Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic put Matherwell U21 to the sword 3-0 in Group Stage 5 of the Knockout Cup on Saturday, a result that finally put some teeth in their campaign after a string of mixed fortunes. J. Smith opened the scoring from the penalty spot just before half-time, and the visitors never really recovered from the momentum shift.
And here's the thing about that penalty period — Smith converted in the 39th minute, then saw his spot-kick saved a minute later, which told you everything about how nervous the home players were at that moment. K. Young doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time with a well-taken goal in the 45th minute, and Bonnyrigg had already put the game beyond doubt by then. The visitors looked shell-shocked, and their goalkeeper had to make eight saves to keep the scoreline respectable.
We had tipped the hosts to win with 66 per cent confidence going in, and that assessment held water. Bonnyrigg didn't create many big chances — zero recorded — but they made up for it with volume, putting 11 shots on target compared to Matherwell's two. To be fair, the visitors were more accurate with their attempts at 0.67, but accuracy means little when you're not getting opportunities.
The second half brought a third goal from L. Devine in the 59th minute, and by that stage Matherwell had nothing left to offer. The hosts dominated possession at 61 per cent, launched 91 attacks against 66, and won the corner battle 7-1. Matherwell's goalkeeper was kept busy with seven saves in the second period alone, while Bonnyrigg's man had just two to make.
Discipline was patchy on both sides — four yellow cards for the hosts, three for the visitors — but the fouls told a different story. Bonnyrigg committed 17 fouls to Matherwell's 15, suggesting they were willing to disrupt and press rather than sit back.
This win ends a run of results that had been difficult to parse. Bonnyrigg came off a 1-6 defeat to Airdrieonians and a 1-3 loss to East Kilbride, but they had also beaten Rangers U21 2-1 and held Edinburgh City 1-1. Matherwell's form was worse — four losses in five games, including heavy defeats at Annan and Alloa.
The 3-0 margin and the goal difference now separate these two sides in Group 5. Bonnyrigg have shown they can put a performance together when it matters, and Matherwell U21 have more questions to answer before the next round.
