Bonnyrigg Rose made 3 changes ahead of their visit to Forthbank to take on league leaders Stirling Albion. Kieran Mitchell, Conor Doan and Josh Grigor came into the side replacing Keiran McGachie, the injured Lee Currie and Bob Wilson.

Chances were scarce in the opening periods of the game, wit Kyle Banner hitting it high and wide of Mark Weir’s goal early on. The first goal of the game fell the way of Stirling Albion as Dale Carrick fired in the ball following a long throw. Mark Weir was on form following the opener to keep Rose in the game, tipping over a header from a corner from Jordan McGregor and another good save with his feet to deny Robert Thomson. Rose needed an equaliser before half time to make a good go at it in the second half and they did just that in the 41st minute. Conor Doan took the ball down the left hand side and laid it on a plate for Kevin Smith who prodded it home and brought Rose level heading into the break.

The second half started off with a controversial penalty decision that went the way of Stirling Albion as Kai Fotheringham went down in the box. Dale Carrick slammed home his brace from the spot to put the Binos back in front. Dale Carrick was the danger man before the game and he was proving it, showing persistence down the flanks to get the ball to Kyle Banner but his effort flew over the bar. Rose’s changes helped swing the momentum momentarily in the second half, with McGachie, Zach Khan and Ross Gray taking to the field adding some more to the Rose attack. Mark Weir was called into action again producing the fined save of the match to deny Ross Davidson’s powerful long-range effort. Their were loud shouts from the Rose faithful as McGachie went down in the box, but referee Colin Whyte was having none of it. Robbie Horne made a final tactical change with Kieran Hall replacing Alan Horne for the final ten minutes, but it was going to take a lot more to get back into the game as a matter of moments later Callum Connolly received a controversial second yellow, which meant Rose had to play the final few minutes with ten men. The final chances of the game went Albion’s way, Carrick and Danny Denholm firing wide before the full time whistle went.

Bonnyrigg Rose will look to take the positives from the performance and build upon them when they face Elgin City at New Dundas Park.