After the win at Gala Fairydean Rovers Bo’ness United want to open their home account with a victory against Civil Service Strollers on Saturday. The game at Netherdale looked to be beyond the BUs as the home side dominated the first half although only had a single goal to show for their efforts. After the turnaround it was the turn of a rejuvenated Bo’ness to take the game to Gala, Kieran Mitchell scoring a brace, one from the spot with Jack Hodge making sure of the points before the end (Report).

Civil Service Strollers visited Newtown twice last season, early in the league campaign when a second half Tom Grant strike won the game for Bo’ness (Report). The Strollers also visited for an East of Scotland Qualifying Cup tie. Kieran Mitchell gave Bo’ness a half time lead and shortly after the break the Strollers had a man sent off. However, the ten men fought back with two goals from Alieu Faye and although Bo’ness equalised through Jamie Watson, they lost the penalty shoot out (Report). Towards the end of the season Bo’ness travelled to Christie Gillies Park looking for a first ever win there but yet again returned empty handed. Despite playing most of the game with ten men, keeper Allan Fleming having been red carded, Bo’ness crafted but spurned chances losing to the early Mark Laird penalty kick conversion. The Stollers also created opportunities to extend their advantage but solid defending along with some outstanding saves from stand in keeper Sam Gardner maintained the possibility of a BU comeback right up to the final whistle (Report).

Civil Service Strollers are undefeated so far this season, drawing at Linlithgow Rose before defeating Hill of Beath Hawthorn and Cowdenbeath both at home and will prove a hard nut to crack. The BUs must find their Tranent form including the second half goalscoring ability in Galashiels and if they can achieve this then a second win of the season is possible. A good home crowd can help the cause with the BU Faithful getting behind the players inspiring them to achieve a positive result.

John Spowart
Friday 07 August 2026

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2026/2027

Date – Saturday 01 August 2026

Competition – Lowland League

Gala Fairydean Rovers 1
(Denholm 6)

Bo’ness United 3
(Mitchell 54 pen 76, Hodge 86)

After defeats in their first two matches Bo’ness United notched up their first win getting the better of Gala Fairydean Rovers at Netherdale.

At half time Bo’ness were a goal down, a Tyler Denholm back post header putting the home side ahead early on and Gala dominated the half with Bo’ness restricted to the occasional foray up the park. In saying that Bo’ness did create opportunities and for all their possession BU keeper Allan Fleming didn’t have many saves to make.

Into the second period and right away Bo’ness looked a much better prospect forcing Gala back into their own half. A mistake led to the first BU goal Kieran Mitchell pouncing on a poor pass back and just as he was about to slot home Liam Fagan brought him to the ground, a penalty for Bo’ness and a red card for the Rovers player. It just needed Mitchell to convert and he did so with some aplomb. The game took on a different complexion and Gala keeper Reece Murray had to make a good save from a Roal Fitzpatrick shot to prevent a second for Bo’ness. Gala did have a mini revival Lewis Hall seeing his low shot going just beyond the far post before Tylar Denholm’s effort could only find the side net.

With just under fifteen minutes left Bo’ness got themselves ahead with a Shaun Brown low cross landing nicely for Kieran Mitchell to poke home from six yards. A few minutes before the end Bo’ness sealed the win Jack Hodge taking Robbie Murdoch’s cut back before making room to hit a shot that saw the ball flying past the Gala keeper high into the net. Just on the whistle Lewis Hall thought he had reduced the deficit but his shot from close in brought out a fantastic point blank save from Allan Fleming.

