AT least Bonnyrigg Rose got a goal.
That it came from a penalty which should never have been awarded has to be glossed over and Dean Hoskins can say he scored against Hibernian at Tynecastle. Aside from that, this was something of a doing. Neil Lennon’s side could easily have got into double figures.
In saying all of that, there are some down Leith way who carry so many battles scars that they, despite what happened at Hampden last May, still expect untold disaster to eclipse any glory. his match was at Tynecastle, the opposition a junior team from just down the road. It was their first defence of the Scottish Cup which for so long seemed as achievable as walking the air.
What could possibly go wrong? Nothing. Not this time.
“Regardless of what the opposition is, it was a good performance and good start to our defence of the cup," said Neil Lennon, the Hibernian manager. "It was good for the players' confidence and lot of guys got some game-time which they needed. It will have hopefully done them the world of good.
"We gave Bonnyrigg the respect they deserved. The beat Dumbarton in the last round, which is no mean feat, and it was a tie which was fraught with danger.
"We got a bit sloppy at 3-0 and allowed them to score. I had a few harsh word from them at half-time but they went onto do a good. I'm very pleased with how the approached the game."
Lennon will find out today about goalkeeper Ofir Marciano who left the field in the first-half after taking a boot to his back.
The rout began on 11 minutes when Andrew Shinnie picked up the ball from midfield, took a shot on goal from 20 yards and the ball slipped under Rose goalkeeper Michael Andrews.
It was 2-0 on the quarter of an hour. James Keatings was a long way from goal, spotted the chip was on, and delivered a perfect dink which ended in the back of the net. Then on 24 minutes, Andrews got a hand to a Lewis Stevenson shot but could only lay the ball in the path of Chris Humphrey who was in no mood to miss.
And then came the moment of the day.
With 34 minutes gone, Bonnnyrigg got themselves into the Hibs penalty area, Darren McGregor ‘clipped’ the heels of Kieran McGachie who hit the turf and won a spot-kick. It looked a dive. Centre-half Hoskins stepped up and did not let down his supporters.
They had another shout before half-time when the ball rattled the arms of Gary Holt inside the box. With the naked eye it looked more of a penalty than the one awarded. The romance began and ended there.
Six minutes into half and Cummings’s scissors kick from close range made it 4-1, Stevenson tapped home at the back post ten minutes later and then Cummings for the sixth, an easy chance after Andrews made a good save to deny Holt.
Hibs fans had been chanting for a seventh which came from Keatings as the Bonnyrigg players were utterly spent. The eight was no real surprise; Jordan Forster heading in from close range.
By this time those on the pitch with real jobs were desperate for the final whistle.
“We never played to our potential but it was our bad luck that we came up against a Hibs side that players so well,” said Rose manager Robbie Horn who admitted it could have been worse. He was right.
Scorers
Bonnyrigg Rose: Hoskins 35
Hibernian: Shinnie 11, Keatings 15, 76 Humphreys 24, Cummings 51 71, Stevenson 61, Forster 82
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