It was third time lucky for Bonnyrigg Rose and Bo'ness United as they finally met in the Scottish Cup first round after the match had been postponed twice previously.

It was Rose who looked more up for it in the early stages of this New Years Day clash, and they should've been a goal to the good in the first two minutes. Keiran McGachie picked the ball up on the edge of the box and slid it through for Dean Hoskins who was denied superbly by Andy Murphy in the Bo'ness goal.

Rose continued to pile on the pressure, creating several chances in the opening 15 minutes, making it difficult for Bo'ness to create anything for themselves. Kerr Young was on the end of a Lee Currie free kick but his effort was scuffed wide of the mark.

Mark Weir done well to rush out and gather the ball at the feet of Alexander Miller before the Bo'ness striker could get on the end of a through ball. However, it was Rose who continued to dominate in terms of chances created.

George Hunter found himself one on one with Murphy but the Bo'ness keeper done very well to save Hunters attempted lob. Hunter picked up the rebound and got his shot away but the Bo'ness back line stood strong and his effort was blocked and cleared away. Five minutes later and Hunter was presented with another chance after Scott Gray crossed from the right, but his goal-bound effort was again well blocked from the Bo'ness defender.

In the 35th minute Bonnyrigg were made to rue their missed chances. A slack pass by Neil Martynuik was met by Nicky Locke who darted forward and fired a shot at goal which was met by the finger tips of Mark Weir, but the Rose keeper couldn't get enough on it and Alexander Miller was there to tap in the rebound and make it 0-1 to the visitors at half-time.

Bonnyrigg were fast out the traps in the second half and it wasn't long before they found an equaliser. George Hunter finally got his goal when he was found inside the box to fire emphatically past Andy Murphy to make it all square.

Less than 10 minutes later and Rose had turned the game on its head completely. Some tidy footwork from George Hunter in the area ended in him being fouled and the referee showed no hesitation as he pointed straight to the spot. Lee Currie stepped up and slotted the ball in the bottom left corner to put the hosts ahead.

Two minutes later and another spot kick was awarded by referee Ross Menzies. It was George Hunter who won the penalty again as he was bundled over inside the area and Menzies was quick to blow for a foul. Lee Currie was on hand again to convert from the spot and make it 3-1 to Rose.

It's not very often you see a team being awarded, and scoring, three penalties within 10 minutes, but try telling that to George Hunter and Lee Currie. Hunter was fouled for a third time in the box and again the referee awarded a penalty and of course Lee Currie stepped up, as he always does, to convert his third goal of the match from the spot.

George Hunter grabbed his second of the afternoon 10 minutes later. Some neat play in the middle of the park allowed Lee Currie the time and space to slide the ball through to Hunter who slotted the ball past the on-rushing Murphy to make it 5-1 to Bonnyrigg Rose with 15 minutes left to play. Hunter almost got a hatrick of his own following a lovely one two between Bradley Barrett and Dean Hoskins left Hoskins free on the left wing. His cross flashed across the box and found Dean Brett who cut the ball back to Hunter but his shot was saved well by Murphy.

Bo'ness got themselves a consolation goal in the 87th minute after Donnelly flicked the ball on from a corner and Stevenson was able to turn the ball past Mark Weir to make it 5-2 at full time.

Victory for Rose means a trip to Dens Park to face Dundee in the next round of the Scottish Cup next weekend.

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