

Following a two-week layoff after the late postponement at Annan, Bonnyrigg Rose returned to action as the faced playoff hopefuls Stranraer at New Dundas Park. Considering the visitors poor away form, there was a lot of hope in the stands of a wet and windy NDP heading into the night's proceedings. There were two changes to the side that drew in Fife earlier in the month as an illness that ravaged the squad during the week ruled Alan Horne out of the game, replaced by Kerr Young and Lee Currie replaced the suspended Jonny Stewart.
Rose would see themselves having to chase the game yet again as a thunderbolt from Josh Walker gave Stranraer the early lead on 12 minutes. Rose saw the task as hand and used their early pressure as the searched for an equaliser, and they got just that on 26 minutes as pinball in the box eventually opened up for Ross Gray's deflected effort to fly into the back of the net. That wasn't all in the goals department from Rose in the first half as Kieran Mitchell poked home a second to give Rose a 2-1 lead to take into the break.
Stranraer came hot out the blocks in the second half as they looked for an equaliser. It was some more pinball in the box, but Rose were able to clear their lines, barely. Stranraer had a few more close calls, as the visitors were convinced they had grabbed their equaliser but Mikey Andrews collected and the scoreline remained with Rose in front. Rose would go on to get a third and effectively put the game to bed. Kieran Mitchell collided heavily with Stranraer keeper Luke Scullion, the latter who came off worse and had to be stretchered off. Martyniuk was on hand to take the penalty kick and the result of that was never in doubt as he cooly converted from 12 yards.
It wasn't to be without nerves and drama however, as it always is with Bonnyrigg Rose as a Luke Watt header brought Stranraer within one. the comeback wasn't to be as the game ended 3-2, a massive three points to lift Bonnyrigg Rose up to 8th in the table. Bonnyrigg Rose will look to carry this momentum over the break as they return on January 7th to face Albion Rovers at New Dundas Park