Bonnyrigg strengthened their lead at the top of the table with a convincing 3 – 0 win against a stuffy side who came to New Dundas Park convinced they could take something back down the road after the game.
Robbie Horn’s men kicked off with a strong wind behind them kicking down the slope only to find a sea of blue in front of the visiting penalty box. Dalbeattie were here to defend come what may and defend they did. A mixture of good defending and poor finishing kept the game scoreless at the break with a Scott Gray effort hitting the woodwork the only highlight of a patchy first half.

Some harsh words could be heard coming from the home dressing room at half time as the manager urged his players to step up the tempo. Step up the tempo they did and within minutes they had created several good chances. Finally in the 58th minute they got the breakthrough they deserved when Jonny Brown lashed home a 20 yard volley from a Kerr Young cross. Still Dalbeattie played a defensive game making it very hard to break them down, but with 20 minutes to go they lost another goal; this time Ewan Moyes heading home a Lee Currie corner. Only 3 minutes later and disaster for Dalbeattie when Thorburn was red carded for denying Bonnyrigg sub George Hunter a goal scoring opportunity and they were down to 10 men. The game was won but a 3rd goal for the Rose duly arrived in injury time with a super move down the right wing by Keiran McGachie who crossed low for Hunter to side foot home from 5 yards.
A convincing win for the Rose in the end with the breakthrough coming from full back Jonny Brown, “We made it hard for ourselves today but, teams will come here and defend and it’s up to us to find a way through. We were possibly a wee bit too narrow in the first half and the gaffer was right during the break; thankfully I got the goal that settled us. I won’t score many right foot strikes during a season so that’s one to savour. We’ve another huge game for us this coming Friday at Cumbernauld but we’re standing up well to the challenges. It’s a really good league and for us to be in the position we’re in is hopefully pleasing our support.”

The Managers Interview
“That was hard work but we made it hard work for ourselves. Teams will come her to defend and that’s their right and it’s up to us to break them down. In the first half we found that difficult. We had a wee blast at the players at the break asking for another 15% of effort and that 15% made all the difference. At the end of the day we got the 3 points, a clean sheet and 3 goals into the bargain so we have to be pleased, plus we gave some players in the squad game time which helps everyone. We changed things around for this one but I have confidence in every player in the squad and I believed we would win in the end. The big games are coming thick and fast now with another one of Friday night at Cumbernauld and that will test us again.”

Bonnyrigg: Weir, Brett, Brown (Martynuik 81), Young, Moyes, Stewart, McGachie, Currie, R Gray, Docherty (Hunter 70), S Gray (Turner 70). Subs not used: Andrews, Horne, Baur.

Dalbeattie: Parker, Kerr, Thorburn, Cowie, Thomson, Wilson, Middlemass, Graham (Ferguson 53), Tremble (Brotherston 44), Sloan, Degnan. Subs not used: Telfer, O’Sullivan, Gibson.

Sending Offs: Dalbeattie, Thordurn 74.

Referee: Scott Lambie, AR1: Danny MacKinnon, AR2: Craig Ferguson

Att: 428