Bonnyrigg was buzzing with excitement early doors on Saturday, as the A View From The Terrace crew were out in their hi-vis, ready to capture the glorious charm of New Dundas Park. Scarves carefully draped round shoulders. Bobble hats precisely placed on heads.

The opening half hour didn’t leave much for the cameras to catch, half chances all round. Keiran McGachie’s header from a corner deflected off the shoulder of a Rovers defender, before Gala’s Ciaren Chalmers set himself up beautifully for a volley, though his effort soared over the bar.

Kerr Young injected some lift into the affair as he picked out McGachie with a gorgeous pass to the back-post. Peeling off the defence, the big man seemed caught between heading back across goal and trying to stick it into the net himself. A combination of the two meant that the ball spun awkwardly and the visitors cleared their lines.

Rose were playing some lovely football, knocking the ball around with the type of confidence you’d expect from the league leaders. Eventually, their composure paid off in pleasing fashion.

Dean Brett, man of the match a week ago against Broomhill, fired the ball into the feet of McGachie, the match-winner of the same game. The striker used all his experience and strength to hold up the ball, coxing Brett into following his pass. After being teed up, the wing-back released a stunning left-footed effort that flew past Harris Spratt in the Gala goal to give the Rose the lead.

It was the last notable action of the first half, while the first notable action of the second saw the exact same result. This time, in the 47th minute, it was a fantastic cross from Neil Martyniuk which Brett would find himself on the end of. Seemingly hovering at the back-post for an age after a tremendous leap, he headed home definitively to double the hosts’ advantage.

This was the start of a string of chances for the Rose, with Lee Currie keen to make his stamp on the encounter. First, his volleyed effort after some great industry from Ross Gray on the right fizzed wide of the post. Next, he pushed high up the park to pinch the ball, before feeding substitute George Hunter, whose effort was well saved by Spratt.

With a left-footer and a header in the bag, Brett went in search of his perfect hat-trick. Brilliant work from Bradley Barrett on the left meant that the opportunity for Brett to swing his right foot at the ball on the volley arose, but his wild attempt sailed away from goal.

Martyniuk almost followed up his assist for the second with a goal of his own, just failing to hit the target as he rose above the rest from a corner. Moments later, his sublime touch with his chest allowed the defender to slip in Hunter, who in turn flicked the ball into the path of an onrushing Barrett. The youngster’s effort was hard and true, yet Spratt’s sprawling save was enough to deny the other wing-back a place on the scoresheet.

After watching the opposition have numerous chances to put the game to bed, the visitors spurned a brilliant opportunity to make the closing stages a tad more nervy. It was Chalmers again, as he chased after a looping cross ball that had snuck its way in behind the Rose defence. Gratefully from a red and white perspective, the number 8 couldn’t direct his headed effort towards Mikey Andrews’ goal.

The hosts dealt with the rest of the game professionally, keeping a hold of the ball while springing forward when sensible to do so. The referee’s whistle solidified the continuation of Rose’s stellar form, ending the day 11 points clear at the top of the Lowland League.

Home comforts again next week, as Robbie Horn’s side entertain Coldstream in the third round of the South Challenge Cup.

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