Match Preview

Match Preview kindly supplied by JOHN SPOWART!

Bonnyrigg Rose, Football Nation Qualifying Cup Round 3, New Dundas Park, Saturday 30 November 2019

Bo’ness United came out on top at Kiers Park to win a league double over Hill of Beath Hawthorn and next up is the daunting prospect of a trip to New Dundas Park to face high flying Bonnyrigg Rose in the Football Nation Qualifying Cup. Bonnyrigg are lying third in the Lowland League with two games in hand over East Stirlingshire who are just above them but on the same points. They disposed of League 1 side Montrose in the Scottish Cup and were rewarded with a round four tie at home against Clyde and, given these sides are close together in that League, Bonnyrigg are in with a right good chance of getting to the last sixteen of the ‘Big Scottish’.

Bo’ness met Bonnyrigg on four occasions last season and it was all square with a league and cup win each. Bonnyrigg triumphed at Newtown Park in November, a Keiran Mcgachie hat trick and a Dean Hoskins strike too good for a single BU penalty conversion from Andy Shirra. In the return fixture the BUs inflicted what was Bonnyrigg’s only defeat in the league that season. Bo’ness were two up at half time thanks to Brian Morgan and Stuart Hunter. Keith Lough pulled one back for the home side but Marty Wright sealed the BU win just before the end.

In the League Cup semi-final at Carmuirs Park, the BU temporary home at the time, Aaron Morrell’s strike for Bonnyrigg just after the break was cancelled out by Brian Morgan before the end. No goals in extra time meant a penalty shootout and Michael Gemmell put away the decisive kick that put Bo’ness through to the final where they beat Musselburgh Athletic at Penicuik to win the trophy. In what proved to be Bo’ness’s last match of the season, Bo’ness were soundly beaten in the King Cup at New Dundas. Bonnyrigg were two up through Keith Lough and Ewan Moyes but Allan MacKenzie pulled one back for the BUs just before half time. Bonnyrigg dominated after the break, Alan Horne and Louis Swanson both scoring before Keith Lough finished things off in the final minutes.

Bo’ness reached this stage of the Football Nation Cup beating Oakley at Carmuirs Park but only after Stuart Love gave the Fife side a half time lead. Chris Donnelly equalised right after the break but an unfortunate Ross Campbell/Andy Murphy own goal put the visitors ahead once more. However, Terry Hewitt scored for Bo’ness to pull them back level again before Brian Morgan struck and the BUs were ahead for the first time. Into time added on and Ryan Stevenson made sure of the victory even though the final score flattered the BUs. In the next round Bo’ness got off to a good start at Inverkeithing with a Thomas Grant free kick strike, his first for the club, and a goal from Mark Mooney. Inverkeithing pulled one back in the second half through Callum Strang and, but for some poor finishing, Swifts might have taken this game to extra time, or better. Bonnyrigg got here winning at University of Stirling in the last round having received a bye in round one.

The BU win at Hill of Beath proved the perfect response to the disappointing result and display against Blackburn United the week before. It was a fast, tough game on a wet surface and Bo’ness hardly deserved to be behind at the interval, Daniel Watt scoring for the home side after twenty minutes. Into the second half, with a noisy BU support behind them, Bo’ness worked hard to get back, getting forward at every opportunity while ensuring there were no slip ups at the back. With ten minutes to go Chris Donnelly equalised and two minutes before the ninety Mark McKenzie got a touch to a Ryan Stevenson cross to divert the ball past the heroic Stuart Hall. The Hill of Beath keeper had already made a number of spectacular saves to keep the BUs at bay but he, and Hill of Beath had finally to conceded defeat.

Bonnyrigg suffered a surprise lapse a few weeks ago as they lost out at Dunipace in the South of Scotland Cup. They do not want any repeat and Bo’ness know they have a very difficult game in front of them. The BUs will have to be at their best to have any chance of getting a result and are determined to do just that. It could be a great game and the BU Faithful will be there to match a noisy home support to ensure the Bo’ness players have the vocal backing they have become accustomed to.

John Spowart
27 November 2019