Battling Rose are Sow near an upset
DENS HITMAN IS EXTRA-TIME HERO
BRAVE Bonnyrigg Rose gave Championship Dundee a huge scare in a pulsating Scottish Cup tie at Dens Park.
The Dark Blues were stunned as the Lowland League underdogs opened the scoring with a controversial spot-kick from Lee Currie.
The home side piled on the pressure in the second half but struggled to find a way past a determined and organised Rose.
Heroic keeper Mark Weir also made a string of outstanding saves but, just as it looked like Rose would hold on, Dundee equalised in the dying seconds through sub Jonathan Afolabi.
However, Bonnyrigg bounced back in extra time to take the lead once more with another Currie penalty before Dundee defender Lee Ashcroft saved his side’s bacon to make it 2-2.
And the hosts completed the great escape in the 111th minute when Osman Sow netted the winner to kill off brave Bonnyrigg.
Relieved Dundee boss James McPake admitted he was just delighted to be in the hat for the next round.
‘It was a no-win situation tonight for us but it was still in, my opinion, really poor.
‘But credit to Bonnyrigg — I thought they were excellent.’
Devastated Bonnyrigg boss Robbie Horn believed his players deserved much more for their monumental efforts.
‘I’m absolutely gutted,’ he said. ‘Don’t get me wrong, we rode our luck at times.
‘But we defended for our lives and I’m really proud of the players
‘They put so much into the game, so now we just have to move on. We did ourselves proud.’
The home side carved out the first opening in the third minute when Paul McGowan slipped a pass to Sow but the big striker’s shot was deflected wide for a corner.
Bonnyrigg had an even better opportunity shortly after when Dean Hoskins played a ball over the top of the Dundee defence which fell nicely for George Hunter but his shot was superbly saved by home keeper Jack Hamilton.
However, the Dens side were left reeling as Bonnyrigg took a shock lead in the 25th minute.
Hoskins tumbled in the box as he took a fresh-air shot before colliding with Jordon Forster and initially it looked like referee Gavin Duncan saw no offence.
However, the whistler eventually pointed to the spot and Currie stepped up to send his penalty-kick past Hamilton’s despairing dive.
Dundee then had a penalty shout of their own as Sow went down under a combined challenge from Weir and Hoskins but this time the referee saw nothing amiss.
The hosts were exerting some sustained pressure with chances for McGowan, Sow and Charlie Adam all in quick succession but Bonnyrigg snuffed out the danger.
Just before the break, Dundee had another opportunity as Jordan Marshall swung a cross in from the left but McGowan’s header did not trouble Weir.
Seconds after the restart, Dundee had a quick chance to equalise but Weir was equal to Danny Mullen’s shot from the edge of the box.
Sow then made a hash of an opening put on a plate for him by Adam, sending a tame shot wide.
Adam was the creator again just before the hour mark but Mullen could not convert the opportunity.
Dundee were howling for a penalty as Sow looked to be pulled down in the box by Hoskins but again the referee was not moved.
Sow then hit a long-range shot which needed an acrobatic stop by Weit to keep it out.
Visiting defender Neil Martynuik then got a slice of luck in the 80th minute when he smashed a clearance off his own bar.
However, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Rose’s resistance was broken as on-loan Celtic striker Afolabi finished from close range.
The goals kept coming in extra time, with Currie again converting from the spot after Marshall was adjudged to have fouled Ross Gray.
However, straight after the break, Ashcroft levelled with a header — and Bonnyrigg hearts were finally broken in the 111th minute after Weir blocked a Mullen shot but Sow pounced to fire home the rebound.