Bonnyrigg Rose are eagerly pursuing a first victory of 2022 as the boys head south down the A7 to take on Gala Fairydean Rovers at Netherdale. A postponement on New Year’s Day and a spirited Spartans comeback has prevented Robbie Horn’s men from collecting three points thus far.

A rain soaked pitch and a gloomy sky was a fitting setting for last weekend’s clash with Spartans, with the final result a sore one to take. Despite taking a two goal lead through a pair of own goals, Rose struggled to kill the game and the visitors fought back to spoil the party at NDP.

It was cool finishes from Ryan Finnie and substitute Sean Brown that snatched two points away from Rose in the final 15 minutes. Though points were dropped, there was still one major positive from the tie as Johnny Brown made his first Rose appearance in 452 days - managing a fantastic full 90 minutes at right wing-back.

The stalemate still leaves Rose 11 points clear of fourth place Spartans in the title race - with a game in hand over the side from the capital. The point also keeps both Rangers and Celtic B teams at the same points distance, though both young sides instead have a game in hand over us.

Meanwhile, this weekend’s opponents Gala Fairydean currently sit just inside the top half of the standings in ninth place - just shy of last season’s club best sixth place finish, a spot currently occupied by Civil Service. They may trail the Strollers by a discouraging 16 points but with four games in hand the Rovers have the chance to catch up quickly.

Dean Hastings, who arrived at Netherdale in 2019, was the manager who oversaw GFR’s historic lofty league finish last season. However, he will not be in the dugout on Saturday after leaving the club to take up a first team coaching position at Premiership side Livingston on Monday, replacing Greenock Morton-bound Dougie Imrie in the management team.

Taking Hastings’ place until the end of the season in an interim capacity is 35-year-old player-assistant manager Martin Scott. Having joined Gala this season from Forfar Athletic at the tail end of his journeyman career, the former Hibernian, Livi and Ross County striker will jump right into the role for this weekend’s clash.

Scott will know from his short time at the club that he can depend on fellow forward Zander Murray to be a constant goal threat. His 11 league goals so far this campaign put him joint 5th on the goalscoring chart - with his late strike last Saturday at Marine Drive securing an important point against league rivals Civil Service.

Gala are in a similar position to the Rose as they await their first win of the calendar year following a postponement and a tough draw. However, given previous clashes between the two teams, it is Rose who should head into this one the more confident side.

This season’s reverse fixture at NDP, an entertaining 2-0 victory on 13th November, was absolutely the Dean Brett show. The wing-back netted twice past Hearts loanee ‘keeper Harris Spratt to secure all three points on offer. Those in attendance will remember Brett so nearly completing an incredible perfect hat-trick late on, but sadly it was not to be.

Trips to Galashiels have been equally comfortable for Robbie Horn’s side in recent times, with grand performances on show in both February and October 2020 as commanding 4-0 and 5-1 victories were collected. Midfield maestro Lee Currie certainly enjoyed himself by netting three goals across both ties.

The maximum 500 supporters threshold remains in place over this weekend. Tickets are available through the Fanbase app, while a pay-at-the-gate system will still be in place at Netherdale. Price of admission is £8 for adults and £4 for concessions, while it will be just £1 for under-16s when paying at the gate.

C‘mon the Rose!

Article Copyright © 2021. Permission to use quotations from this or any article on the website is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and for online use source credit and hyperlink to www.bonnyriggrosefc.co.uk