Introduction of young striker sparks fine fightback

Alan Miller's men stunned neighbours Newtongrange with a fightback that was sparked by the introduction of young striker James Steele.

The visitors looked to be coasting to victory on the back of goals from Darren Gourlay and Stuart Roseburgh in a polished first-half performance. But Steele, a product of Bonnyrigg's under-21 side, showed why his arrival was greeted with such enthusiasm by the home fans as he played a part in all three goals that earned Rose an unlikely three points.

David Burrell sparked the fightback, substitute Kevin Bracks rammed home a thunderbolt to equalise and Sean Grady grabbed the winner with 12 minutes to go.

"I never thought I would get past half-time after the way we played in the first-half," admitted the match-winner afterwards. "They started really well and we didn't come out of the traps at all.

"The manager was quite right to go through us at half-time and even in the second-half we didn't get going for another 15 minutes.

"The first goal from Davie Burrell gave us a bit of impetus and Kevin Bracks has come off the bench to score a wonder goal. Lucky enough the ball broke to me in a similar position and I was delighted to put it away, especially as I felt I was due the team a goal for losing my man at one of their goals."

On Steele, Grady added: "He's only played a few games but has settled in well. He holds the ball in well and is going to be a big player for the club.

"This win is for fans more than anything else at it gives them the bragging rights but it also maintains my good record against Nitten.

"I've been here for seven-and-a-half years and only had one draw in that time - every other game has ended in a win!"

Even blinkered Bonnyrigg fans would have to admit this should have been a defeat and Miller, for one, certainly didn't try to hide his side's shortcomings for the majority of the match.

"That wasn't good enough for me," he declared. "In the first-half we showed a lack of appetite and desire, something that was really worrying for what will be a hard season.

"Yes, they deserve a bit of credit for the way they turned it around but, if we do that again in games, then we will not get out of jail as we did there."

Newtongrange opened the scoring in the 35th minute, Roseburgh feeding the overlapping Paul Forbes, whose cut back from the byline was hammered home by fellow full-back Gourlay.

Two minutes later Joe Dunbar whipped in a free-kick and Roseburgh's glancing header beat Michael Burgess as it looped in at the back post.

There would probably have been no way back for Bonnyrigg if Aaron Sommerville, who was clean through just after the hour mark, had lifted the ball an inch or two higher as he tried to lob Burgess.

But, shortly afterwards, Burrell's goal - he shot through Grant Hill's legs after being picked out by Grady - threw Bonnyrigg a lifeline and Bracks then levelled the scores with an even sweeter strike after being set up by Sean Paliczka.

For the winner, Steele battled back to win possession from Steven Thomson and then had a shot blocked, the rebound falling to Grady, who fired the ball home.

"Steele is a terrific prospect," admitted his manager. "He's not quite fit enough after being away on holiday and is not ready to start games or last 90 minutes. But we are nursing him and it won't be long before he is making a real push for a starting spot."

Newtongrange boss Graeme Armstrong said he'd surprised his players by not going into the dressing-room afterwards and reading them the riot act after letting a winning position slip from their grasp.

"We didn't do that much wrong in the game and I have told the players that's the best we have played this season in terms of professionalism," he said. "Yes, we lost three goals but we only made the one mistake when big Scott McCulloch came out of defence and dived in.

"Even in second-half we had chances and the turning point was when Aaron Sommerville was clean through and should have lobbed the 'keeper.

"If we had gone 3-0 up I think the game was dead and we were definitely the better side. But full marks to Bonnyrigg for their comeback."

He added: "Obviously the players are very disappointed and it's a bad start to the league for us but for the first time this season I thought we were starting to look like a team.

"Goals change games and from some of their players looking as though they didn't want to be here they were then given a huge lift."

Bonnyrigg: Burgess, Morrice, Bunyan, Dunn, Ritchie, Burrell, Grady, Devlin (Bracks 57), McCallum (Steele 64), Paliczka, Wilson (Martin 57). Subs: Reid, Dickson.

Newtongrange: Hill, Gourlay, Forbes, McNicoll, McCulloch, McKenna, Dunbar (Meaney 70), Thomson (Perry 83), Hutchison (Cherrie 83), Somerville, Roseburgh. Subs: Affleck, Woodburn, Johnston, Carnie.

Bonnyrigg Rose 3

Newtongrange Star 2