Bonnyrigg Rose 1 Dumbarton 1

The poet, Robert Burns, famously said that to see ourselves as others see us was no bad idea.

And so this week The Democrat has had a look at what Bonnyrigg Rose thought of Sons after having drawn 1-1 with Dumbarton on Saturday.

Their regular soccer scribe, James McKenzie, reporting for the club website, seemed happy enough that the Rose had not withered on the stem when the new-look Sons tried to prune them on the opening day of the season.

He reported that Bonnyrigg Rose got their Cinch League Two campaign underway as they welcomed the visit of Dumbarton to New Dundas Park. This was the second meeting already between the pair this season after the two sides met in the Viaplay Cup group stages last month.

Robbie Horn made three changes to the side that exited the SPFL Trust trophy midweek against Kilmarnock B as Mikey Andrews, Luke Mahady and Conor Doan made way for Paddy Martin, Angus Mailer and Jason Jarvis.

Both sides were looking for a positive start to their league campaign and Dumbarton had the perfect start to their NDP visit a deflected long-range effort from Ryan Blair wrong-footed Martin and the visitors’ had found themselves in front after just four minutes.

It was an uphill battle from then on as Rose went in search of a response and the equaliser almost came in the 14th minute as a header from Alieu Faye, who kept his place in the side after a goal mid-week, was well saved by Brett Long.

From the resulting corner Bonnyrigg Rose went even closer to getting that equaliser as Neil Martyniuk’s close-range effort pulled an another top save out of Long.

A flurry of corners continued to produce chances for Bonnyrigg Rose as Martyniuk again went close, rising highest at the back post but his header came back off of the woodwork.

The final chance of the half went the visitors’ way as James Hilton blazed his volley over the bar after finding himself unmarked in the Rose box.

The second-half started off cagey with chances proving a premium for both sides. Unfortunately for Bonnyrigg Rose Robbie McGale was forced off on the hour mark with an injury, being replaced by the returning Bradley Barrett who was making his first appearance for the Rose after a lengthy injury layoff.

Dumbarton went close again as Martin produced a phenomenal point-blank save to deny Michael Ruth’s close-range header.

Rose would finally find a reply as substitute Luke Mahady made an instant impact off the bench, peeling off the back of the opposition defence and curling it on his right-foot beyond Brett Long.

Rose pushed on for the three points in the latter stages with a couple of crosses flashed across goal just barely missing the Rose players in the box.

In the end it would be just a point for Bonnyrigg Rose which was probably a fair reflection of the game. Rose will next be in action next Saturday as they travel to New Douglas Park to face Clyde FC.

Weekend round-up: It was a bitterly disappointing day for Michael Beale’s new look Rangers side who went down 1-0 to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Promises that things would be different for the Ibrox team simply weren’t kept and Saturday’s team did nothing to convince fans that they were any better than last season. The plastic pitch may had something to do with that.

Celtic unfurled the League flag prior to their match against Ross County, but the 4-2 scoreline in their favour was far from flattering for the Bhoys. Brendan Rodgers, pictured left, was back in charge, but there were immediate questions as to why he had chosen to play Turnbull in midfield as opposed to Japanese import Hatate, who has made himself a fans’ favourite with the champions. Turnbull scored two goals to stop the terracing tongues wagging, however, but he missed an absolute sitter, which would have received much more publicity had Rangers not lost the match. As usual, Kyogo, was Celtic’s best player and he scored a fine goal. Harry Kane or no Harry Kane, look out for Ange knocking on the Parkhead door soon.

The Arbroath v Dundee United clash was a joy to watch on Friday night. United won 1-4, but it wasn’t a walk over and their play, along with United’s recovery from a poor start will light up the Championship this season. There was a terrific crown of more than 5,000 at that game. This afternoon’s televised Charity Shield match Manchester City v Arsenal should be a cracker. Will the Gunners shoot City down?