Match Preview
After four weeks away from NDP the club are back on home soil this weekend as they host Forfar Athletic. In the corresponding fixture earlier in the season goals by Martyniuk and Faye were enough to bring the points back to Midlothian, despite a Morrison header and a late rally from the Loons who were down to ten men for the final 20 minutes of the match.
Forfar got their season off to a flier with a very impressive Viaplay Cup campaign which saw them secure victories over higher league Angus neighbours Arbroath and Montrose and finishing level on points with St Mirren in their group, only edged out on goal difference for top spot. The Loons have yet to replicate this form in the league and currently lie in 8th position in the league table, two points ahead of bottom placed Clyde. Their last outing was against the aforementioned Bully Wee at Station Park who must have thought that their goal through Connor Young was enough to secure all three points but not for the first time this season, a late equaliser from summer signing Stuart Morrison meant a share of the spoils. It has been a regular feature for the ex Queen of the South and Queens’ Park man, who also netted late equalisers vs Huntly in the Scottish Cup and East Fife in the League over the past few weeks.
Rose will be looking to replicate the result of their last outing at NDP where the three points stayed in Midlothian vs Clyde, after a couple of disappointing results on the road over the past couple of weeks vs Dumbarton and in particular Elgin City, having had so much of the play and chances in the opening period. One positive to take last Saturday was the return of left back Reis Peggie after a number of weeks out with injury and the manager should have close to a full squad to choose from for Saturday’s match, with another home tie scheduled for Tuesday vs East Fife.
Rose go into the weekend with an unbeaten record vs the Loons since entering the SPFL but as last week only proved, past results mean little in a league of very fine margins.
Given the rainfall over the past couple of weeks due to the latest storm to hit Scotland, the current pitch condition is “soft but playable”. If there are any changes due to the expected overnight rain a pitch inspection will be organised and the club will provide updates as appropriate across our social media channels.
Admission for Saturday's match is PATG £14 adults, £9 concessions (+65, disabled, carer), under 16s £5 and U12s are free accompanied by a paying adult. Cash and card are accepted on all entrance gates, where 50/50 draw tickets (£1 each) and match programmes (£2) will also be on sale. Full details are available on our NDP Guide webpage. For those that can’t make the game we are live streaming the match from NDP, available to purchase for £10 on this link.
Our club shop which is located opposite the main snack bar will be open before the game once gates open at 14:00 and also at half time. Saturday's referee is Chris Fordyce and he is assisted by Paul McAvinue and Ross Anderson.
Previous meetings:
• Forfar Athletic 1 – 2 Bonnyrigg Rose (Morrison; Martyniuk, Faye) 26/08/23
• Forfar Athletic 0 – 1 Bonnyrigg Rose (Martyniuk) 22/04/23
• Bonnyrigg Rose 1 – 1 Forfar Athletic (McGachie; Armour) 28/02/23
• Forfar Athletic 1 – 1 Bonnyrigg Rose (Ferguson; Hunter) 12/11/22
• Bonnyrigg Rose 2 – 0 Forfar Athletic (Smith, S Gray) 30/07/22
Last 6 league results
Bonnyrigg Rose
• Elgin City 2 – 0 Bonnyrigg Rose
• Dumbarton 4 – 0 Bonnyrigg Rose
• Bonnyrigg Rose 3 – 2 Clyde (Sutherland (2), Buchanan)
• The Spartans 2 – 2 Bonnyrigg Rose (Gray, Currie)
• Bonnyrigg Rose 0 – 1 Stenhousemuir
• Peterhead 2 – 1 Bonnyrigg Rose (Martyniuk)
Forfar Athletic
• Forfar Athletic 1 – 1 Clyde (Morrison)
• Forfar Athletic 1 – 3 Stenhousemuir (Morrison)
• Forfar Athletic 1 – 3 Peterhead (Skelly)
• East Fife 1 – 1 Forfar Athletic (Morrison)
• Stranraer 0 – 2 Forfar Athletic (Paterson, Skelly)
• Forfar Athletic 2 – 2 The Spartans (Ross, Watson o.g)
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