Anderson wonder goal breaks Colts

Anderson, in the presence of Rangers and Manchester United scouts at Bonnyrigg's New Dundas Park, scored the winning goal in a 3-2 victory by flicking the ball over the head of his marker and rattling the net with a 30-yard thunderbolt.

In the first half, Bonnyrigg's Andrew Garson and Mark Bird each grabbed a goal to cancel out Jack Landsborough's opener for Musselburgh, before substitute Darren Drever equalised for Colts midway through the second half. Garson tapped in from close range after Buchanan parried Anderson's long-range effort, while Bird converted when he received a left-sided ball from Anderson, before exchanging passes with Calum Smart and striking just inside the area.

Landsborough had scored with Colts' very first chance on 20 minutes. He collected the ball 40 yards from goal and burst forward with several Bonnyrigg defenders in pursuit, who forced him wide, but he rolled the ball into the corner from a tight angle.

Anderson came close to scoring early in the game when his free kick from the edge of the area passed inches wide of the post. Garson then had a chance to open the scoring when, after capitalising on a defensive error, he had clear sight on goal, but his shot curled wide of the post.

However, Bonnyrigg seemed unfazed by going a goal down against the run of play and maintained their strong work ethic to equalise within five minutes, and Smart almost gave them an instant lead when he received the ball on the edge of the busy penalty box and hit a powerful shot, which was saved well by Buchanan.

After a quiet opening to the second half, Bonnyrigg had the first chance ten minutes in when Smart's high cross was headed just wide of the post by Bird from close range. But Colts soon looked the much better side and dominated possession for a 20 minute spell. Colts' Dylan Hendry nodded the ball onto substitute Liam Glen on the edge of the area, who paced towards goal and saw his firm strike saved by Aitken at his near post. Soon after, Stuart Russell hit a nice long ball through to Glen just inside the area but the advancing Buchanan did enough to trouble Glen and his shot drifted wide.

But Musselburgh did level matters when the ball fell to Drever inside the box and he weaved around a defender before hitting low past Marc Aitken from six yards. Following their equaliser Colts had a chance to take the lead when Drever headed Millar's long corner towards goal, but the ball sailed straight into the arms of Buchanan.

Anderson's moment of brilliance then swayed the game back in Bonnyrigg's favour and proved enough for them to win the cup.

Musselburgh's Glen almost kept the tie alive in the dying moments of the game, when a long ball from midfield put him one-on-one with the keeper, but he was disappointed to see his 12-yard shot swerve high and to the left of goal.

Colts coach, Jim Cullen, reflected on missed opportunities. "In the first half we didn't really play to our full potential," he said. "But, for the second half I asked the boys to come out and battle and to be fair I think we were the better team from then on and I thought we might have scored more. But the late goal from Bonnyrigg was fantastic, and that's a cup final for you."

Bonnyrigg coach, Nick McDowell, said: "The boys have worked well this season and they deserved something out of this game. I think the first half was a great performance and then in the second half Colts came back into it. But what a goal from Michael - that was a strike worthy of any final."

Bonnyrigg Rose: Marc Aitken, Luck Archibald, Michael Anderson, James Wilson, Greg Young, Max Roarty, Calum Smart, Andrew Garson, Mark Bird, Blair Jones, Jose De Tejada. Daniel Burns, Lewis Seath, Luke Crawford, Cameron Alexander, Rohan McDowell.

Musselburgh Windsor Colts: Lewis Buchanan, Callum Hamilton, Stuart Russell, Dylan Hendry, Calum Gray, Finlay McNeil, Ryan Letson, Aaran Currie, Sam Lawrie, Craig Strachan, Jack Landsborough, Paul Clark, Reece Cullen, Darren Drever, Liam Glen, Blair Millar.