D J Laing East of Scotland Cup
Bonnyrigg Rose 1 Kennoway Star Hearts 0
After a perfectly observed minutes silence the two teams soon got in the thick of the action. Bonnyrigg Rose one of the favourites for the Cup looked to get playmaker Currie on the ball at every opportunity. The midfielder was playing in a deep role and his ability to get on the ball and provide ammunition for the "Rose" strikers was a concern for Kennoway in the opening stages.
However the first real chance of the match fell to KSH. The well worked forward line of Band and M.Gay almost opened the scoring in the tenth minute when Band found some space on the left before whipping in a cross, M.Gay glanced a head on the ball leaving Andrews stranded in goal as the ball narrowly crept past the post.
After this let off the home side upped their play and surged up the other end where shots by McGahie and Nelson were charged down by some brave defending from Rolland then a combination of Young and Partridge.
Paterson was then called into action when he saved bravely at the feet of Brown as the pressure started to mount on the Fife side. Paterson was again called into action this time diving high to his right to claw away a net bound effort from Gray.
The home side`s pressure paid off on the half hour when a free kick from thirty yards was expertly dispatched into the top corner of the net by the impressive Currie.
Despite their efforts in trying to force some attacks the only other real note for the away side in the first half was a shot from distance from McGowan that again never really tested the home keeper. HT 1-0
The start of the second half saw a much more positive and attack minded KSH side. Inside the opening five minutes a succession of corners saw the pressure mount on the home defence. M.Gay was proving to be a handful with his strength and pace and a willingness to take the ball in tight situations for his side.
The game started to develop a pattern with a lot of the play down the left hand side of the KSH attack, Brewster and Muir becoming more involved as the half developed.
The threat of the home side was always evident though as they had players who could turn defence into attack with one killer pass.
The effort and commitment from KSH was posing some problems for Bonnyrigg and M.Gay almost grabbed an equaliser when a clever run from Muir opened up space on the left hand channel before his slide rule pass left M.Gay a chance with Andrews to beat, the keeper spread himself well and managed to get a block on the KSH strikers shot.
Confusion followed with ten minutes remaining. A long ball was played into the Kennoway penalty box and Paterson came out and dived at the feet of the Bonnyrigg player clearing the ball off him at the same time. Bizarrely the assistant flagged for a penalty kick with no one claiming for a penalty, in fact the player who was tackled got up to try and keep the ball in play.
Justice was done when Paterson topped off an impressive showing when he dived high to his right hand side saving Hoskins effort.
Into the closing minutes KSH tried to take the game to penalty kicks with efforts from Rolland and C.Gay blocked as a packed Bonnyrigg defence were making sure they progressed into the next round of the Cup. FT 1-0
TEAM: Paterson Young Doig Partridge Brewster McGowan Rolland C.Gay Muir M.Gay Band Subs: Craig Collins Lindsay
