An unchanged Rose XI were in control of the opening 15 minutes, but it was Stenny winger Matty Yates who let fly with the first chance of the game and forced a strong stop from Rose ‘keeper Paddy Martin.

Minutes after blasting one wide from distance; Kerr Young whizzed a fierce strike on his left peg just over the crossbar after a cross fell perfectly to the centre-half on the edge of the area.

Gavin Reilly thought he had nabbed his third goal in three games when he got on the end of a low cross and guided the ball home, only for the potential opener to be struck off by the linesman for offside.

The best chance of the game fell to Rose forward Kieran Mitchell, who was slipped in by Keiran McGachie following some silky footwork in the box from the big man, but the loanee’s low, close-range shot was thwarted by the outstretched leg of former Kilmarnock shot-stopper Curtis Lyle.

The host’s rapidly raced up to the other end before a crucial interception from Josh Grigor halted the threat momentarily. The ball trickled out to Michael Miller but the midfielder’s strike was well held by Martin.

It took until the 71st minute for another ‘chance’ to come for either side, as Stenny skipper Sean Crighton was saved by his own crossbar after a nodded clearance went wrong.

The home side took control for the final 15 as Rose, with injury niggles forcing tactical changes, looked to hold on. The first of a few late chances came when substitute Thomas Orr nearly smuggled the ball into the net at the post from a deep cross, if not for an alert Martin preventing the striker from opening the scoring.

A second disallowed goal for the hosts frustrated those in the Norway Stand. A long throw-in was turned in at the front post but a foul on Chris Kane was called by referee Barry Cook, before a final chance came for the home side with just moments to go when Yates peeled away from Young outside the area and let off a central strike that was held with relative ease by Martin.

A point well-earned on the road sets the Rose up for next weekend’s clash with Dumbarton at NDP.

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