After the excitement of the Scottish Cup win against Forfar Athletic Bo’ness United return to Lowland League business with a midweek visit to Bonnyrigg Rose. This is the return fixture, Bonnyrigg winning at Newtown Park early in the season. There was little joy facing Bonnyrigg with two goals in each half doing the damage. The scorers for the visitors were Laurie Devine, Alassan Jones and Rudi Bryce with two. Bo’ness created chances but were unable to make the breakthrough (Report). In last season’s match at New Dundas Park Bo’ness were comprehensively beaten, Cameron Ross bagging a first half brace before claiming his hat trick just after the turnaround. Kallum Higginbotham completed the scoring in a game where the BUs were second best in all departments (Report).

Bonnyrigg are seventh in the league table but only seven points behind top place Tranent with a game in hand. They have lost three games, losing at home to Brechin City and Hill of Beath Hawthorn and at Civil Service Strollers. The are enjoying a good campaign in the SPFL Challenge Cup winning through from their section to the knockout stage. However, they have not fared so well in the Scottish Cup, losing at Inverness Clachnacuddin while exiting the South Challenge Cup at Whitletts Victoria. They also lost to Gala Fairydean Rovers in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup. In their last outing they shared the points at Cowdenbeath.

Bo’ness have enjoyed a good October culminating in the Scottish Cup win on Saturday. In horrendous conditions they lost an early goal through Aaron Arnott. One down at halftime, goals in the second period from a Kieran Mitchell penalty and a Jamie Allan strike saw them through and will now host Brechin City in the next round (Report).

As exciting as the Scottish Cup journey is Bo’ness need to change focus, looking to win some much needed points. New Dundas Park has not been a happy hunting ground in recent times and only an exceptional effort can achieve a result. A challenging weather forecast once again threatens to spoil proceedings and is likely to limit the number of the BU Faithful willing to make the journey.

John Spowart

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2026/2027

Date – Tuesday 28 July 2026

Competition – Lowland League

Bo’ness United 0

Bonnyrigg Rose 4
(Devine 5, Jones 39, Bryce 74 84)

Bo’ness United’s start to their Lowland League campaign saw a second defeat at home this time against Bonnyrigg Rose. In monsoon conditions Bo’ness struggled as the Rose pressurised the BUs from beginning to end, although the home side created a number of chances that might have made a difference to the outcome.

The BUs actually created the first opportunity only a minute in as Bonnyrigg keeper, Marc Anderson did well to block Jackson Mylchreest’s angled shot. Typically, Bonnyrigg scored soon after as Laurie Devine rose up to head home Billy Kings cross to the far post. Bonnyrigg had the chance to go two up as Jordan Armstrong was penalised for a tackle on Alassan Jones in the BU box but Neil Martynuik fired the resulting penalty past the post. At the other end Bo’ness made the break, Kieran Mitchell put through on goal only to see his angled effort go into the side net. Again Bonnyrigg’s response was lethal, Alassan Jones curling in a great shot from the edge of the BU box.

In the second half Bo’ness continued to be on the backfoot though they put together some good moves unfortunately unable to find the killer touch. As it turned out Bonnyrigg punished them with two further strikes. Rudi Bryce was on the park for a mere two minutes before cutting in from the left to blast past BU keeper Allan Fleming and the same player repeated the task winning the ball in the corner combining with a team mate to finish with a low shot into the far corner of the goal.

It proved a difficult night for Bo’ness who generally struggled in possession and as with the Tranent game failed to capitalise in front of goal. Clearly work to be done but this early in the season presents plenty of opportunities to turn things around.

Bo’ness United: 1 Allan Fleming 2 Jamie Allan (Klimionek 82) 3 Joe Cassidy
4 Jordan Armstrong 5 Dan Irving 6 Adam Masson 8 Jack Hodge (Smith 51)
9 Jackson Mylchreest 10 Tom Grant (Capt) 11 Shaun Brown (Murdoch 63)
16 Kieran Mitchell

Subs: 12 Alfie Smith 14 Bayley Klimionek 15 Robbie Murdoch 17 Hamza Nimaga (Not Used)
18 Billy Mortimer (Not Used) SG Scott Ritchie (Not Used)

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Saturday 15 November 2025
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bonnyrigg Rose 4
(Ross 21 35 48, Higginbotham 56)

