THIS was a really good second round East of Scotland Cup tie although the referee did his best to spoil it.

By half-time Bonnyrigg were reduced to 10 players and the home side nine. And this in a game with hardly a tackle to speak of.


Ross Hamilton was first to go after only 11 minutes when Mr Allan took exception to something he said and sent him off.

Quarter of an hour later Bo'ness forward Jon Mitchell was yellow carded after he complained about a late tackle.

He continued to protest, he received another yellow, and off he went.

Unbelievably, home forward Ross Muir joined his teammate for a similar offence before the interval.

The home side had started well with Andy Scott testing Michael Atai early on and wing back David Caine looking dangerous with his raids on the right.

Bonnyrigg had Kevin Bracks and Dean Walker accompanying David Burrell in a new midfield and overall it was a successful move. Scott Ritchie returned to the defence partnering Craig Lumsden.

David Caine set up David Morrison but he finished weakly as Bo'ness looked for the opening goal.

The Rose were struggling to get into the match but when Mitchell saw red the game changed. Bonnyrigg got more possession and James Morrice sent a lovely pass to Charlie Brigain on the right.

Charlie cut inside and sent a brilliant left foot shot behind Greg Logan for the opener.

The Rose kept good possession for the remainder of the first half and although the dangerous Caine set up Scott for a shot the visitors went in one up.

Kevin Bracks almost doubled the Rose lead just after the break but a great saving tackle by Eamonn Fullarton saved the day.

Sean Paliczka and Paddy Flannery were getting more of the ball and Paliczka, in particular, was a handful for the Bo'ness defence.

James Morrice had a good header saved before Bracks stopped a fiercely struck free kick from Will Snowdon which left him dazed for a while.

Against the run of play Bo'ness equalised when Dean Walker lost the ball in midfield and when Andy Scott's shot came back off a post Scott Brown reacted quickest to stroke home.

This signalled a big push from Bo'ness and Atai had to look lively to beat Brown to a through ball.

However, Bonnyrigg weathered the storm and David Burrell had a great chance to grab the second but finished weakly.

David made up for this with eight minutes left when he controlled a brilliant pass from Kevin Bracks and stroked a fine goal past Logan.

Then, in injury time, Sean Paliczka robbed Graeme Gaffney on halfway and showed great composure to finish with a fine shot behind Logan.

The speedy striker deserved this goal for another all-action display.

David Caine became the third home player to see red for a late tackle on Darran Thomson just before the final whistle.

A good result for Bonnyrigg and now they look forward to the Scottish Cup tie at Ballingry this week against the Rovers.

It is hoped that they will be smiling on the bus home come full-time.

Bo'ness United: Logan, Caine, Fullarton, Snowdon, Gaffney, Mullen, Mitchell, Scott, Muir, Brown, Morrison. Subs: Wells, McCafferty, Allison, Mauchline, Kirkwood (gk).
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic: Atai, Morrice, Hamilton, Lumsden, Ritchie, Walker, Brigain, Burrell, Flannery, Bracks, Paliczka. Subs: Killin, Thomson, McKenna, McCaul, Coyle (gk).
Referee: S Allan.

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