Manager Robbie Horn said he was “really disappointed” with the performance that knocked Bonnyrigg Rose out of the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup last night.

Rose went behind inside the opening two minutes of the game – undoubtedly one of the quickest goals scored against them this season.

It was two inside the opening 10 minutes before the visitors pulled one back through Kerr Young, but almost instantly, Rovers restored their two-goal advantage. A fourth came in a first half where Rose were further reduced to 10 men.

Despite a resurgence in the second half, and ironically playing better with a man down, the hosts netted their fifth against the run of play to eliminate any belief amongst the Rose ranks.

“First half we just weren’t at the races at all,” Horn said after the match.

“Goals we gave away were soft, cheap, unorganised at set pieces which isn’t like us and that was the real disappointing factor, we just weren’t at it.”

In their last 15 games, Rose have only went behind twice, so you’d be forgiven for double checking the tweet that hit the timeline when many stopwatches were not long started.

The maiden corner of the tie was whipped in deliciously to the back-post where Gregor Jordan was lurking and the defender guided, rather than targeted, his lacklustre shot beneath the grasp of Mikey Andrews.

A Rose side that has become synonymous with firing out of the traps in the first half and making their mark on a game, were digesting a taste of their own medicine.

The lively Aaron Darge darted into the penalty box and fell victim to a foul by Lee Currie. Zander Murray converted his penalty expertly. To be expected from one of the Lowland League’s most clinical and consistent strikers.

The travelling Rose support – in their numbers as always – were left bewildered at what the opening 10 minutes had served up. They came expecting better, their manager demanding better.

Rhythm was orchestrated at the feet of Currie. Whether it was conducting the midfield or delivering balls into the box, he carried the tasks out with ease.

Two corners came in quick succession. The first promptly diverted out by the Rovers defence to allow for take two. Much more successfully, Currie’s floated effort was cleared into the path of Young, who nestled his shot into the far bottom left-hand corner.

A few calmer breaths were outed amongst the Rose faithful, in the belief their side were right back in the tie. However, it was indeed, a short breath.

Ever wondered who Gala Fairydean Rovers’ answer to dead-ball specialist, Lee Currie is? After last night’s showing, one may ponder no more – Phil Addison’s deliveries would have had the Royal Mail blushing.

Another Addison corner was on point almost immediately from the restart and it found the head of Jordan, who tucked his glancing header away sublimely.

To prove he wasn’t just all about top quality assists, Addison ensured Gala’s fourth would come from his feet as provider turned scorer.

And if the first half wasn’t gruesome enough for those of a red and white persuasion, just as a breakaway was in its infancy, Dean Brett was deemed to have committed a red card offence as he rushed away with the ball at his feet.

A rather unbelievable first half unfolded, and not one of the good kinds. “The players got a blast from me at half time,” Horn said post-match.

Such a blast evidently had an impact as despite being a man down, Rose were comfortably the better side in the opening stages of the second half. Possession was enjoyed, chances were created, and fluidity flowed.

However, as Horn admitted, “For spells we controlled the game with 10 men, but the game is done, the game is over.”

To secure their place in the last eight of the competition, Gala buried their fifth on the break with their extra man. Murray slotted away his second of the match under no pressure, due to his hunger in creating the opportunity. Another example of why the manager added, “Gala thoroughly deserved their win.”

A hugely frustrating night for Horn’s side was rounded off when Kit McRithcie saved Currie’s late penalty in what would have only been a consolation goal for the Lowland League leaders.

Attention returns to league action as the Midlothian outlet welcome Bo’ness United to New Dundas Park on Saturday and Horn commented that last night’s result was “a warning.”

“We are not just going to cruise to win the league, you’ve got to go and earn it, go and win games of football and perform… you cannot let your standards drop and we done that tonight. We let our standards drop.”

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