Bonnyrigg Rose .................................... 3

Sauchie Juniors ..................................... 2

SAUCHIE did not take any points from New Dundas Park in this McBookies.com Superleague match on Saturday, but they will have learnt a lot in defeat.

The first half was a struggle for Sauchie but the home side did not take full advantage of their superiority.

Going in at half time only a goal down allowed Fraser Duncan to recalibrate the players with a few sharp words and they came out in the second period a different side. Even when they went down to ten men Sauchie defended well and attacked with danger.

The Rose were pegged back early on in the match with Ant McTaggart and Davie Morrison dictating play from the midline. Conor Kelly was released by McTaggart with his shot being direct past by the outstretched leg of Dean Hoskins. Then Kelly outpaced Hoskins to get on the end of a Morrison through ball and nutmegged the keeper with the ball nestling in the wrong side of the side netting.

Bonnyrigg took the lead in nine minutes. A Jon Stewart free kick looked to be carrying long but Steven Dolan took no chances and headed out for a corner. Alan Horne swung in the free kick with the ball dancing around as if in a bagatelle until Wayne McIntosh prodded home.

Stewart then grabbed control of the midfield as the home side took confidence from the goal. The midfielder released McIntosh who swept past Gary McCulloch and cut back to Kieran McGachie forcing Ross Harkness to make a brave point blank stop.

Dolan then made a timely tackle on McGachie just inside the box to halt another attempt at goal. Hoskins was doing a Sterling job at the back for the home side and added his height to attack heading a Stewart free kick inches over.

Two minutes into the second half Sauchie were level. Ryan Millar picked the ball up wide on the right and dribbled past a couple of tackles then raced into the box only to be felled by Hoskins and a penalty awarded. Michael Andrews got his fingers on the ball but the powerful shot from Kelly entered the net at the post.

Sauchie countered well when McTaggart defended strongly and broke up a home attack to run the ball into the opposition half and pass to Brian Morgan for a shot that carried over.

Bonnyrigg were awarded a penalty in 54 minutes when McGachie fell under the attention of McCulloch with the Sauchie player receiving his second yellow card for his troubles. Hoskins despatched the kick from 12 yards.

The Rose picked up the pace against the ten men and ploughed forward to win a corner on the right. Horne swung in the kick with McGachie heading at goal and cleared off the line by McTaggart and over the bar by Andy Kidd.

Iain Syme and Bruce McAdam linked on the Sauchie left with Millar gathering the cross and blasting at goal with a sea of red and white hoops diving to block.

The Rose increased their lead in the 80th minute. Mr Millar awarded a free kick on the edge of the Sauchie box when McGachie again went down with Davie Morrison in attendance. Hoskins placed the ball past the wall and squeezed in at the post.

Sauchie were back in the game when a Stuart Love Shot inside the box struck the arm of Ewan Moyes and Sauchie had a second penalty of the match. Kelly stepped up as before and sent the ball into the back of the net.

The visitors were not taking any more chances and started to run down the clock with the ball being taken into corners and stopping Sauchie from building for an equaliser.

Sauchie: Harkness, Dolan (Love), Syme, Tapping, McCulloch, McTaggart (Brown), Millar, Morrison, Kelly, Morgan, Boyle (McAdam).

UP NEXT: On Saturday Sauchie are away to Linlithgow Rose in a McBookies East Region Super league match. Kick off 2.30.