner by Andy Mair for his first goal in the red and white.

Just a matter of minutes later, the summer signing would be heavily involved in the Rose doubling their advantage. The wingback latched onto a headed clearance by John McManus to fire a wicked volley at goal that was too hot for Grant to handle, with Dean Brett alive to pounce on the loose ball and clip it into the back of the Musselburgh net.

The hosts roared back almost immediately though, cutting the deficit to one just two minutes later. Full back Callum Donaldson played an inside ball to Evans, who then pulled off a lovely round-the-corner pass to strike partner Mathu King. The Musselburgh skipper then slotted the ball past Weir to put his side right back in the game.

An assist then became a goal for Evans to bring Musselburgh level. An unorthodox back heeled flick from Thomson released King into the box, fending off the advancing Neil Martyniuk impressively. The striker managed to get his shot away, which was prodded home by Evans for the equaliser.

After weathering the storm of an emboldened Musselburgh side following the leveller, Rose went out in search of a winner of their own. Substitute Jamie Docherty came the closest as his fierce strike on the turn rattled the crossbar, with Jordan Smith unable to get a shot away on the rebound with all the blue bodies around him.

A spirited and competitive game ended level as both teams look ahead to their final pre-season friendlies on Saturday before their respective league campaigns get underway next weekend.

Rose: Weir, Brett (Brown 64’), Young, Wilson, Martynuik, Mair, Turner, Currie, R.Gray (S.Gray 64’), Hunter (Smith 69’), McGachie (Docherty 55’)

Att: 0