East Kilbride 3 Bonnyrigg Rose 1: Elliott at the double as Kilby take big step towards realising SPFL dream
The Lowland League champions will take a two-goal lead to New Dundas Park next week
It's advantage East Kilbride in the League Two play-off final after a sparkling display in the K-Park sunshine gave them the upper hand over Bonnyrigg Rose.
The Lowland League champions have waited over a decade for a place in the SPFL, but they have taken a huge step towards that with a strong showing against their higher-ranked opponents.
EK made a lighting start in the first leg through Cami Elliott's second minute header, but former Kilby midfielder Aaron Arnott levelled for Rose after 16 minutes with a composed finish inside the box.
However, EK found another level in the second half and a second strike of the match from Elliott, plus a smart finish from Jordan McGregor after 72 minutes, has given Mick Kennedy's men a two-goal lead to take into next week's second leg in Midlothian.
Kilby boss Kennedy made just one change from the side that successfully saw off Brora Rangers in the Pyramid play-off last weekend, with Ian McShane dropping to the bench and Jordan McGregor coming back from suspension.
Rose - who won promotion from the Lowland League through the play-offs in 2022 - had some familiar faces in their ranks with Hibs loanee and ex-Airdrie man Murray Aiken and former EK man Arnott among the starters.
The hosts stated their intent very early on and inside 45 seconds John Robertson cut inside before he saw a thumping effort deflected inches over the top.
And from the resulting corner, Kilby took an early lead. Reegan Mimnaugh swung in a ball towards the back post and Elliott's looping header dropped into the far corner to get the hosts off to a dream start.
Six minutes in, Rose got their first sight at goal when Cameron Ross got in behind and his persistence paif off, with room eventually opening up for a shot. However, he pulled his effort narrowly wide from 18 yards.
Ten minutes later, the visitors pulled level in controversial circumstances. EK were screaming for a foul on Jordan McGregor out wide inside their own half, but referee Dan McFarlane waved play on and Rose capitalised. Kieran Somerville drove into the box and his cut back found Arnott for a composed finish into the bottom corner.
Kilby's frustrations continued later in the half and assistant boss Si Ferry was shown a yellow card after venting his anger at McFarlane's handling of the game.
On the stroke of half-time, Arnott forced Kilby keeper Chris Truesdale into his first real save of the match when Rose won a free-kick out wide. He curled an effort towards the far corner, forcing Truesdale to tip it behind.
Mimnaugh came to Kilby's rescue in 52 minutes when he headed Angus Mailer's header off the line and that proved a pivotal moment, as Kiby raced up the pitch and scored from the next attack. Great work from Flanagan saw him burst down the wing and he delivered a tantalising ball across the face of goal for Elliott to slide in and knock home from all of two yards.
Rose were still very capable and they had EK breathing another sigh of relief just moments later when a corner to the back post found Cameron Ross, but he headed over the top from just a few yards out.
EK went looking for a third and when Lewis Spence played a one-two on the edge of the box with skipper Jack Leitch, the former Accies man curled a fine effort inches wide of Patrick Martin's far post.
In 72 minutes EK added to their tally after some fine build-up. Mimnugh dinked the ball to the back post and Jamie Hamilton of all people produced a stunning scissor kick, which crashed off the crossbar and fell to McGregor to poke the ball home.
Jamie Hamilton and Sean Fagan both went close with back-post headers as the clock ticked down and Rose tried to cling on to keep the tie alive.
In the 90th minute Elliott almost grabbed his hat-trick but Flangan's driven cross just escaped his clutches in the six-yard box.
The sides will meet for the second leg next Saturday at New Dundas Park, kick-off 3pm.
EAST KILBRIDE: Truesdale, Hamilton, Fagan, Leitch, Flanagan, Balde, Elliott, Robertson, Mimnaugh, McGregor, Spence.
Scorers: Elliott 2, 53, McGregor 72
Bookings: Flanagan, Robertson, Fagan, McGregor, Spence
Subs not used: Connelly, D Ferguson, S Ferguson, McKinley, Livingstone, Craik, McShane.
BONNYRIGG: Martin, Mailer, Martynuik, Murphy, Arnott, McGachie (Porteous 50), Currie, Aiken (Ferrie 59), Somerville, Ross, Connolly.
Scorers: Arnott 16
Bookings: Ferrie
HT: 1-1
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