Written by Seán McGill

The first Rose chance of the game came from the industry of Bradley Barrett, who has been impressive in his new role on the left wing. George Hunter was slipped through by Barrett, before being denied a third goal in as many games by the left leg of ‘keeper Matty Connelly.

Roles were reversed in the 14th minute, with Hunter slipping Barrett through on the left hand side. The outcome was the same however, as Connolly made the most of the tight angle to get his leg to the stinging shot.

The deadlock was broken moments later however, with dead-ball specialist Lee Currie heavily involved again. The Rose number 10 lofted a ball in from the right, which received the deftest of touches from Keiran McGachie, sending the ball into the path of Bob Wilson, who side-footed it home for his first goal of the season.

After assisting the opener from a Currie set piece, McGachie so nearly opened his account for the campaign from a similar scenario. Again, the commanding striker connected brilliantly with a Currie cross from the right but this time forced Connolly into an acrobatic stop to tip the ball onto the crossbar before his defence hastily got rid of the danger.

It took until the 28th minute for Mikey Andrews to be tested in between the sticks. A fluffled clearance from Neil Martyniuk fell directly into the path of Euan Griffiths in midfield, who found Paul Hale on the left flank. The winger cut inside to allow room for a fierce strike at goal which the Rose number one did well to parry.

The next goal would come for the hosts though, as a sweeping passing move from Rose resulted in a penalty. Great interplay from Barrett and Scott Gray on the left allowed the latter to square it to Hunter, whose shot was parried into the path of Dean Brett.

The wingback looked to score himself but instead struck the hand of Griffiths, with the referee taking only a moment before awarding the penalty. Prolific from the spot, Currie sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to double the Rose’s advantage.

Barrett’s aggressiveness on the left proved fruitful for Bonnyrigg again as his next attempt on goal received a cheeky flick courtesy of McGachie into the back of the net to extend the Rose’s lead to three. The striker was rewarded for his daring effort with his first goal of the campaign.

Just as the game looked like being beyond Gretna, they gave themselves a lifeline. A sublime cross from Hale found the head of debutant Josh Cooper, who knocked the ball back across goal and beyond Andrews in the last meaningful action of the half.

Kerr Young was the next to get on the end of a Currie set piece, the centre half finding room at the back post following a corner, though Connolly again reacted quickly to make himself big and keep the ball out.

It wasn’t just from set pieces from which Currie proved his influence. A beautiful clipped through ball found Barrett racing in behind the opposition backline and the wingback looked to get a second assist by squaring it into the box. However, Gray had his shot saved by an onrushing Connolly from close range.

The fourth goal did come for the Rose soon after, thanks again to the feet of Wilson. Another Currie set piece was the source, with a loose ball in the box allowing the centre back to put himself on a hattrick.

Rose were turning in their best attacking performance of the season so far, with substitute Kieran Hall promptly getting in on the act. His first headed effort was flicked onto the bar by Connolly, but the striker wasn’t disappointed for long, quickly nodding home the rebound for his first Bonnyrigg goal.

The hosts were in complete control, but the seventh goal of the tie came against the run of play for Gretna. A defensive mix up allowed Jordan Kemoe to nip in behind the defence, before rounding Andrews and tapping the ball into an empty net.

It wasn’t long before the Rose had their four goal advantage back, however. Substitute Lewis Turner whipped the ball in from the left, with fellow sub Hall reading the flight of the ball perfectly to set himself up for a bicycle kick that just escaped the grasp of Connelly. An acrobatic beauty was the perfect way to round off a lovely afternoon for Robbie Horn’s side.

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