Match Report by Seán McGill

It was a frantic start on a glorious day in Midlothian, as both sides enjoyed chances within the opening two minutes. James Berry teed up Ben Davidson on the edge of box for a wayward shot from the visitors, while full debutant Nathan Evans tried his luck from a tight angle after shrugging off the Uni defence, but his effort was also wide of the target.

Mikey Andrews was called into action for the first time in the seventh minute. Jamie Penker eloquently flicked the ball over the head of Alan Horne, getting himself one-on-one with the Rose ‘keeper. The game stayed level as Andrews produced a stretching save above his head to thwart the striker’s chip.

Set pieces have proven fruitful for the Rose on their winning run, and Saturday afternoon was no different. Dead ball specialist Lee Currie floated this particular delivery towards the front post in the 23rd minute, met decisively by the head of Keiran McGachie for the opener of the game.

As the Rose fan below the gantry gleefully exclaimed to the joyous supporters around him, “He rose like a salmon, so he did!”

The home side looked keen to quickly double their lead in the ensuing period. Scott Gray’s deep cross from his wing-back berth nearly caught out Uni ‘keeper Michael Fry, who tipped the ball onto the crossbar before it sneaked into the net.

The Students’ best chance to equalise came from the movement of Robbie McGale. The winger darted behind a backtracking Dean Hoskins to find himself released in the box from a lofted ball, but again Andrews was alert to the chipped effort, watching the ball with steely focus as he stepped backwards and caught it out the air.

Rose so nearly ended the half with a second goal moments before the break, with Callum Connolly almost grabbing his second header in a week. A Currie corner was again the source, though this time a Uni defender was astutely positioned on the line to deny the Rose number 22.

As the distinct scent of freshly baked pies wafted around the sun-laden park, it was a cagey start to the second period from the Lowland League leaders. Andrews’ concentration proved vital again in the 55th minute, with the keeper digging the ball away at the back-post to prevent Louis Kennedy’s free kick from flying straight through to goal.

A nervy NDP collectively drew breath when the Students passed up a golden opportunity to level the game. The industrious Penker drove to the byline, before picking out the onrushing McGale as he entered the box. The effort that followed flew over the crossbar, serving as a stern warning to the hosts.

How to respond to a warning shot? Fire straight back. And that’s exactly what the Rose did.

Currie’s header on the edge of the box vitally kept Bonnyrigg’s attacking intentions alive, finding the feet of Hoskins on the right. The wing-back picked his moment for the cross, and rightfully so, as the space he found allowed a ball squarely onto the head of McGachie, who obliged in nodding home for his fourth goal in as many games.

Although the goal calmed some nerves in the stands, the Students still posed a threat in front of goal. It was Euan McGill who this time found himself through on goal, denied only by the deftest of touches from the heel of Andrews.

From the subsequent corner, Uni got the goal their performance had merited. The ball was drilled in from the right-hand side and collected by Penker, who collected the ball calmy, before turning in the box and firing beyond Andrews to ramp up the Rose nerves again.

After riding the storm of Stirling Uni chances that came after a goal gave the Chris Geddes’ side real impetus, the Rose looked to hit back. Currie’s low driven free kick from the edge of the box was collected well by Fry, while a mass ricochet in the box following a thunderous Connolly effort caused havoc but was eventually cleared.

Every emotion possible was felt by the Rose faithful as the league leaders finally - dramatically - sealed the game in the 86th minute.

Fans erupted as substitute Kieran Hall’s side footed effort was originally not awarded by the referee. Upon consultation with an adamant linesman, the man in the middle pointed to the centre circle, sending the Rose players and supporters wild in the sunshine, and ultimately, to send them home happy as the Rose made it seven in a row in the Lowland League.

Eight is the target next week when Bonnyrigg welcome Robbie Horn’s former side Berwick Rangers to Midlothian in what is sure to be another tough task for the Rose.

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