

Written by James McKenzie
Bonnyrigg Rose went into the final day of the season with their position in the SPFL still up in the air, but the players knew their destiny was in their hands as they faced Elgin City at NDP. Robbie Horn made one change heading into the game with Dean Brett coming back into the side.
With a massive crowd of over 2,000 people eagerly anticipating kick-off the game got under way, and Rose were hot out of the blocks. An early chance fell the way of Keiran McGachie, his final touch letting him down but still able to force Daniel Hoban to make the save. The best from McGachie would come later in the game though.
Rose maintained their grip on the game but were unable to add the finishing touch in the first period, that was until the 14th minute when Kerr Young had the ball in the back of the net and NDP rejoiced, only for the linesman's flag to spoil the celebrations.
Rose continued to push on, all the while remaining assured at the back to stop the threat of an Elgin counter. Rose were however forced into an early change, Ross Gray went off injured just before the half hour mark and was replaced by Lee Currie.
Callum Connolly was next to go close with the final chance of the first half, an inch-perfect curled effort from inside the box which Hoban had to tip past the post at full stretch.
Rose's constant pressure and control would all pay off in the second half, and it took just 4 minutes of the second period for Rose to go in front, Keiran McGachie getting on the end of a corner to flick home at the front post. He wasn't just content with the one goal though as he immediately went in search of a second, seeing his header go over the bar just mere moments after netting the opener.
He would go on to grab his second though as Lee Currie caught the Elgin defenders napping and nicked the ball in the final third before laying the chance off for McGachie to finish and NDP erupted as the reality of their SPFL status started to sink in.
Rose would net a third late on as Scott Gray curled beyond Hoban after some good wing play, the cherry on top of a phenomenal Rose performance.
NDP let out a roar as the full-time whistle went, sheer jubilation with safety secured in style on the final day. The young Rose fans behind the goal, who have been in fine voice all season ran onto the park and celebrated with the squad and management team, a perfect scene to close out Rose's first season in the SPFL.