Bonnyrigg batter Bathgate ahead of semi

By ALISTAIR DONALD
Published on 09/04/2012 12:31

Bonnyrigg Rose 5

Bathgate Thistle 0

Bonnyrigg prepared for their Scottish Cup semi-final against Auchinleck next weekend with an emphatic win against a Bathgate side who rarely threatened.

Indeed, the Rose could have been three or four up before James Steele opened their account with a coolly taken goal, rounding Mark Lunn after a fine move. Previous to this, Ross Archibald brought out a fine save from Lunn and Alex King almost destroyed the bar from the rebound.

Further goals from Ross Archibald and Alex King made it three goals in four minutes for the very impressive Rose who played some delightful football which Bathgate had no answer to.

Bonnyrigg eased off somewhat in the second half, but were still far too good for Bathgate.

Stevie Thomson and Steele both hit wood before substitute Ryan McCallum headed in a cross from the impressive Sean Grady.

Bathgate substitute Nicky Pelc saw red in 75 minutes for a last-man tackle and Kevin McLeish fired home the resultant free-kick to seal a very good victory for Bonnyrigg.

Bonnyrigg Rose: Weir, McLeish, S Thomson, Woodburn, Dunn, Stevie Thomson, King, Burrell, Archibald, Grady, Steele. Subs: McCallum, Paliczka, Gray, McKenna, Morrice. SG: Burgess.

Bathgate Thistle: Lunn, McCulloch, Hamilton, Lieper, Buchanan, Fallon, Jeffrey, Andreoni, Culton, Bonnes, McColligan. Subs: Pelc, Hogg, Johnston.