Early Bo'ness goals not enough to bury Bonnyrigg

Rose boss Alan Miller admitted he felt like heading home after the visitors raced into a two-goal lead but was delighted as his side battled back to grab a point.

Miller said: "I felt like going back home when they scored two in the first five minutes. It looked like we were going to suffer a humiliation but the boys gritted their teeth and earned their point."

Bo'ness were on their first visit to New Dundas Park since securing the title last season.

In the third minute, striker Paul Shields powered through on goal and twisted his way into the box before unleashing a piledriver that keeper Michael Burgees did well to block. However, the ball eventually came back out to Andy Shirra and he slammed it home from eight yards.

Then, with their supporters still celebrating, Bo'ness grabbed a second.

There was only five minutes on the clock when they doubled their advantage. David Morrison chested the ball between two Rose players, easily taking them out of the game, before racing down the left wing and crossing for Gary Carroll to head into the empty net.

Bonnyrigg were stunned and facing a hammering in front of their own fans.

Gradually, though, the defence settled and took the game to the visitors.

The first half drew to a close with no further goals and with Miller desperate to get his Bonnyrigg players back into the dressing-room. He switched wingers Sean Grady and Sean Paliczka for the start of the second half and this brought a reward within five minutes of the restart.

Paliczka forced his way down the right wing then crossed into the six-yard box. Keeper Ryan McGurk came out but only flapped at the ball and it fell to Grady, who steadied himself before driving it high into the net.

Bo'ness responded immediately, Chris Donnelly hitting the bar.

Bonnyrigg pressed again and, for a 20-minute spell, Bo'ness were in danger of being pegged back. And, with 20 minutes remaining, Bonnyrigg scored a deserved equaliser in bizarre fashion.

Ryan McCallum was brought crashing to the ground inside the box for what looked like an obvious penalty. The referee waved away the claims as the ball went out for a throw-in. While the Bonnyrigg players surrounded the referee, the ball landed at the feet of Grady, who drove it hard against a packed Bo'ness defence. It struck the arm of Roger Duffin and this time the referee blew straight away for a penalty.

James Morrice wasted no time in sending the keeper the wrong way to bring the scores level.

After this, either side could have scored a winner. It was a cracking game of football with Bo'ness coming closest to taking all three points as Paul Shields hit the base of the post again. Miller added: "Against a very good side, we did really well to fight back. When we lost those two quick goals I thought the heavens had opened on us. We could have caved in and been hammered. But the players dug deep and never gave up.

"We matched them in all areas of the pitch after the shock of the opening and I think we deserved a share of the points."

Bo'ness manager Willie Newbigging said: "I'm miffed that we didn't build on the start we had. But all credit to Bonnyrigg - they battled well. In the first half we were great and I'm disappointed we didn't score more. The penalty was a poor decision but, if you look at the first claim, then things maybe have evened themselves out."

Bonnyrigg Rose: Burgess, Caine, Morrice, Ritchie, Dunn, Burrell, Grady, Devlin, McCallum, Paliczka, McLeish. Subs: Martin, Steels, Fell, Bunyan, Bracks.

Bo'ness United: McGurk, Snowdon, Fleming, Duffin, Hamilton, Morrison, Carroll, Shirra, Shields, Walker, Donnelly. Subs: Ballantyne, Donald, McFadyen, Wright, Ure, Trialist, Ritchie.

Bonnyrigg Rose 2

Bo'ness United 2