It is a little known fact, but former Bond and acting legend Sean Connery used to play for our visitors today, Bonnyrigg Rose. Not a lot of people know that. Oh, that’s the other fella innit? And like that famous screen spy, the Scottish Cup has a tendency to get us both shaken and stirred. And so it proved today.
There was a real buzz around the Ferry San Siro today, as our visitors from EH19 came en masse, bedecking the Wine Shed in red and white. The very nerve. Thankfully our junior Ultras were more than a match for anything that they could throw at us.
So, on a chilly but mostly pleasant afternoon, our boys in yellow (yes, you heard me, yellow), came out with a degree of uncertainty and caution. The Rose were pretty much an unknown quantity, so all bets were off.
Their side was made up of youth and experience, but pound for pound looked no bigger or stronger than us.
Despite all that, they started the brighter in a generally scrappy first phase.
Troy Cooper and Jordan Macrae had efforts, but overall it was Mark Ridgers in our sticks who was the busier of the two keepers. He was in imperious form, directing from the back and ably handling everything that came his way.
Mikey Mackenzie and Jordan Macrae finished the first half with good efforts that were stifled and blocked, while our visitors came close with a looping shot/cross coming back off the bar.
It was goalless at the interval and there was really nothing between the two sides.
After the break, there was more toing and froing, but we appeared to be going through the gears more effectively. Although a few of the Lily Loyal were predicting extra time and penalties, we continued to push on.
With our defensive line looking solid, Shae Keogh, Sam Thompson and Craig Lawrie were pulling the strings, providing the balance between covering and creating. Troy Cooper looked consistently dangerous, and on a different day might have bagged a goal or two.
The youthful exuberance of Mikey Mackenzie made way for the wily experience of Andy Macrae, and it was this throw of the dice that probably made the difference in breaking the deadlock. Indeed, it was Andy’s familiar industry and energy that set up Jordan Macrae to fire home with less than 15 minutes left on the clock. The visiting supporters went quiet, dampening even their sheep noises. We’re not Ross County you know?
They were to be stunned into silence three minutes later when the increasingly impressive Shae Keogh found space in the area to rifle home a Thunderball after some indecision in the Rose defence. 2-0, and the Lily Loyal burst into song.
What followed was a masterclass in how to see out a game, with MOTM Michael Finnis exhibiting his credentials to be the next James Bond.
So this was a good, solid performance that propels us into the hat for the next round and keeps those Cup dreams very much alive.
But we have little time to relax, as we are back in Highland League action this week with our usual midweek fixture against Wick Academy on Wednesday, followed by the visit of Buckie Thistle to The Park next Saturday. Bring a friend, so that its not For Your Eyes Only.