A DREAM to reach the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) could finally be on the cards – after twice being denied.

Michael Andrews and Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic have arguably been impacted as much as any club in the country by the coronavirus pandemic.

Two years ago, they were six points behind Kelty Hearts at the top of the Lowland League and with a game in hand when the season was curtailed.

Fast forward 12 months and it was a similar story as the season was stopped with just a dozen games played and the Midlothian side trailing Kelty.

Now, they are top of the pile as the fifth tier of Scottish football closes in on the halfway stage.

Andrews, who grew up in Haddington, was determined to get over the line and return to the SPFL.

The goalkeeper said: “It has been a really difficult couple of years.

“How the league has finished, the majority of fans and people might think we have been hard done by.

“There is nothing much we can do and just have to concentrate and focus to do it this time around.

“It has obviously been from when the club was playing in the Junior leagues that it has been the ambition and dream to play at a higher level.

“We were not just wanting to go to the Lowland League and be a Lowland League club. The dream for everybody is to be promoted and go and progress through it.

“The club has got the set-up, a bigger fanbase than a lot of teams and there is no reason why we cannot step up and play in that division.”

Bonnyrigg were 2-1 winners in the top-of-the-table clash with Spartans at the weekend.

Victory was enough to put Andrews, who runs his own goalkeeping academy, and his team-mates seven points clear of the Capital side one game before the halfway stage of the competition.

He said: “It was a big game.

“Spartans started the season really well and have got a good squad and good players.

“For us as a team, we keep going one win at a time and don’t get ahead of ourselves.

“We concentrate on each game as it comes.”

Andrews, who attended Knox Academy, is not the only player in the side with an East Lothian connection.

Dean Brett, Bradley Barrett, Bob Wilson, Lewis Turner, Nathan Evans and Alan Horne have all either played or live in the county.

Saturday’s victory over Spartans also marked a personal milestone for Andrews, who now lives in Prestonpans.

He represented the club for the 150th time and told Courier Sport how he was enjoying his time at New Dundas Park, having previously played for clubs including East Stirlingshire, Brechin City and Montrose.

The 31-year-old said: “A lot of the teams before there was a lot of travelling involved.

“It does take a toll when you go into the part-time level and you are working during the day and have a young family at home.

“That bit less travel is a bit nicer in that respect.

“The facilities are there, the chairman and the gaffer have all looked after us and I’m happy being in and around the club.”