East Kilbirde boss: Bonnyrigg Rose will come for us in second leg, job is far from done
Mick Kennedy says Kilby's 10-year bid for promotion to the SPFL will act as a reminder they haven't acheived anything yet, despite strong first leg showing
East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy warned their job is far from done after taking a huge step towards the SPFL next season with a 3-1 win over Bonnyrigg Rose in the first leg of the League Two play-offs.
And he insisted the fact promotion from the Lowland League has eluded the club for over a decade should serve as a warning for next week's second leg in Midlothian.
Striker Cami Elliott was at the double for the hosts, netting after just two minutes and early in the second half, either side of an equaliser from ex-Kilby man Aaron Arnott.
But Jordan McGregor struck in the 72nd minute to give EK a two-goal advantage for the decider at New Dundas Park.
It puts Kilby on the cusp of promotion after three painful close calls down the years and despite dominating their visitors in the second half, Kennedy knows Rose could still be a thorn in their side.
He said: "I'm delighted with the second half performance. I thought we started the game really well, going 1-0 up so quickly. We had a 10-15 minute spell where we were controlling the game, shifting them across the pitch.
"But after Bonnyrigg scored, we were all over the place. The whole structure goes, people start dropping into areas of the pitch we don't ask them to and that's where their goal comes from.
"But once we got in at half-time and fixed that. We were a lot more dominant in the second half.
"I thought Bonnyrigg's shape was really good out of possession, they obviously came to frustrate us, but once we fixed our structure at half-time and how to break that first press, I thought we were thoroughly deserving of our victory.
"But this game is nowhere near done. This club has tried to get out of this league for 10 years and not succeeded so there certainly won't be any complacency from myself.
"We temper expectations by reminding them we've not gone up in the space of 10 years. The club hasn't managed to cross that line.
"But I think we need to be respectful to Bonnyrigg as well. They have been in the Lowland League and did well to get to League Two, so I think it will be a different game.
"I think they will be a lot more aggressive and a lot more forward thinking. They will probably create more opportunities as well so it is about how we deal with that. We need to find a game plan with some kind of attacking intent."
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.
In 16 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.
Reegan 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 Nathan 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.
In 72 minutes EK added to their tally after some fine build-up. Mimnaugh 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.
In the 90th minute Elliott almost grabbed his hat-trick but Flangan's driven cross just escaped him in the six-yard box.
Kennedy added: "I certainly think we could have had another goal. Flanagan fires one across the front and Cami doesn't get on it.
"But if you said we'd go into the second leg with a two-goal lead, I'd have bitten your hand off.
"Last year, we dominated Stranraer here and missed numerous opportunities to end up going down there at 2-2, so we've got to take the positives from the scoreline."
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