Written by Gregor Bruce

Bonnyrigg Rose made the journey to Galabank to face Annan Athletic in the Premier Sports Cup, after facing defeat on Saturday to Premiership opposition Dundee F.C.

Callum Elliot made four changes from last week's lineup, bringing in debut goalkeeper Tom Ritchie on loan from Aberdeen, deploying Josh Grigor into the backline, and slotting Dean Watson and Smart Osadolor into the front three.

The game presented chances from the beginning, with Tommy Goss’s header going wide in the 5th minute.

Smart Osadolor had the first clear chance of the half, as he rounded Greg Fleming in the Annan goal but lost his balance and fired his shot wide in the 6th minute.

Rose took an early lead through Bradley Barrett, who slotted a low driven shot past Fleming in the Annan goal.

The home side responded immediately through Paul McGowan in the 10th minute.

Tom Ritchie was tested on his Rose debut in the first half, making an acrobatic save from Aiden Smith's freekick and a double save from Tommy Goss's chances in the 25th minute.

The Galabankies took the lead in the later stages of the first half through Paul Smith, who won a one-on-one with the Rose goalkeeper to give Annan the lead at halftime.

The second half presented fewer chances for both sides. Annan had an opportunity through Wullie Gibson, whose shot went over the bar in the 54th minute, while Rose came close with an Aaron Arnott shot that nearly troubled Greg Fleming in the Annan goal.
Tommy Goss had the best chance of the half for Annan, firing wide of the Rose goal in the 66th minute. Arnott had another effort from outside the box just going over the crossbar in the 67th minute.Rose would get a late equaliser with recent signing from Stenhousemuir Bradley Rodden scoring from a low-driven shot on his left foot to beat Greg Fleming in the Annan goal to send the game to a penalty shootout.

Neil Martyniuk would convert first for Rose, with Tommy Goss scoring his for Annans first. Lee Currie’s penalty was stopped and Paul Smith would score for Annan with Tom Ritchie getting a hand to the shot. Brad Rodden would find the bottom right corner sending Greg Fleming the other way, with Tom Ritchie saving Josh Todd’s penalty to send the shootout to a frantic sudden death keeping Bonnyrigg Rose in the shootout. Kallum Higginbotham would rifle his penalty into the net while Max Kilsby would score his.Aaron Arnott would have his penalty saved by Greg Fleming while Tom Ritchie would save Josh Dixon’s penalty to keep Rose alive once again. Both sides would score there next 3 penalties Rose with Grigor, Wardell,Somerville and Annan with Muir,Quigg and Fleming. Ben Scarborough would score the last penalty of the shootout for Rose and Tom Ritchie would save Ryan Muir’s penalty to secure the extra point for Bonnyrigg Rose.

The Rose faithful will take only positives from this result, showing Elliot and Rose’s adjustments and improvements from last Saturday.

Bonnyrigg Rose will play Duncan Ferguson’s Inverness CT on Saturday at the Caledonian Stadium, looking for a positive result to add to their Premier Sports Cup campaign.