After three games on the trot against Crossgates Primrose, Bo’ness United welcome Dunipace to Newtown Park for the first competitive match between the sides in over seventy years. Dunipace have played in the West of Scotland League for most of their existence but Donald Burns, who has searched through old newspapers and club records for all the BU results since their inception, reports numerous meetings in both League and Cup games in the 1945/46 inaugural season for Bo’ness United. There has been nothing since but the teams last met at Newtown Park in a preseason friendly in 2007 where the BUs won courtesy of goals from Kevin Donnelly and Kevin Mullen. Bo’ness have also played twice in the Dunipace invitation tournament but did not meet the hosts because the BUs lost their initial games against other sides..

Like Bo’ness Dunipace have played two League matches, winning easily at Eyemouth but going down at Dalkeith. They are playing their early League matches away as their home ground, Westfield Park, is undergoing extensive refurbishment. Any ‘home’ games to date have been played at Camelon Juniors’ Carmuirs Park. Again, like Bo’ness, Dunipace qualified to play in the preliminary round of the League where they will play at Crossgates Primrose. In their section games they won at Burntisland Shipyard and at home to Preston Athletic but were defeated at Musselburgh Athletic. They have also beaten Newtongrange Star and Peebles Rovers in the Alex Jack Cup and have been drawn at home to Broxburn Athletic in the next round. Bo’ness visit Tranent in the next round.

Bo’ness yet again achieved an odd goal win against Crossgates Primrose, this time the Alex Jack Cup tie at Humbug Park. Crossgates were keen not to lose this one but were possibly a bit overenthusiastic with three players receiving their marching orders. Ironically it was when Primrose were down to eight men that Scott Hynd scored their only goal after a header in each half by Stuart Hunter had put the BUs two goals up. Bo’ness seemed unsure of how to play the game out, whether to hold onto what they had or press home their advantage.

Bo’ness want to win on Saturday to maintain their recent unbeaten record while achieving maximum league points to date. The BUs are on the road for the following three Saturdays and it is the opportunity for those who do not normally travel to turn out to support the team.

John Spowart