Match report by SEÁN MCGILL

The floodlights glistening in the blackened Bonnyrigg sky. The sea of red and white scurrying over from the social club with five minutes till kick-off. The feeling in the air, something intangible, but something striking.

As you turned off Lothian Street or Dundas Street, as you saw NDP illuminated in all its glory on Tuesday night, you just sensed you were in for something special. And so it transpired.

A crowd of 778 gave the Rose a rousing reception as the familiar Rocky tune blared from the sound-system. Supportive, yet expectant. The type of expectancy fostered from being comfortable league leaders, already in the position to secure play-off status with six games to play.

Those expectations were quickly catered for, in a manner that those beady eyes darting below Bonnyrigg bobble hats have become so accustomed to.

Lee Currie whipped in a corner with the kind of majesty only Lee Currie can, met by the unmarked Kerr Young. So often a scorer of screamers, his mighty leap and elegant glance into the bottom corner felt just as electrifying as one of his spectaculars.

Rose enjoyed the best of the play following their 11th minute opener, with all eyes on Sean Brown as he sniffed around for his first goal since joining the club on loan in January.

How fitting then that it would come against the side he’s spent the largest chunk of his career at. Cumbernauld’s all-time record goalscorer came back to haunt them after Dean Brett stood the ball up perfectly to the back stick, allowing Bradley Barrett to prod the ball across goal, and into the path of Brown.

Not the most demanding of finishes, but his predatory instincts enabled him to nod home and celebrate a goal scored in Bonnyrigg, this time to the elation of the home crowd.

Half-time came and went, the Rose faithful restless in their pursuit of confirmation of their team’s post-league status. Restless too was Brown – he’d caught the goalscoring bug.

It took just over a minute of the second period for the 24-year-old to double his tally, again showing the type of striking savvy that compelled Robbie Horn to add him to the attacking arsenal.

Callum Connolly was able to stride through the Cumbernauld backline, electing for an outside-of-the-boot effort as he honed in on goal. When denied by a wall of Colts defenders, Brown smelled the opportunity to pounce, seizing upon the loose ball to lash beyond Callum Erskine and make those restless Rose fans rejoice further.

Watching your chance lead to a teammate scoring must be nice, but Connolly was determined to get his name on the scoresheet on the big occasion again. Ten minutes later, he’d have the goal of his own, using his aerial ability to aplomb to outjump everyone around him and notch goal number nine of a stellar debut season.

Ross Gray had been buzzing about busily in familiar fashion, winning fouls & displaying his technicality in equal measure. Defences seem to really struggle when he bursts into the left-hand side of the box up at the top gate, because for the second time in 10 days, that exact position saw the number 11 wiped out and awarded a penalty for his troubles.

Would Neil Martyniuk build on his spot-kick brace from last Saturday? Would Currie get his chance at redemption? Would Dean get his shot after spending 90% of his recent suspension saying he’s on pens?

None of the above, as Brown was given the opportunity to seal his hat-trick. The excitement emanating from the Rose support seeped into the striker’s psyche however, sending his penalty high over the bar in a hurried manner.

Not to step out of the spotlight though, the latest recruit was at the centre of a fiery encounter on a chilly evening in Midlothian. Rightfully aggrieved at the high challenge that came flying in from Dylan Forrest, Brown reacted, causing a melee right outside the Colts technical area. A caution for the Rose man, but Forrest was quickly given his marching orders for the initial dangerous lunge.

Fresh legs were introduced to keep the league leaders’ tempo up, with one man in particular making a near-instant impact. We’ve all missed a Keiran McGachie goal over the past few weeks, and this one might be the big man’s best of the season.

Slipped in magnificently, the striker managed to make a side-foot lob still feel powerful, sending the ball high over the head of Erskine with both grace and force to make it a five-star Rose performance.

Despite Bonnyrigg’s display & Colts’ bright points – particularly Fraser Taylor – all the majority of NDP wanted to hear was that full-time whistle; the sound of securing Play-Off status.

When it came, there was a genuine moment between the players and the fans. A moment where both acknowledged the team’s incredible achievement. A moment where both acknowledged the team’s as-yet unfulfilled ambitions.

A night of celebration undoubtedly, but one capped off with dreams of bigger celebrations to come. For now, the Rose get ready for a trip to Arthurlie in the cup on Saturday. One of the many stops on a journey in which the intended destination just got that wee bit closer.

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