CHEERSWEGO INROSECRACK
COWDENBEATH v BONNYRIGG
TODAY, 3PM, CENTRAL PARK
JONNY STEWART quips this Bonnyrigg squad shouldn’t have to pay for a pint down their local again if history is made.
But Rose’s captain is well aware Cowdenbeath won’t be ready to accept last orders being called.
Boasting a three-goal first-leg cushion, the Lowland League champions are on the brink of breaking into the SPFL for the first time.
Stewart, 32, knows of five supporters’ buses bound for Central Park, even suggesting away fans could outnumber the home contingent.
And he said: “If we get promoted into League Two I don’t think any of us should have to buy another drink in Bonnyrigg again.
“And I hope the fans read that as well!
“Even though 3-0 is a great lead, it is still only halfway so we know we have got another job to do. It was a great result and probably one we didn’t expect. But we’re not thinking, ‘Oh, that’s the job done and we’re going through there to party’.
“We know it is going to be a tough game.
“Cowdenbeath will chuck everything at us, I don’t think anyone wants relegation on their CV.
“I’d imagine the players, the manager, the crowd, their fans, everyone will be up for the game and trying their best to turn it around.
“We’ll go through and try to be as professional as we can to see the job out.
“Right after the game last Saturday the gaffer was drumming into us, ‘Look, we can’t take our eye off the prize here, we have got to go there and finish the job properly’.
“It means so much to the players, to the club, to supporters, so we’re desperate not to let anyone down.”
The Midlothian side took just four days to flog all their tickets for the first leg as a community basked in the possibility of a fairytale ascent.
It’s just four years since Rose left the juniors for the East of Scotland League at tier six before winning it and then the Lowland since.
The midfielder added: “It will be hopefully a part of history for Bonnyrigg and the town.
“It’s difficult to tell how many we’re going to take through because you can pay at the gate.
“But there are five supporters’ buses leaving from Bonnyrigg and I know a lot of people are going by train or car.
“There will possibly be more Bonnyrigg fans there than Cowdenbeath and I hope they can make a noise, turn it into a home atmosphere for us and drive us over that finishing line.”
Cowden defender Craig Barr, at 35, knows today is the biggest and most important game of careers inside the home dressing room.
He said: “For what’s at stake, definitely. Last week was disappointing, to say the least, but you take the positives – it’s over two legs, we have another chance and only us can decide what unfolds.”
As the Blue Brazil look to come through this play-off for the third time, the fact they put three past Annan and four past Elgin boosts their hopes.
Barr said: “It’s almost one of those where there is nothing to lose – we need to go out, fire on all cylinders and hit the ground running. If we can get an early goal it changes the whole tie.”
The club have urged fans to come out in their numbers and Barr added: ”It always helps to know they are there. If they can chip in and come support us, they’ll know we’ll be out there giving it our all.”