Bonnyrigg Rose were tasked with making the long trip south to Stranraer on Tuesday evening to partake in the second round of the SPFL Trust Trophy.

The midweek fixture meant that Calum Eliott would have to make six changes to his team as Dean Watson, Keiran McGachie, Angus Mailer, Owen Wardell, Callum Connolly and Ben Scarborough all came into the side.

Rose had their fair share of chances in the first half, but they just couldn't make them count, as Wardell saw an early volley flash over the bar from just outside the area.

Ryan Edgar was leading the line for Stranraer and his header was safely collected by Tom Ritchie in the 12th minute.

Wardell continued to find promising positions in the final third, and after making space for a shot down the right flank, he couldn't cause too many problems for Rangers loanee Jacob Pazikas in the Stranraer net.

Ben Scarborough was next to test the young keeper, and his thunderbolt from range had Pazikas scrambling to his right side to tip it over.

Scarborough would go close again just a few moments later, this one a low driven strike from outside the area that rolled just beyond Pazikas' right post.

After sustaining the early Rose flurry in the first half-hour, Stranraer would punish Rose for not taking their chances, and Mark Russell fired it across the face of goal into Ritchie's far corner to give the Blues the lead heading into the break.

Stranraer started the second-half the stronger of the two sides, and they got their just reward as Craig Ross powered his header past Ritchie after a high corner from Airdrie loanee Elliot Dunlop.

The two-goal advantage would have been tough to overcome, but Rose would have a mountain to climb if they were to make a late comeback as half-time substitute Kerr Young hauled down Edgar who had made a run in behind the Rose defence, and was shown a straight red card by the referee.

Rose upped the ante late on, and would get a goal back to set up a tantalising final ten minutes as Craig Ross was unfortunate enough to turn the ball into his own net after some great play down the left from Bradley Barrett.

After helping create Rose's late goal, Barrett though he may have grabbed an equaliser late into added time when he looped his header over Pazikas, only for Ross to make amends for his own goal with an acrobatic goal line clearance to keep the home side in front.

Rose would exit the SPFL Trust Trophy in the second round stage, and will now turn their attention back to the William Hill League Two, as they make the short trip to Meadowbank Stadium to face Edinburgh City.

Gregor Bruce