Stephen Reid

“The Rose” are back in League action as we welcome The Spartans to NDP for this re-arranged match that was postponed on the 7th of December.

This will be the first home match of 2025 and the first League game in over 7 weeks after 3 away games in a row and “The Rose” will be looking to get back to winning ways as we look to start moving up the League.

This will be the first League outing of the year for The Spartans due to postponements and Cup ties.

Last time out in William Hill League 2 action “The Rose” went down to a 2-0 defeat at Meadowbank to Edinburgh City.

Edinburgh City began the match on the front foot. In the 8th minute, Connor Young was brought down by Kerr Young, and he converted the resulting penalty past Andrews in the Rose goal. Young then continued to threaten, forcing a great save from Mikey Andrews.

Cammy Ross nearly equalized for Rose in the 15th minute, but his shot hit the side netting. Young was also unlucky to miss several chances, including a shot that struck the post in the 30th minute, a near miss following a miscommunication in Rose’s defence, and a saved free kick just before halftime.

The second half saw a shift in momentum as Bonnyrigg Rose fought hard for control. They had several dangerous spells of possession, with Cammy Ross having two shots blocked in the 55th minute.

Just five minutes later, Rose created two excellent opportunities. First, Weir made a superb save to deny a curling shot from Ross, and then Neil Martyniuk came agonizingly close to an equalizer, heading a shot off the crossbar that bounced on the line but didn’t cross.

As the game drew to a close, Edinburgh City sealed all 3 points in additional time with Ouzy See bundling the ball into the net. Mikey Andrews made an excellent save to deny Zaid’s shot, to close out a frustrating afternoon for Rose.

In their previous League match The Spartans came out on top in the League 2 Edinburgh derby with a 1-0 win over Edinburgh City with a Blair Henderson penalty mid way through the second half dividing the sides.

In the last meeting between the sides at Ainslie Park in August The Rose went down to a 2-0 defeat

The first big chance of the game fell Rose's way as Lee Currie narrowly missed the net from a free kick in a dangerous area.

Neil Martyniuk then saw a space open up for him in front of the Spartans penalty box, and he let off a powerful strike that forced Spartans' Trialist goalkeeper into a fine save.

Spartans had one final chance to close out an incredibly even first-half, as Bradley Whyte fashioned a good opportunity in the box but rolled his effort wide of Ritchie's goal.

After the break, Spartans came out the stronger side at the beginning of the second half, and after James Craigen threatened with his effort that struck the side-netting,

Blair Henderson netted the opening goal of the game as he slotted past Tom Ritchie at the second time of asking following the initial save.

In search of a response, Dean Watson was brought on for Bradley Barrett, and Rose went close as Aaron Arnott saw his effort from just inside the area go narrowly wide of the Spartans' goal.

Dean Watson and Kallum Higginbotham would both go close, but Spartans would prove to be clinical in the final third, as Henderson struck his second of the afternoon late in the game to secure all 3 points.

The Rose didn’t go down without a fight, and Ross thought he had netted the debut goal he would've been hoping for, but his header was judged to have been offside in a very tight offside decision.

Bonnyrigg Rose (last 5 league results)

04/01/25 = Edinburgh City 2-0 Bonnyrigg Rose
21/12/24 = Peterhead 2-0 Bonnyrigg Rose
14/12/24 = Forfar Athletic 5-1 Bonnyrigg Rose
03/12/24 = Bonnyrigg Rose 2-1 Stirling Albion
30/11/24 = Bonnyrigg Rose 1-1 East Fife

The Spartans (last 5 league results)

28/12/24 = The Spartans 1-0 Edinburgh City
21/12/24 = East Fife 5-1 The Spartans
14/12/24 = The Spartans 3-2 Clyde
10/12/24 = The Spartans 1-3 Stranraer
16/11/24 = The Spartans 3-0 Stirling Albion

Bonnyrigg Rose v The Spartans (last 5 league results)

10/08/24 = The Spartans 2-0 Bonnyrigg Rose
20/04/24 = Bonnyrigg Rose 0-1 The Spartans
05/03/24 = Bonnyrigg Rose 2-2 The Spartans
24/02/24 = The Spartans 2-1 Bonnyrigg Rose
30/09/23 = The Spartans 2-2 Bonnyrigg Rose

Referee: Sean Murdoch
AR1Ian Hart
AR2Kevin Murray

*Next Match v Stirling Albion (Forthbank Performance Centre) Saturday 25th January Kick Off 3pm.