Bo’ness United 0

After last week’s demolition job on Gala Fairydean Rovers, it was Bo’ness United’s turn to be on the end of a wrecking ball as Bonnyrigg Rose overpowered them dominating the game from start to finish. From the off the BUs had to defend and it was only a matter of time before Bonnyrigg made the breakthrough. After twenty minutes Cameron Ross got onto the end of a Billy King corner to fire a low shot past BU keeper Matthew Wallace. Bo’ness were restricted to the occasional foray up the park and they did get a shot in only for Kyle Johnston’s effort to be blocked. Just over the half hour Bonnyrigg doubled their advantage when Billy King cut back for Cameron Ross to once more fire into the BU net. Right after this Jamie Watson saw his low shot go just wide of the Bonnyrigg post, this being the closest thing for the BUs.

The visiting support were hoping for better in the second half but just three minutes in the King/Ross combination struck again, this time a cross and a header finding the net, A few minutes later Bonnyrigg made it four, this time Kallum Higginbotham cut in from the left before curling a shot into the top corner to complete the scoring. In fairness the Bo’ness players never gave up as they tried to get something back but it was in vain and the BUs now move on to meet Cumbernauld Colts at the Broadwood Stadium on Friday.

Bo’ness United: 1 Matthew Wallace, 2 Roan Fitzpatrick, 3 Shaun Brown (McLuckie 52),
4 Dan Irving, 5 Alasdair Davidson, 6 Jordan Armstrong (Macaulay 63,
7 Jack Hodge (Stevenson 73), 8 Kyle Johnston (Capt), 9 Jamie Watson (Schiavone 73),
11 Freddie Rowe, 16 Kieran Mitchell (Grant 52)

Subs: 10 Tom Grant, 12 Ryan Schiavone, 14 Keir Macaulay, 15 Ryan Stevenson
17 Mark McLuckie, SG Milosz Sliwinski (Not Used)

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2026/2027

Date – Saturday 24 October 2026

Competition – Scottish Gas Scottish Cup

Bo’ness United 2
(Mitchell 65 pen, Allan 82)

Forfar Athletic 1
(Arnott 16)

Bo’ness United overcame the elements and SPFL League 2 side Forfar Athletic to progress to the next round of the Scottish Cup.

The BUs started brightly and Hamza Nimaga was a toes length away from connecting with a Kieran Mitchell call across the face of the goal. However as in recent weeks Bo’ness conceded first, an Aaron Arnott shot from the edge of the box bouncing over the diving Allan Fleming. The goal perked up the visitors with an Angus Mailer shot going just over the Bo’ness bar. Bo’ness responded with a Keir Macaulay free kick shot that was too hot to handle for Forfar keeper Neil Stafford but scrambled away from danger.

In the second half the strong wind and heavy rain were making things difficult for both teams as Bo’ness set about getting back into the tie. It was Forfar who came close to scoring next, a Luka Perrie effort hitting the bar but right away at the other end Bo’ness were awarded a penalty when Kieran Mitchell was pulled back in the box, the same player converting from the spot. Bo’ness went looking for a winner though Luca Perrie again was doing his best, a free kick shot going wide and another effort requiring Allan Fleming to make the save. Bo’ness came close to getting the winner after a good move finished with Kieran Mitchell shotting narrowly wide though with eight minutes Bo’ness did get that decisive goal, Jamie Allan’s persistence forcing the ball past the keeper before bundling into the net.

Bo’ness saw out the rest of the game including the monsoon that greeted the last few minutes though it failed to dampen the celebrations breaking out at the final whistle.

Bo’ness United: 1 Allan Fleming 2 Jamie Allan 3 Shaun Brown 4 Jordan Armstrong
5 Keir Macaulay (Capt) 6 Jack Hodge 7 Robbie Murdoch 8 Campbell Forrest
10 Murray Binnie (Fitzpatrick 46) 11 Hamza Nimaga (Grant 73) 16 Kieran Mitchell

Subs: 9 Jackson Mylchreest (Not Used) 12 Roan Fitzpatrick 14 Connor McMinn (Not Used)
15 Kyle Coulter (Not Used) 17 Rory McDonald (Not Used) 18 Adam Masson (Not Used)
19 Tom Grant SG Ksawery Liczba (Not Used)

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