Match day 23 for Bonnyrigg and they are on their travels again this week, to face Kelty Hearts for the first time in four seasons when both teams were playing their trade in the juniors. This will be the first time that the two sets of players will have faced each other however, as the sole survivor from that Kelty squad from season 16/17 is midfielder Stephen Husband whilst ten of the Bonnyrigg squad from that season are available for selection for today's game. There is little to go on therefore based on past performances between the two teams and both squads can only go on the fantastic results of each other so far this season going into this fixture.
Kelty have won 21 of their 23 leagues games so far this season, with the only points dropped at New Central Park due to a draw vs East Stirlingshire. The Hearts board and management team have been busy of late bolstering their already talented squad with the acquisitions of defender Craig Reid from East Kilbride and Michael Tidser from Falkirk as they look to gear themselves up for a final assault on the title.
Bonnyrigg for their part have won 20 of their 22 league games so far this campaign, and since their opening away league fixture at Christie Gillies Park vs Civil Service Strollers which ended in a draw, the Rose have picked up maximum points on the road in the following 12 games..
There has been understandably a lot of hype this week ahead of today's game but both teams have been at pains to state the fixture isn't a title decider, with both teams still to face each other in four weeks time and a tricky run of games against other sides in the run in. What is does give is an indication of where the title may end up and who can gain an advantage against the other as two sides that have matched each other all season.
A big crowd is expected today at New Central Park so if you are planning on attending please arrive in plenty of time for the 3:00 scheduled kick off time.

Remaining fixtures

Kelty Hearts

29th Feb Bonnyrigg (H)
10th Mar BSC (H)
14th Mar Edin Uni (A)
21st Mar Cumbernauld (H)
28th Mar Bonnyrigg (A)
11th Apr BSC (A)
18th Apr Berwick (H)

Bonnyrigg Rose

29th Feb Kelty (A)
7th Mar Civil Sv Str (H)
14th Mar Gala (H)
21st Mar Berwick (H)
28th Mar Kelty (H)
4th Apr Spartans (H)
11th Apr Gretna (H)
18th Apr E Strilingshire (A)