Peterhead’s travels took them to Bonnyrigg this weekend, looking to bounce back from the disappointment of losing a two goal lead to Forfar last time out. They faced a Bonnyrigg Rose side who were undefeated in their last 7 home matches at New Dundas Park, but who were coming off the back of a 3-0 away loss mid-week at the hands of Elgin. The Blue Toon were 2-0 victors the last time these teams met back in December, and were looking for a similar victory today to try and keep the pressure on at the top of the table.
There were four changes to last week’s starting lineup, as well as a change in shape, Caleb Goldie, David Wilson, Jack Brown and Ciaran Dunne made way for Scott Ross, Danny Strachan, Dylan Forrest and, making his first Peterhead start, Oliver Colloty, playing as part of a strike partnership with Kieran Shanks.
The change in setup seemed to be working for the Blue Toon in the early exchanges, putting the pressure on the hosts from the off and getting plenty crosses into the box, but no player in black could find a way to really test Andrews in the Bonnyrigg goal. It was Bonnyrigg who would then find the breakthrough on 14 minutes. An effort from the edge of the area was blocked by Peterhead’s defence, but the ball then fell kindly to Ferrie, who made no mistake with his chance, firing home from close range. Peterhead didn’t let their heads drop however, immediately pressing again looking for an equaliser, and finding it just 3 minutes later. A lofted ball over the top of the Bonnyrigg defence from Max Barry was latched onto by Cammy Smith, who drove down the left hand side before chopping back and curling a cross into the area. The cross was missed by Shanks and Bonnyrigg’s defenders before falling kindly to the feet of Oliver Colloty at the back post, who cooly side-footed a shot at Andrews’ near post and levelled the scoring. This would be the first of a flurry of Blue Toon goals, the second coming from Kieran Shanks in the 24th minute. A wonderful in-swinging delivery from a corner by Jamie Walker was met by the head of Shanks, who managed get free from his marker to loop a header over the Bonnyrigg goalkeeper from around the penalty spot, and into the top right hand corner. That header made it 9 goals in 10 games for the Peterhead number 10. Just two minutes later, Max Barry gave Peterhead their third goal, with Bonnyrigg failing to properly clear their lines, the ball fell to Barry just inside the penalty area. Barry shifted the ball into his right foot and away from the onrushing defender, before rolling the ball back across goal and into the far corner.
Every shot either side took seemed to turn to goals, with no real goal scoring opportunities for either side until Cameron Ross pulled a goal back for Bonnyrigg on 41 minutes, in a similar position to their first goal. A free kick from the left wing from Currie was flicked on and into the path of Ross, who managed to squeeze the ball under the onrushing Oluyemi and get his side back into the game just before the break.
Half-time: Bonnyrigg Rose 2-3 Peterhead
Bonnyrigg were back on level terms only two minutes into the second half. A free kick was awarded to Bonnyrigg on the right hand side of the Peterhead penalty area, about in line with the penalty spot. Currie stepped up, and curled a shot round the Peterhead wall and beyond the outstretched arm of Blessing Oluyemi, clipping the far post on its way in. The game then became a real scrap, if it wasn’t already, with the pitch conditions constantly deteriorating and both sides desperate to be back in front once again. Neither side managed to create a real quality opportunity for about half an hour, until substitute Rory McAllister, who was brought on alongside Seb Ross in the 69th minute to freshen up the Peterhead attack, found himself with a free header from another excellent Jamie Walker corner. McAllister headed the ball down with power, the Bonnyrigg keeper nowhere near it, but cleared off the line by the Bonnyrigg front post marker. Peterhead always looked the more likely to score from that point, with Danny Strachan also coming close from a header in a similar position, but his glancing effort drifted agonisingly wide. The winner then came in the 88th minute for the Blue Toon, the hosts once again unable to clear their lines properly after Danny Strachan fired a low cross into the box, and Cammy Smith was first to react in the penalty area. Smith needed no extra touch to compose himself, firing under the goalkeeper with the instep of his right foot from close range, before wheeling away to the corner flag to celebrate with his teammates. Peterhead managed to stifle their opponents in the last few minutes, despite Bonnyrigg sending their goalkeeper forward to attack their late set-piece opportunities, and headed back up the road with all three points in the bag.
Full-time: Bonnyrigg Rose 3-4 Peterhead
(Ferrie 14’) (Colloty 17’) (Shanks 24’) (Barry 26’) (C. Ross 41’) (Ferrie 47’) (Smith 88’)
