Not Hampden, not the Bernabeu, Ainslie Park. Even better, in the pouring rain. Yep, the place to be on Tuesday night.

Bodies were still filtering in, or standing awaiting their freshly baked pizza – again, aye, really – when the Rose got their noses in front.

As was repetitive throughout the first half, Kerr Young and Scott Gray were found to be advancing on the right flank. A cute pass into George Hunter tee’d the striker up to play in the anticipating Bradley Barrett at the back-post. His terrific movement rewarded with a close-range stab at goal.

Captain for the clash – on his return to the starting line-up, too – Young, took it upon himself to initiate Rose attacks. An element to his game that proved fruitful on Saturday, as his cushioned header assisted Callum Connolly’s last-minute equaliser. Last night, with Gray on the overlap, Young simply had to judge the weight of his lay off and the wing-back done the rest, forcing Jack Newman in The Spartans goal to be commanding.

Presence and alertness were required from Newman to recover from Kevin Waugh’s mistake in defence. Failing to get the ball under his control he welcomed a pounce from Hunter, but his touch was this time, met by Newman.

Lee Currie had the ball in hand after Gray’s magic conjured up a free-kick in a teasing position. The dead-ball specialist – who hasn’t been so deadly recently, sadly – nearly snuck one in at the near-bottom corner, but a stretching hand from Newman denied the Lowland League champions again.

Hunter and Bob Wilson had sightings at goal, but directing their headers right at Newman, unsurprisingly, didn’t prove valuable.

Michael Andrews wasn’t kept entirely quiet in the first half, either. Craig Brown with a few pops at goal, including an audacious half-volley, forced the Rose stopper into action.

A fragile 1-0 lead with five minutes of the first half didn’t reflect the visitors’ dominance. Up step Kieran Hall. No shock in the stands that the striker was on the end of yet another inch-perfect Gray cross.

The free-flowing football on show in the opening half did not roll into the second, with Robbie Horn’s side lacking edge and speed after the restart.

Andrews was closely accompanied by Blair Henderson following a slight slip-up. Fortunately for the ‘keeper, his goalpost saved his bacon. And so too did it again moments later. Henderson left with his head in his hands with the strong strike cannoning off the near woodwork.

Riding the wave, Rose finally had a moment to breath. Words will not do the build-up justice, but as the ball was working its way out to Gray, Hall was dancing his way into the goalmouth. The partnership proving productive again, Hall’s second of the match came from the deftest of touches.

Heading into these crucial upcoming play-off matches, Horn will be delighted at the size of the fit squad at his disposable. Flexing his muscles, Nathan Evans, Dean Brett and Keiran McGachie replaced George Hunter, Callum Connolly and Lewis Turner after the hour mark.

Cruising with a three-goal advantage, the Rose got creative. Straight from the training ground, instead of whipping the corner into the danger-area, it was fed into the path of Barrett, lurking on the edge of the box, with his first-time strike nestling in the far corner. Simply stunning.

The only slight off the night occurred in the final few minutes. Jamie Dishington’s solo goal disturbed the clean sheet but would be nothing more than a consolation goal for Dougie Samuels side.

Comfortably booking their place in next month’s South Challenge Cup final, Rose will face either Auckinleck Talbot or Sauchie Juniors, who meet later this month.

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