Last-gasp Grady gives Rose a lift

A WINNING goal deep into injury time from two-goal hero Sean Grady gave Bonnyrigg all three points in a game which had draw written all over it. It also lifted them well clear of the relegation zone and out of trouble.

"It was an important win for us because, on the balance of play, Musselburgh deserved to take something from the game," said Bonnyrigg boss Alan Millar afterwards.

"The introduction of fresh legs gave us the edge in the second half, so to take all three points against one of our toughest rivals was pleasing."

It was Bonnyrigg who opened the scoring much against the run of play in the opening 20 minutes. Sean Grady turned the Musselburgh defence before firing over a long cross to the far post. Ross Hamilton first-timed a low cross back into the danger zone and Craig O'Reilly side-footed the ball home from six yards. Musselburgh pushed hard for the equaliser with Chris Gordon slashing a super drive inches past from 30 yards. The equaliser did come only five minutes later. Mattu King crossed deep for Danny Kelly to ram home at the back post.

Level at the break, Bonnyrigg came close to taking the lead again when Mark Robertson headed just wide in the 48th minute while, at the other end, Rose keeper Greg Logan had to be at his best to keep out Kelly again.

With a quarter of the match remaining, Bonnyrigg introduced subs Sean Polizcka and Sean Martin for Ross Hamilton and Charlie Brigain.

Their impact was almost immediate. Polizcka chased a lost ball down the byline before crossing perfectly for big striker O'Reilly but he sclaffed his effort wide of the far post.

Bonnyrigg took the lead again only two minutes later and again it was a sub that did the damage. Sean Martin crossed from the left wing to the back post where Sean Grady headed into the net with the help of a slight deflection. However, Musselburgh weren't finished yet and they again equalised. In the 70th minute, a deep cross from the right was cleared to Paul Tansey who crossed again for Mattu King who headed against the bar. He was first to reach the rebound for a second header which found the net.

King was hurt in the scramble and required lengthy treatment before continuing. His part in the remainder of the game lasted only three minutes when he turned from saint to sinner. When challenged in a tackle which looked like it should have gone the other way, the referee saw it as simulation and, having been booked earlier for swearing, King was sent off. The ten men of Musselburgh then found themselves under pressure as Bonnyrigg stepped up a gear. Rose midfielder Kevin McLeish let fly from 30 yards before O'Reilly hit the woodwork with a fierce drive.

Time was running out for both sides until Bonnyrigg scored a super winner in the fourth minute of injury time. Martin ran on to a great pass from O'Reilly wide left. His low cross to the back post was rammed home ruthlessly by Grady for his second of the game.

Bonnyrigg manager Millar said: "Sean now has 17 goals this season and, after a lean spell recently, appreciated the help the subs gave him. This result takes us further away from the relegation area and while we weren't at our best, we fought hard to take something from it. The introduction of the subs plus the sending off helped but it was a good three points won for us."

Musselburgh boss Davy McGlynn said: "It hurt because we've gone down to ten men with 17 minutes to go and we've dug in deep to protect the draw and on another day could have won comfortably. In the first half we dominated the game but didn't score more. It's so frustrating to come away from here with nothing. I felt we were the better side overall but credit to Bonnyrigg for digging in and getting the result at the very end."

Grady said: "They were two important goals for us and three points which should see us safe. It's an important stage of the season for us but we've been too inconsistent this season and that's cost us dear. The sending off changed the game because it looked like a draw but we stepped up a gear after that and I was lucky enough to get some good service from Sean Martin."

Bonnyrigg: Logan, Robertson, Noble, Ritchie, Dunn, Hamilton( Martin), Grady, Morrice, O Reilly, McLeish, Brigain( Polizcka), Subs, Bracks, Moffat, Burrell, Combe.

Musselburgh: Renton, Shand, Gordon, Mitchell( Gibson), Fraser, Nelson, Kelly( McKenna), Beveridge, King, McCallum, Tansey, Subs, Graham, Gray, Ramage.