Vale of Leithen 0 Bonnyrigg Rose 2

Report by John Gilmour

It was back to League business for the Rose after their Scottish Cup exploits a couple of weeks ago and an opportunity to grab another vital three points against a team struggling near the foot of the table. The conditions of the pitch would play a huge part in how the game would turn out as heavy rain continued to lash the Innerleithen countryside. The game looked in danger of being abandoned both by the weather and the 2 pm kick off meaning a dusky finish at the end of 90 minutes.
The referee ruled the pitch was playable although very heavy so we had a game on or hands. Vale settled quickly and for a brief few minutes were looking good until in the 9th minute they had to use their only sub they had when Calum O’Neil had to go off with Russell Dent replacing him. Bonnyrigg then stepped up a gear and were soon peppering the Vale goal only to find keeper Ross Gilpin in good form. The Rose created numerous chances in the first period but it was all square at half time.
The rain stopped during the interval but the ground conditions continued to deteriorate the longer the game went on the real danger was the referee abandoning the game itself with no result. The breakthrough did eventually come after Bonnyrigg’s pressure finally paid off when George Hunter headed home a cross from the left by Scott Gray, after the assistant had initially raised his flag for offside which the referee over-ruled. Bonnyrigg pressed hard for a 2nd but it took the Rose until the 88th minute to double their advantage. Even then there was a lot of confusion regarding the referee’s decision. Dean Brett had knocked the ball home from close in but the referee looked to have blown before he had kicked the ball, his hand movement meant it could have been literally any of four different decisions. Eventually he ruled it was a goal and the Rose could relax with the game finally won.
A strange game with plenty for the supporters to shout about; offside claims by the barrowload and played in difficult conditions but it is another three points in the bag and still at the right end of the table.
Robbie’s Interview.
“I had doubts about the game going ahead as the pitch was in the same condition as the Montrose match finished, which was just about unplayable. However the game went ahead and the pitch is the same for both teams so we just had to get on with it. I felt we were always in control of the game and the fact our keeper Mark Weir had a clean jersey after 90 minutes tells you how the game played out. I have to give credit to our players who stuck to the task and did the job we had to do, it was just about getting the win and moving on. I thought to their credit the Vale made it really difficult for us to break them down and when it's 0-0 or only 1-0 you are always worried that one slip in these conditions and we could be punished. We created plenty of chances but the conditions ruined any chance of good football from either team. However it’s a very important 3 points for us and keeps us up there.”

Vale of Leithen: Gilpin, Higgins, Imlah, A Smith, Rixon, Hill, Robertson, L Smith, Anderson, O’Neil(Dent), Holt. Subs:
Bonnyrigg: M Weir, Brett, Brown, Horne, Moyes, Martynuik, Baur, R Gray(Docherty), S Gray, Currie, Hunter(McGachie). Subs: Turner, Andrews, Neave, N Weir.
Bookings: Vale of Leithen: Anderson, Imlah, L Smith,