Central Park is renowned for its unique car racing ring that borders a pristine football pitch and high wire fencing that meets rowdy visiting fans on the terracing. But for the Rose faithful, the home of Cowdenbeath will be remembered for the comfortable performance by a group of Rose legends who took the pitch and got the ultimate job done on 14th May, 2022.

Holding a three goal lead from a feisty first leg at NDP, there was still another 90 minutes to see out. From the team bus gathering on Lothian Street all the way to kick-off in Fife, the lads looked as composed as they could possibly be. The gaffer’s cool head calmed anyone with even the slightest hint of nervousness in his vicinity and the fans, well, they seemed pretty confident from the get-go, also.

Not even a curled Bobby Barr strike from distance smacking off the post could affect the faith, or volume, of the masses of travelling Rosey Posey supporters. The most vocal cluster of an immense Rose following, which in total likely outnumbered the home support, was led in chants by suspended forward Keiran McGachie - who, even when he’s not available for selection, is always roaring the Rose on.

Despite the early scare, Rose took full control of the tie in the first 45. Bradley Barrett was the first to threaten Cowden ‘keeper Cammy Gill when he met Kerr Young’s cross at the back post. Fortunately for Gill, Barrett was harassed and harried by Craig Thomson and couldn’t direct his improvised effort goalward.

Lee Currie did soon test Gill, however. A distant free-kick stunned Gill at his near post, with the young shot-stopper fumbling his relatively simple save and nearly putting the ball in his own net. Currie came close again minutes later, when the ball fell into his path after a stalled counter attack, though his distant effort didn’t dip quite enough and failed to hit the target.

Pushed on by their vociferous support, Rose kept creating chances. A succession of corners allowed Young and Callum Connolly the opportunity to open the scoring with their heads, but neither were able to break the deadlock. Moments later, Dean Brett had the chance to net against his former side once again but was unfortunate to see his fierce strike whizz over the crossbar.

Despite trailing by three first leg goals, The Blue Brazil were still not throwing everything at the tie. Loanee centre-back Sam Denham did, however, throw everything at a rare gilt-edged opportunity to put the hosts in front. A fizzed cross right into the mixer was met by the outstretched defender just a half dozen yards from goal, but his powerful effort soared over when it really seemed harder to miss.

A busy first half soon came to an end. The supporters kept on chanting, the players prepared for a huge second half ahead, and the less said about Keys' condition during the interval, the better…

Rose, content with their first leg advantage, seeked to keep possession. Cowden were still not willing to risk it all for a chance to get back into the tie, despite restless fans pleading for more bodies to be pushed forward to assist tricky, but often isolated, forward Sammy Ompreon.

A sole Ompreon effort was the only chance of the first 17 minutes of the second half until Rose extended their now insurmountable aggregate advantage to four from the spot. Ross Gray was tripped just inside the area by Denham, allowing for Neil Martyniuk to step up and nonchalantly blast the ball into the top left corner.

Game over. Jubilation in the away section, misery in the home section. With almost thirty minutes still to play, the winner of the tie was a foregone conclusion and both sets of supporters undoubtedly knew it.

Seeking a consolation goal, substitute Quinn Coulson headed over from close range and a cracking strike from Alex Ferguson forced a strong tip wide from Mark Weir in the closing stages. But that was it. They’d only gone and done it.

A professional performance fitting for a professional league club. Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic - not five years ago a non-SFA member and junior club - will be the first Midlothian club to play in the Scottish professional leagues. A testament to the hard work from everybody associated with the club in recent years.

If you were around Bonnyrigg on Saturday - or even Sunday as the celebrations continue on - you’ll have seen just how much promotion means to the players, the staff, the board, the fans, and the entire community as a whole.

What a team… What. A. Club.

Oh, and if you’d almost forgotten in the midst of all the excitement and pandemonium, we still have the South Challenge Cup Final to play. Auchinleck Talbot, Falkirk Stadium, next Sunday. See you there!

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