A sun-kissed New Dundas Park hosted an SPFL Trust Trophy tie for the first time when Livingston B travelled to Boomtown on Tuesday evening.

Robbie Horn made eight changes for the first round clash following Saturday’s league victory over East Fife – with the standout rotations being Mikey Andrews starting in goal, Zach Khan making his first ever competitive Rose start and the full return of Lee Currie following his recovery from a hernia injury.

As expected against a youthful Livi outfit, Rose started strong as the first of many chances fell to Kieran Hall inside three minutes. Khan, eager to express himself, burst down the left flank and picked out Keiran McGachie in the mixer, with the big man able to knock the ball into Hall’s path. Unfortunately, our Geordie frontman blasted over from close range under heavy pressure.

Less than a minute later Khan, again, caused trouble on the left wing and this time sent in a deep cross towards the back post. Arriving late into the penalty box was Dean Brett but the wing-back couldn’t direct his header on target.

With Rose throwing bodies forward, the Young Lions were able to generate a quick counter attack in the 8th minute. Rocco Fugaccia-Hickey got the ball forward with some silky footwork, before shunting the ball onto forward Liam Woods. The number ten couldn’t muster up anything other than a wild high and wide effort, however.

After fifteen minutes of more half chances, Brett broke into the Livi penalty area and was clumsily brought down. Sensing an opportunity to net two goals in two games, Deano stepped up to the spot but was thwarted when Russian ‘keeper Ivan Konovalov got down quick to save his low spot kick.

An own goal nearly came for Livi defender Jay McFarlane-Letham and Callum Connolly headed wide from a Lewis Turner corner, before Connolly went for the spectacular minutes later with a looping, laced half-volley from distance. Fortunately for the visitors, their 27-year-old goalkeeper was ready for the midfielder’s best effort.

More chances kept coming before half-time but Livi B kept riding the waves of attacks as best they could. McGachie had the ball in the back of the net from a corner but referee Greg Soutar spotted a foul in play and ruled the potential opener out. Khan and Conor Doan also tested Konovalov with strong strikes, but there was to be no breakthrough.

The second half got underway and the 600-plus Rose fans in attendance were excited at the prospect of goals flying in once the deadlock was finally broken.

A dangerous McGachie cutback was cleared away before a simple tap-in could occur. McGachie stabbed the ball wide following some excellent play from Young. Young then tested Konovalov himself at his front post but a strong stop kept the score level. Hall headed over from close range. Currie’s ferocious strike across goal was headed on by Hall but the ball zipped just wide of the far post.

Five minutes, five chances, no goal. It soon began to feel like this wouldn’t be Bonnyrigg’s night.

Currie placed an effort over the bar; Turner curled one wide from distance after being played through by substitute Kevin Smith; Young surged forward once again only to be denied by a fine goal line clearance by McFarlane-Letham.

Somehow, again, still no goal.

Scott Gray, brought on alongside his brother Ross to freshen things up, skipped past Che Reilly but after taking aim at goal was denied by another stop from Konovalov. Less than a minute later, McGachie did fantastically well to twist his body enough to get on the end of a Turner ball into the mixer, but his header whizzed over the bar.

As the tie got into the final ten minutes, the Rose put on more pressure than before as the young opposition put ten men behind the ball in hope of holding out for penalties.

Off the bench, Neil Martyniuk gave the experienced Livi ‘keeper his umpteenth test of the tie with a powerful lashed effort, before Scott Gray cut inside from the right flank and let off a fierce left-footed strike destined for the goal, only to be denied by another top stop from Konovalov.

Young fired agonisingly wide from inside the area with five minutes to go, before a flurry of half-chances and a late, late penalty shout following a clattering handed out to McGachie by an over-exuberant Konovalov rounded out 99 minutes of goalless action.

With the score incredibly still level – despite Rose leading the young visitors 27 to 2 on the shot count – the tie headed to penalties. An eager NPD crowd, no longer bathed in sunshine but rather watching on under the floodlights, were hoping for our penalty maestros to finish the tough tie off.

But, again, it just wasn’t Rose’s day.

Martyniuk and Currie both had their penalty kicks saved well by Konovalov, before Turner smashed his home to give the Rose a chance – as Livi had coolly netted all three of their own up to this point. A further lifeline was handed out as Michael Aitken missed his spot kick for the visitors but Doan was unable to convert his either. Rose 1, Livi 3.

Despite Rose having complete control of the tie and creating more than enough chances, it is Livingston B who progress to the second round of the SPFL Trust Trophy due to their resilient defensive display, a standout goalkeeping performance and three well-taken penalty kicks.

For Rose, attention promptly turns back to the league as the lads make a lengthy trip to Stair Park on Saturday to take on Stranraer.

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