ROSE ................ 2
STAR ................ 1
Match sponsor Belhaven Brewery


In a match sponsored by Belhaven, boss-in-waiting Brian Fairley was in attendance to see if his new charges could "brew" up a victory.

Rose fielded the same 11 which started the game at Crossgates and just as they had done against Bonnyrigg a couple of weeks previously, Rose got off to storming start.

Ian McSween appeared to pose little danger to Newtongrange just inside the penalty box, but Hardie had a rush of blood to the head and scythed him down giving the referee no option but to point to the spot. Top scorer Brian Carrigan duly dispatched the penalty into the net to give the home team an early lead.

Two minutes later Rose doubled their advantage. McSween fed Carrigan who in turn played an incisive pass to Grady and the winger coolly converted his chance from 10 yards.

Good interplay between James, McArthur and Carrigan set up McSween but his shot flew wide.

Carrigan showed great vision to chip a pass into the feet of Bradley but the midfielder's volley was too close to Burgess.

Linlithgow's injury jinx came to the fore again as McSween, Wilson and Bradley all hobbled off during a 12-minute spell. Rose never recovered from the ensuing change in personnel and were on the back foot for the rest of the game.

The remaining period of the first half saw Star hit the bar with a free kick, and come close to scoring when Pinkowski dallied but then recovered to deny Meaney.

The second half was one-way traffic towards Pinkowski who did well to tip over a free kick by Gielty and could only watch as Hutchison headed over.

Newtongrange grabbed a foothold in the game in bizarre circumstances in the 73rd minute. Pinkowski, who was also carrying an injury by this point, came 10 yards out of his box only to see his clearance
ricochet off Hutchinson and head towards the goal. The keeper turned and chased it but the ball rolled over the line in agonising slow motion.

Soon after Star's Forbes set off on a mazy dribble that carried him deep into the Rose box but his shot struck the post. With time running out Pinkowski was the hero, palming away shots and clearing crosses.

The final chance came and went when Hutchison headed wide from what seemed like a clearly offside position. So for the second successive midweek Rose book a semi final slot.

Rose: Pinkowski, Gallacher, James, Donnolly, Wilson (McDermott 29 mins), Bradley (Dick 41 mins), Grady, Tyrell, Carrigan, McSween (Feeney 36 mins), McArthur. Subs not used: Smith, McGlynn

MARTIN BLACK