Gala Fairydean Rovers handed home draw v Bonnyrigg Rose in round three of qualifying cup
Gala Fairydean Rovers have been drawn at home to Scottish Lowland Football League East rivals Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic in round three of this season’s East of Scotland Qualifying Cup for the second year running.
That tie is one of 16 making up round three of the cup, with the others including Rovers’ fifth-tier rivals Berwick Rangers hosting the East of Scotland Football League second division north-west conference’s Luncarty.
Dates have yet to be confirmed but last year’s third round was contested between mid-September and the end of November, so this year’s follow up looks likely to get under way within the next couple of weeks.
Manager Martin Scott’s Borderers were knocked out of the cup by Bonnyrigg last time round in November, going down 3-0 at their Netherdale Stadium home ground, with Rudi Bryce at the double and Josh Beveridge on target for the Midlothian outfit.
That was the two teams’ second meeting in that competition, Fairydean having previously beaten Rose 5-1, again at home, in round four in February 2022.
They also knocked them out of last season’s Scottish Lowland Football League Cup, beating them 2-0 at home in its last eight in February.
Rovers have fared less well against Rose in the league, however, losing all six of their meetings since 2020, most recently by 4-2 away in February and 3-0 at home in July 2025.
Their upcoming cup game – with a fourth-round tie away to the EoSFL premier division’s Haddington Athletic or eastern Lowland league table-toppers Tranent at stake – looks set to be one of three games against Rose in the space of a couple of months as they’ve got league fixtures against them lined up for Wednesday, September 16, at home and Tuesday, November 17, away, both 7.45pm kick-offs.
Fairydean – finalists in 2022, losing 3-1 to Linlithgow Rose in Penicuik – are the Borders’ last men standing in this year’s competition after knocking Edinburgh Community out of round two by 12-1 at home on Wednesday, August 5, with Coldstream, Linton Hotspur and Vale of Leithen all having gone out at that stage, respectively by 5-3 away to Crossgates Primrose, 4-0 at Berwick and 3-1 at Bo’ness United.
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