

Match report by Liam Parkinson.
The Rosey Posey made the longer than usual trip to Stair Park due to road closures to face a tough Blues side who had picked up 21 of their 26 points on their home turf. Rose were coming of the back off 4 straight defeats since the turn of the year; today the squad - and the fans - hoped that streak ended. Stranraer were also looking to bounce back after a 2-1 defeat last week to Forfar and regain form on their own patch.
Manager Robbie Horn made 2 changes to the starting line up from last weeks' 2-1 loss to Annan, giving Kieran Mitchell his first start since his return to the club and the Tranent Péle Al Horne at the heart of the Rose defence.
The first half started slowly with both teams creating half-chances but nothing enough to beat the respective goalkeepers.
It wasn’t until the 45th minute when a sumptuous chipped ball over the defence by Alan Horne was misjudged by the Stranraer defender and allowed Mitchell to nip in front of him and was duly brought down in the box.
Martyniuk stepped up to the spot coolly but unfortunately not cool enough this time with Connelly in the Blues' goal getting down to his left quickly, ending Neil’s 100% record from the spot this season.
The second half started in a similar fashion to the opening period with the home side seeing more of the ball when a second yellow was handed to Stranraer’s No.16 Dylan Forrest after a foul on Young on 55 minutes. If anything the red card appeared to galvanise the home side and Rose had loanee goalkeeper Paddy Martin to thank as he popped up with 2 huge saves from Stranraer headers from corners on separate occasions.
Bonnyrigg piled on the pressure with big chances from Murray and Connolly not converted, but the deadlock was finally broken on the 90th minute when a Martyniuk corner was met by the flicked header of Young and a half volley of Connolly looped goalwards, forcing Connelly to tip it onto the crossbar but there waiting was substitute Alieu Faye to convert the rebound.
The full time whistle followed shortly after the whistle of referee Stuart Luke which was almost cancelled out by the roar of the relieved and ecstatic travelling Rose fans.
Rose are now on home soil for the remainder of the month, with the first of three fixtures at NDP on Tuesday night when they host high flyers Stirling Albion.
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