Bonnyrigg Rose 3-1 Fraserburgh

Bonnyrigg Rose 3-1 Fraserburgh

SPFL League Two Play-Off Semi-Final (First Leg)

Saturday 23rd April 2022

At last; a trip back up to Scotland to see a relatively important game!

This time it was Bonnyrigg Rose versus Fraserburgh in the first leg of the pyramid Play-Offs to decide who’ll take on Cowdenbeath for a place in League Two next season.

Although it might not be everyone’s idea for an enjoyable afternoon, the 1,500-strong crowd who turned out at a sunny but windy New Dundas Park might disagree as they were treated to a solid showing by the Lowland League champions who more than deserved their 3-1 win.

Whereas Bonnyrigg showed quality in good areas, Fraserburgh opted for a more physical approach and other than a scrappy goal off a long-throw during their only period on top, they didn’t actually do that much else. They’ll definitely need to play a lot better in the return leg at Bellsea Park if they’re to stand a chance of overturning the damage already done.

Having never been to New Dundas Park previously, what I didn’t realise beforehand was that the ground has no seats apart a couple of wooden benches tucked away in one corner, whilst the pitch slopes about six feet in both directions. It means the place is unique (as I can’t think of too many other environments with such a noticeable slope) and on an occasion with so much at stake, Bonnyrigg handled the pressure and expectations far better.

They attacked ‘uphill’ for the first 45 minutes and went close for the first time through left-back Brad Barrett (who looked weirdly familiar despite the fact I’ve only seen him play once previously), when he hooked a shot into the side-netting following a deep cross towards the back-post area.

Lee Currie’s experience in midfield helped Bonnyrigg implement their game-plan and they spent plenty of time in their opponents’ half in search of a breakthrough. Currie had that extra bit of quality in possession, plus a decent touch, and was influential (as was big target man Kieran McGachie ahead of him) whereas Fraserburgh’s direct, abrasive and physical style gradually became more and more apparent as minutes passed.

Currie almost worked an opening when he brilliantly beat his man out wide and played an inviting ball into the middle but nobody was able to make a connection and the Highlanders escaped with no damage done. A closer effort soon followed when Kerr Young let fly with a rip-roaring 30-yard thunder-drive from a partially-cleared corner which flew just a whisker wide of the post.

It was clear by this point that the game had a  genuine tenacity about it. There was an edge, a bite, it was physical and combative and it needed a good referee to keep a lid on things. However, Alan Newlands, the man with the whistle, didn’t help cool emotions with three or four erratic decisions which infuriated players on both teams. There were no major decisions he had to make (just basics which he got wrong) and with temperatures rising, a flare-up of some sort seemed inevitable.

It finally unfolded just past the half-hour when Barrett; who’d already been caught with a sly elbow that went unpunished - and was bleeding from his arm owing to an earlier incident, was again ‘roughed up’ on the touchline near to the dugouts as a throw-in was awarded the wrong way. A scuffle ensued for which Barrett was booked along with Fraserburgh’s Grant Campbell.

Bonnyrigg then got the opening goal which their superior quality merited and it came in pretty straightforward fashion from a set-piece. Currie’s whipped in ball from 35 yards was met by a solid header by McGachie and with the visiting ‘keeper rooted to the spot, there was nothing he could do to keep it out.

With the Lowlanders still leading 1-0 at the break, Fraserburgh knew they had to be much better in the second half and impose their own philosophies to better effect yet things got worse for them before they got any better as they conceded a second goal on 54 minutes. This time it came from open play and McGachie turned from scorer to provide; knocking down a ball straight into the path of Cal Connolly who picked his spot with aplomb to make it 2-0.

If the visitors weren’t in a spot of bother already then they most certainly were at this point, but to their credit they put up an immense fight over the next 15-20 minutes (when they could have otherwise sunk and gone on to get hammered), and they enjoyed their best spell of the game in terms of territorial pressure and chances.

It paid dividends because they salvaged what should have been a lifeline going into next weekend’s second leg when they reduced arrears to 2-1 on 70 minutes. It wasn’t the prettiest of goals; a long-throw causing Bonnyrigg problems at the back and Paul Young’s close-range connection, aided by a fortuitous bounce off the woodwork, resulted in the ball ended up in the back of the net.

With the game now feeling very much alive as a contest once again, buoyed by having pulled one back, Fraserburgh almost snatched an equaliser as another long-throw (this time from the opposite side) was hauled into the box and eventually cleared in less than convincing style by the Lowland League champions.

Just as nerves were starting to jangle though, Bonnyrigg restored their two-goal cushion down at the other end to ensure they have a margin for error going into the second leg showdown at Bellsea Park. Sean Butcher fouled Dean Brett right on the edge of the area and from such a dangerous position, Currie’s glorious curling strike from the resulting free-kick flew straight into the top corner - much to the joy of his team-mates as he was immediately mobbed by them all.

With Fraserburgh deflated and unable to muster up any kind of reaction to having conceded the third, incredibly Bonnyrigg (now well on top, in command and with belief flowing through their veins) could have added another with what was pretty much the last kick of the game deep into injury-time although it wasn’t to be.

Whilst the contest is far from over just yet, on the evidence of this game alone then Bonnyrigg are miles superior to Fraserburgh (certainly from a football perspective). They deserved the two-goal cushion which they established and it’s hard to envisage it being overturned.

That said, it won’t be easy for Bonnyrigg in the second leg and I’m sure everyone can visualise the sort of atmosphere in unfamiliar surroundings which will await them at Bellsea Park - where the onus will be entirely on the Highlanders to go out, impose their direct and physical style to better effect, and cause lots more problems. Given how Fraserburgh got their goal (plus that defending set-plays/long-throws seemed to be Bonnyrigg’s weakness) then I’d certainly expect an aerial bombardment from the Highlanders at some point or another.

If that doesn’t materialise and Bonnyrigg are able to knock the ball around and dictate to the same extent again, then I’d have no doubt that Cowdenbeath will be heading to New Dundas Park to play them in the pyramid Play-Off Final.