23/08/2019  |  League

Cumbernauld Colts   0  v  2  Bonnyrigg Rose

COLTS unbeaten start to their Lowland League campaign was halted by newcomers Bonnyrigg Rose at Broadwood on Friday evening.

First half goals from George Hunter and Dean Brett were enough to secure the Edinburgh sides fifth league win of the season and maintain their place at the top of the Lowland League table.

And judging by this performance the visitors, who are enjoying their debut season in the Lowland League having only just been promoted from the East of Scotland League, will be tipped by many to challenge for this season’s top prize.

The hosts began the game very brightly looking to build on the impressive win in their previous outing against much fancied Kelty Hearts, and the Cumbernauld men did create a few early half chances, but nothing that troubled Bonnyrigg keeper Mark Weir.

The first real opening of the game came the way of Bonnyrigg in 17 minutes when a deep corner from Lee Currie found Daniel Bauer at the far post and the Hearts loanee headed over the bar with the goal at his mercy. The visitors were beginning to show exactly why they’re top of the league and have started their season so well, as they began to assert themselves on the game and looked more and more dangerous each time they ventured forward.
Bonnyrigg carved open another chance in 25 minutes when danger man Currie again was the provider crossing the ball in from the left and Hunter had a great chance inside the six-yard box, but the striker failed to make contact with the ball with only Grier to beat.

However, Hunter made amends for his earlier miss in 31 minutes when he swept Bonnyrigg into the lead after the striker ran onto the end of Kieran McGachie’s powerful low cross from the right to slam the ball past Grier. And matters went from bad to worse for Colts in 41 minutes when the league leaders pressed again and this time the returning Lewis Turner crossed from the right and Brett glanced a header low past Grier from 8 yards, much to the delight of the large travelling support from the east.

Colts struggled to come to terms with the power and pace of Bonnyrigg and the visitors remained well in control of the game in the opening stages of the second half with McGachie and Hunter both going close to extending their lead.
The Broadwood side replaced Lewis Bonar and Craig Murray with youngsters Lewis Warnock and Gregor Johnston with around 20 minutes remaining hoping their youthful enthusiasm would force a way back into the game for the hosts.

But it wasn’t to be Colts night and it was the visitors who finished the game stronger, and with 4 minutes remaining Jonathan Stewart fed Currie just inside the box and only a great stop from Grier denied Bonnyrigg a third.

Colts will now turn their attentions onto two very important away league fixtures against Gretna and Spartans in the coming week as they look to put the disappointment of this result behind them.

Bonnyrigg Rose; Weir, Brett, Brown, Young, Horne, Baur, Turner, Stewart, Currie, McGachie, Hunter. Subs; Andrews, Martynuik, Moyes.