Boss Miller regards Rose out of title race

BONNYRIGG almost certainly bowed out of this season's Super League title race as boss Alan Miller accused his side of "shooting ourselves in the foot" in a second successive 3-2 home defeat.

It has left Rose two points behind both Lochee and Linlithgow and even a storming finish - they face Musselburgh, Hill of Beath and Linlithgow in their last three matches - is unlikely to see Bonnyrigg crowned as champions for the second time in three seasons.

"Our hopes have been well and truly dented," admitted Miller after watching the Midlothian men twice come from behind in the first-half to draw level against the Taysiders only to then lose to a second-half penalty.

"It is hard to see us now managing to win the championship," he added. "Lochee might have an outside chance, while Linlithhow, Bo'ness and Hill of Beath are also still the mix, but I think we are practically out of it."

Miller reckoned his players only had themselves to blame for slipping up again at home, having also seen valuable points slip away in another five-goal encounter against Camelon the previous weekend.

They fell behind after just seven minutes, a mix up between goalkeeper Michael Burgess and Scott Ritchie leading to the concession of a needless corner that was eventually nodded home by former Aberdeen defender Phil McGuire.

Sean Martin levelled two minutes later, a nice first touch as he came in from the left to meet a Sean Grady cross opening up the visitors' defence before he slammed a shot past the helpless Ian Ross. But, as the goals continued to come thick and fast, the home side fell behind again in the 11th minute, when a Paul Hagan ball picked out Paul Blackwood in space and he beat Burgess with a sweetly-struck half volley.

Martin almost squared matters again straight away as he sent a diving header just wide and, after surviving a couple of close shaves at the other end, Bonnyrigg did make it 2-2 seven minutes before the break.

The lively Scott Devlin fired in a low shot that was saved by Ross but, as the ball ran free, Ryan McCallum was there to sweep it into the net from close range.

With the wind at their backs after the break, Bonnyrigg pinned their opponents back for a spell and came close on two or three occasions to taking the lead, notably when Ritchie had a header cleared off the line.

But, totally against the run of play, Lochee regained the initiative for the third time in the game. Burgess was adjudged to have bundled over Jon Voight as he ran out to meet the striker on the left side of his box and Graham Hay thundered home an unstoppable shot from the penalty spot.

Sean Grady came closest to hauling Bonnyrigg back on level terms for a third time, the little winger holding his head in disbelief after Ross somehow managed to keep out a low drive with 20 minutes to go.

"If you look at general play we did fine but we've made really bad mistakes and shot ourselves in the foot," said Miller in his assessment. "I thought there was a push on Davie Dunn that was similar to the decision for the penalty at the other end but I think Michael made a decision to come off his line and, in doing so, asked the referee to make a decision. In hindsight, he should have perhaps stayed on his line and see what developed."

The win took Lochee to the top of the table - they're above Linlithgow on goal difference but have played two games more than Dave Baikie's side.

"In previous years Lochee have been on the wrong end of some hidings down here so it was a good time to come and get a victory," admitted manager Paul Ritchie.

"I still think it's very much in Linlithgow's hands, but it was an opportunity for us to apply some pressure.

Lochee face Newtongrange this weekend before ending their campaign away to Bo'ness in a fixture that has still to be arranged. "We're still in with a shout," added Ritchie. "If we work like we did on Saturday we've got a great chance but it will take that level of effort."

Bonnyrigg Rose: Burgess, Caine, Gray, Dunn, Ritchie, Morrice (Paliczka 73), Grady, Burrell, McCallum, Devlin, Martin (Moffat 73). Subs: Bunyan, Steele, Amos.

Lochee United: Ross, Abbot, Hay, McGuire, Kirk, Alexander, Cargill, Robertson, Hagan, Blackwood (Gallacher 53), Voight (Thomson 80). Subs: Nugent, Grant, Pepper.

Bonnyrigg Rose 2

Lochee United 3