I’m sure you know by now, it was celebration day at Shielfield Park on Saturday afternoon. Rose headed south to take on an in-form Berwick Rangers, knowing the opportunity to clinch the Lowland League title by securing three points was on the cards.

The charming, sunkissed English town of Berwick-upon-Tweed played host to a tremendous welcome from travelling supporters for the players off the team bus; an innumerable number of pre-match pints being sunk by the Rosey Posey faithful in the host’s function suite; and a dominant performance from the boys on the park.

The home side were without key defenders for the clash, including captain Jamie Pyper (benched following a suspension), as well as vice-captain David Ferguson and indispensable centre-back Tam Scobbie. The importance of these absences were made clear after a makeshift Gers defence leaked the opening goal of the tie within two minutes of kick-off.

An inswinging Lee Currie corner first landed at the feet of Callum Connolly, who struck the ball goalward but was thwarted by the midriff of Keiran McGachie – though the ball then fortunately fell to the feet of strike partner Sean Brown.

Brown, eager to add to his expanding goalscoring tally following his recent arrival on loan from East Fife, made no mistake from close range after thrashing at the ball and sending it beyond a bundle of bodies in black and gold to make the Wee Gers’ net ripple for the first time.

McGachie, not satisfied with his unintentional assist, found himself on the score sheet within ten minutes. The big man latched onto a searching through ball from skipper Jonny Stewart, before bearing down on goal — while simultaneously throwing more than one persistent defender off his back — and coolly finishing past Ali Adams into the bottom left corner.

The goal was grand but the celebration — which had his bare belly on show to the world (and Joe’s camera) — was just as entertaining.

Mark Weir was soon tested by Graham Taylor after a cutting counter from the home side, with a quick reaction stop forced upon the Rose number one. While up the other end, Dean Brett set up a gilt-edged chance at the back post for fellow wing-back Bradley Barrett, but the youngster’s header flew over the crossbar.

With a two-goal cushion, the title party in the stands was in full flow while the game itself had slowed. With the game in dire need of a hero to kick some life back into the tie, who better than a club legend to find the net just beyond the hour mark.

It was Connolly who looked destined to score initially after he burst through the opposition backline and attempted to cheekily dink the ball over Adams. The ‘keeper managed to claw the ball away from goal but only into the dangerous path of McGachie, who pounced and knocked the ball into the empty net.

Three goals to the good, Rose started to leak chances. Former Hibs winger Alex Harris picked up an injury while forcing a save from Weir, with his replacement Kieran McGrath threatening not long after his introduction with a half-volley from close range that should’ve hit the target.

Lewis Barr then hit that very same target to bring Rose’s lead back to just two. From a deep free-kick on the right flank, Barr peeled away from his marker to get on the end of Grant Nelson’s fantastic whipped cross to volley past a helpless Weir.

Switched back on from the loss of a clean sheet, Rose showed their championship class to find a fourth goal as time wound down.

Adams can blame some dodgy turf for the bobbling ball evading his swinging boot from a pass back but there’s no doubt the persistent pressing of substitute Nathan Evans also played its part. The forward managed to keep the ball in play before it crossed the touchline, before calmly blootering it past a desperate Adams from a tight angle to finish the game off.

4-1, it ended. Then the party really started.

Drink it in, folks. Bonnyrigg Rose are Lowland League Champions.

What. A. Club.

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