Bo’ness United travel to Penicuik Athletic for the second time this season, this occasion being a League Cup second round tie. In the first round Penicuik received a bye while Bo’ness beat Edinburgh United at Newtown Park. Brian Ritchie opened the scoring for Bo’ness from the spot and Kieran Anderson scored two, giving the BUs a comfortable lead at the break. However, they struggled in the second half and it was Edinburgh who pulled one back through Martin Maughan.

The BUs were at Penicuik Park last September in a league match and managed a late fightback for a share of the points. Goals from Andy Forbes and Callum Connolly had Penicuik in the driving seat at half time but Brian Morgan pulled one back just after the break. With just under twenty minutes remaining Craig Stevenson restored Penicuik’s two goal lead from the spot only for a Craig Comrie strike to give Bo’ness hope, and a minute before the regulation ninety Fraser Keast completed the fight back.

Penicuik won their conference last season and were fancied to do well again but they are disappointed only to be just inside the top half of the table at this time. Since the turn of the year they have lost at Jeanfield Swifts, Blackburn United and Tranent Juniors. They also went down at home to Dundonald Bluebell but managed a draw at Linlithgow Rose.

The Cuikie have fared better in the cups beating Kinnoull and then Tranent in the Football Nation Cup. They exited the South Region Challenge Cup at the hands of Hill of Beath Hawthorn but enjoyed a great run in the Scottish Cup. Disposing of Easthouses Lily and Whitehill Welfare in the preliminary rounds, Penicuik won at Lowland League Cumbernauld Colts and home to League 2 Stenhousemuir. They were paired with Championship side Partick Thistle in round three and only lost to a single first minute Reece Cole goal at Firhill.

Bo’ness won this trophy last season, ironically at Penicuik, against Musselburgh Athletic, Ryan Stevenson scoring the only goal of the game. They don’t want to relinquish their hold on the cup, particularly as this is the only cup competition Bo’ness are left in, but know this is going to be a very difficult game of football.

It was a disappointing result for Bo’ness against Dunbar United, definitely two points dropped in the race for the Premier Division. The BUs dominated possession, particularly in the second half, but once again the inability in front of goal cost the team dearly. Manager Max Christie knows if this can be sorted out Bo’ness can finish the season well. Saturday represents another opportunity for the players to step up to the challenge and the visiting BU Faithful are hoping to see a positive performance, some goals, and a favourable result.

John Spowart
17 February 2020