Bonnyrigg Rose boss hails team's resilience after coming close to upsetting Falkirk

The League 1 visitors picked up an extra point at New Dundas Park after winning the penalty shootout 4-2 at the of 90 minutes, but despite the disappointing end Horn was proud of the way his team hauled themselves back into the game after being on the ropes for the first half hour.

Rose could still qualify on second place from their group with victory away to Morton on Saturday.

Callum Morrison, Falkirk’s biggest threat on the night, put the League 1 in front, but Lewis Turner equalised with a penalty before half time. The second half could have gone either way, Rose nearly snatching victory in injury time when Conar Doan was denied by Falkirk keeper PJ Morrison.

Rose keeper Michael Andrews saved Callum Morrison’s spot kick in the shoot-out, but Rose striker George Hunter’s effort was also kept out and Kevin Smith skied his attempt over the bar.

“They started really well and played with real intensity,” said Horn, who made a number of changes to his team. “We just had to dig in and you’re going to have to do that against full-time teams.

“We grew into the game and second half I though we put in a very good performance and could have sneaked it at the end as well.”

Falkirk dominated possession for the first half hour and led thanks to Morrison’s ninth-minute free-kick. It was well struck right-footed with precision rather than power, finding the bottom corner low to Michael Andrews’ right.

Rose kept a decent enough shape but were pinned back by Falkirk’s slick passing and fluid movement.

They turned the tide by managing to upset the League 1 side’s rhythm in the last 15 minutes of the half and got their reward.

They did so by making the game ugly, getting in Falkirk’s faces and pushing up. Playing more direct balls into