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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Paul Thomson

Albion Rovers 0 Bonnyrigg Rose 1: Kieran Mitchell strike sends Cliftonhill side bottom of League Two in nightmare result for SPFL survival

Albion Rovers have sunk to the bottom of League Two after a narrow defeat to rivals Bonnyrigg Rose saw them leapfrog Brian Reid's side in the fight for survival.

The Cliftonhill outfit had enjoyed three wins from three meetings with Rose going into this bottom of the table clash, but the Midlothian side finally got the better of the Wee Rovers.

Kieran Mitchell's second half strike proved the difference and it leaves Rovers one point behind Rose with just six games remaining.

Having thumped table-topping Dumbarton 5-1 last week, Rovers seemed to be hitting form but this result comes off the back of a 1-0 defeat at home to 10-man Stranraer on Tuesday night.

They now sit in the pyramid play-off position at the foot of the table, and the side who ends up there at the end of the campaign will face the winners of the Highland/Lowland League play-off to keep their spot in the SPFL.

Reid made two changes from Tuesday as Devan McColl and Scott Roberts dropped out and in came Blair Malcolm and Luke Graham to the starting eleven.

The visitors had the first real opportunity of the game in 13 minutes when a corner from the right bobbled about in the box and eventually fell kindly for Callum Connelly 10 yards out. He fired at goal but his effort was cleared off the line and Rovers escaped.

Moments later Kerr Young had a free header in the Rovers box and could only aim it straight at Jack Leighfield in goal.

It took Rovers 23 minutes to get their first attempt on goal after a tense start from the hosts. Space opened up for Blair Malcolm 30 yards out and when he let rip from distance, Paddy Martin in the Rose goal got behind it well to keep it out.

Rovers' Blair Malcolm, right, had an effort kept out in the first half (Stuart Vance/ReachPlc)

Sean Fagan was a whisker away from opening the scoring for the hosts in 27 minutes when great footwork from Charlie Reilly saw him weave into the box and then clip the ball to the back post for the defender. Fagan lashed his shot into the ground and the bouncing ball landed inches away from the bottom corner.

Joe Bevan then stung the hands of Martin with afierce strike inside the box as Rovers came right into the game.

Rose were a real danger from set-pieces and Jamie Leslie came to the rescue for Rovers 10 minutes before the break, clearing a McGachie header off the line following a corner kick.

In the second half, Reid turned to his bench early on when Bevan made way for Scott Roberts, with Rovers desperate to grab the opener.

However, in 62 minutes Rose took the lead. Rovers didn't deal with a ball into the box and when Kerr Young headed the ball back across goal, Mitchel used his strength to get the better of his marker, allowed the ball to fall onto his left foot and arrowed a low drive past Leighfield inside the box.

Rovers were on the rocks and only a outstanding last-ditch tackle from Adam Fernie prevented Callum Connolly from doubling the visitors' lead after 72 minutes.

Max Wright was introduced for the final 10 minutes, with Kyle Fleming making way, as Rovers desperatley sought an equaliser.

But Bonnyrigg kept them at bay to inflict a potentially costly defeat for the Monklands men.

Rovers now travel to Forfar next weekend.

ALBION ROVERS: Leighfield, Fernie, Sonkur, Fagan (Paton 85), Graham, Fleming (Wright 80), Leslie, Malcolm, Bevan (Roberts 59), Reilly, Wilson (McCulloch 85).

Scorers:

Bookings: Leslie, Fernie

Subs not used: Duncan, Smith, Dolan, Mutale.

BONNYRIGG: Martin, Young, Grigor, Horne, Brett, Currie, Rodden (Martynuik 84), Connolly, R Gray (Arnott 76), McGachie (Murray 83), Mitchell (Faye 90)

Scorers: Mitchell 62

Bookings: Gray, Arnott

Subs not used: Andrews, McGale, S Gray, Stewart, Kane.

HT: 0-0

Ref: Euan Anderson

Att: 457

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