Bonnyrigg boss blasts penalty award and 'clear dive' against East Stirlingshire

Bonnyrigg Rose are eight points off the pace in the Lowland League after their first defeat of the campaign.
Bonnyrigg manager Robbie Horne was angry at his side's defeat.Bonnyrigg manager Robbie Horne was angry at his side's defeat.
Bonnyrigg manager Robbie Horne was angry at his side's defeat.

Robbie Horn’s men went down 2-1 at East Stirlingshire, a result which allowed leaders East Kilbride to stretch their advantage over the New Dundas Park side following two draws from the last three fixtures.

Dean Watson was first to strike for the hosts at the Falkirk Stadium, smashing the ball into the bottom corner seven minutes before the break.

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Rose responded three minutes later from Dean Brett’s penalty but a frenetic five-minute spell saw the home side awarded a penalty of their own just 60 seconds later with Andy Rodgers restoring the Shire’s lead.

Rose pressed for an equaliser after the break but were denied by some resilient Shire defending and must now switch their attentions to tomorrow night’s visit of Civil Service Strollers.

“The players are down,” Horn told the club website. “The last three games have been frustrating. I think we’ve deserved to get more out of them than we have done.

“I didn’t think we deserved to lose the game but probably didn’t do enough to win it. It was quite even but (their winner) was never a penalty in a million years. It’s a really poor decision and when you watch it back you’ll see it’s a clear dive.

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“We are quite light on numbers in terms of the injuries we have but it’s just a case of getting on with it. It’s the first time we’ve been in this position really since I’ve been at the club.

“Tomorrow will be a hard game against Civil but I’ll be looking for a reaction from the players.”

Elsewhere, Spartans suffered their fourth defeat of the campaign, 3-1 at BSC Glasgow.

Goals from Jamie Glasgow and Mikey Anderson fired the hosts ahead before half-time then Ryan Tierney wrapped up the points with a third three minutes after the break and a Jamie Mills own goal seven minutes from time was little consolation.

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Bottom-of-the-table Vale of Leithen visit Ainslie Park tomorrow night.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh University were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Caledonian Braves at East Peffermill. It was a fifth defeat in six for Dorian Ogunro’s students who are currently 16th in the standings.

The uni visit Gala Fairydean Rovers in the Borders tomorrow night.

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