Rose’s League Cup run got off to a stuttering start against Premiership side Dundee on Saturday. It was an afternoon to forget at NDP, with Rose conceding seven goals to The Dark Blues.

Smart Osadolor managed to claw one back in the second half, but Dundee’s quality proved too much and they ran out 7-1 winners.

Bonnyrigg Rose kicked off their competitive campaign at New Dundas Park with the return of the Premier Sports Cup. A familiar foe awaited in Dundee, the two sides being drawn against each other in the group stages last season. Just one goal separated the sides in last year’s meeting, with Rose narrowly losing out after Zak Rudden found the back of the net early in the second half.

Tony Docherty’s men finished sixth in the Scottish Premiership last season, making them the highest ranked team in the group stages.

Sean Murphy, Kallum Higginbotham and Kieran Somerville all made their competitive debuts for Rose. Dundee’s new signing Simon Murray started on the bench, having completed his move from Ross County this week.

Rose had to withstand an early onslaught from the Premiership side, with Fin Robertson hitting the underside of the bar from Curtis Main’s cross after just 20 seconds.

Luke McCowan and Scott Tiffoney combined in another rapid attack for Dundee ten minutes later, the latter playing the ball across goal for Main to break the deadlock, firing his shot into the top left corner.

The visitors never took their foot off the gas; goals from Antonio Portales, Lyall Cameron and a second for Main sent Rose into the break 4-0 down.

The second half continued in a similar vein as Rose struggled to get a hold of the game. As the rain battered New Dundas Park, Welsh defender Ryan Astley made it six, before Smart Osadolor gave the home crowd something to cheer about, dribbling into the box and slotting a right-footed shot past keeper Jon McCracken from close range.

Main completed his hat-trick for The Dark Blues with a header from Lyall Cameron’s cross and sealed a hefty scoreline of 7-1. A sore one to take for Rose against a tough top flight opposition.

Manager Calum Elliot and the team will take the learnings from the match and bounce back quickly with trips to Annan and Inverness coming next week.