Robbie Horn made four changes to the side that fell to Civil Service Strollers on Saturday. Mikey Andrews started in place of Ally Adams in goal, while Bradley Barrett and both Gray brothers, Ross and Scott, replaced Dean Brett, Dean Hoskins and Callum Connolly.

The first chance of the game fell at the feet of Barrett, who looked to make an instant impact after being recalled to the starting eleven. Gritty defensive work high up the pitch from Keiran McGachie paid off, allowing George Hunter and Ross Gray to work the ball across the pitch to Barrett. The 20-year-old surged forward and ran onto Gray’s lay-off, but his low shot was stopped dead by the legs of Broomhill ‘keeper Owen Stott.

Fortunately for Barrett, he soon got another chance and took it. Hunter had initially smacked the post but the ball rebounded perfectly into the path of the onrushing Barrett. The wing-back’s thumping effort crashed off the bar and was adjudged to have crossed the line by referee Alex Shephard, giving the hosts an early lead and Barrett his first goal in Rose colours.

As the first 45 played out, Bonnyrigg crosses tended to have just too much on them while Broomhill struggled with their final ball in attack. It was the visitors who had the next clear chance of the tie, however. An exquisite volleyed cross by Adam Moss reached their trialist, but the unregistered forward’s glancing header fell comfortably into the arms of Andrews.

Just as Broomhill were starting to threaten, a glorious goal from Hunter doubled the Rose lead just minutes before half-time. Lee Currie sent a searching long ball over the top of centre-back Michael Dunlop and the veteran failed to head the ball to safety. The fluffed clearance bounced awkwardly in between the Broomhill defence and goalkeeper, allowing Hunter to react quickly and race onto the ball before hitting a sweet first-time volley that dipped over a helpless Stott into the bottom far corner of the net.

Ross Gray very nearly extended Bonnyrigg’s first half lead even further moments before the interval. After some trickery in the box to create space for a shot, the elder Ross managed to get his foot underneath the ball to generate some power and lift the ball toward the top corner of the goal; only to be thwarted by a magnificent one-handed save from an outstretched Stott.

After a first half filled with plenty of attempts and cracking goals, the second did feature less opportunities for both sides - though not for a lack of trying. Both McGachie and Kerr Young were unable to turn in back post header opportunities, while Lewis Crawford sliced the best chance that fell to the youthful visitors well over the bar.

The most noteworthy incident of the second 45 was a late thumping volley from outside the penalty area by Currie. His emphatic effort was beaten away by a strong Stott save and the game was brought to an end soon after.

After picking up a well-deserved three points, Horn’s men will return to New Dundas Park on Saturday to take on Gretna 2008.

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