Bo’ness United: 1 Allan Fleming 2 Jamie Allan 3 Dan Irving 4 Jordan Armstrong 5 Joe Cassidy
6 Adam Masson (Hodge 46) 8 Bayley Klimionek (Fitzpatrick 46) 9 Jackson Mylchreest
10 Tom Grant (Capt) 11 Shaun Brown (Murdoch 83) 16 Kieran Mitchell

Subs: 7 Roan Fitzpatrick 12 Alfie Smith (Not Used) 14 Jack Hodge 15 Hamza Nimaga (Not Used)
17 Robbie Murdoch 18 Billy Mortimer (Not Used) SG Sam Gardner (Not Used)

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Saturday 26 July 2025

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo’ness United 3
(Grant 52 68 76)

Civil Service Strollers 0

Bo’ness United made a positive start to their Lowland League campaign with a good win against Civil Service Strollers at Newtown Park. The BUs edged the first half but it was after the break where the real damage was done, Bo’ness scoring three without reply thank to a Tom Grant hat trick.
Shooting into the wind Bo’ness enjoyed most of the possession, though faced a disciplined defence where little was given away. Some good football was played though few direct chances materialised. Roan Fitzpatrick had a shot saved by Strollers keeper Adam Meak and at the other end, previous scourge of Bo’ness Jamie Penker raced clear but BU keeper Ben Fry was out quick, getting down to divert the ball away from danger.
Into the second half Bo’ness pushed forward but were disappointed as an offside flag prevented them going ahead after only two minutes. However, it was not long after when they did get a goal, a Keir Macaulay cross headed home by Tom Grant at the back post. Meak made saves from Keir Macaulay and Ryan Schiavone to stop the BUs going further ahead though it only delayed a second goal when Tom Grant converted a great Ryan Stevenson cutback. With just under fifteen minutes remaining it was three for Bo’ness, this time Grant’s corner going in at the near post as Adam Meak and Alieu Faye both hesitated, seemingly waiting on each other clearing the danger. The BUs might have scored again before the end, Meak tipping a Jamie Watson shot round the post but the final whistle was greeted with an air of satisfaction of a good day’s work.

Bo’ness United: 1 Ben Fry, 2 Dan Irving, 3 Ryan Stevenson (Capt), 4 Aldin El-Zubaidi,
5 Jordan Armstrong, 6 Kodi McKinstray (Macaulay 7), 7 Roan Fitzpatrick (Masson 71),
8 Jack Hodge, 10 Tom Grant, 11 Ryan Schiavone (Watson 78), 16 Kieran Mitchell (Scullion 78)
Subs: 9 Jamie Watson, 12 Adam Masson, 14 Lewis Duffy (Not Used), 15 Keir Macaulay
17 Cameron Mulvanny (Not Used), 18 Conor Scullion, SG Scott Ritchie (Not Used).

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Saturday 25 October 2025

Competition – East of Scotland Qualifying Cup Round 3

Bo’ness United 2
(Mitchell 42, Watson 89)

Civil Service Strollers 2
(Faye 64 69)

(Civil Service Strollers win 5-4 on penalties)

After a penalty kick shootout Bo’ness United lost out to a ten man Civil Service Strollers meaning this elimination from the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup along with the South Challenge and Scottish Cups exits only leaves the opportunity of silverware with the League Cup.

With the wind at their backs Bo’ness enjoyed the bulk of the pressure but came up against an inspired goalkeeper as Adam Meek made a number of great saves with other attempts on the Civil Service goal off target. Two minutes before the break Bo’ness finally struck home as Kieran Mitchell swivelled to fire a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Two minutes into the second half Josh McCulloch was booked and only two minutes later a second yellow card saw the Strollers player send off. Bo’ness went close to taking advantage with a Roan Fitzpatrick free kick shot going narrowly wide while an Alasdair Davidson header hit the post. Not taking the opportunities that came along proved costly as with just under thirty minutes remaining two Alieu Faye strikes in five minutes turned the game in the visitors’ favour. The Strollers’ tails were up and oblivious of their reduced numbers with minutes remaining missed a great opportunity to seal the tie as Alieu Faye was unable to connect with a low cross into the danger area. The BUs had struggled for most of the second half though with only a minute left on the clock scrambled an equaliser, Jamie Watson getting the final touch close to the line. Into the penalty kick shootout each side had seven attempts and it was the Strollers who prevailed, Bo’ness left to consider what might have been.

Bo’ness United: 1 Matthew Wallace, 2 Roan Fitzpatrick (Grant 66), 3 Keir Macaulay(Capt),
4 Dan Irving, 5 Alasdair Davidson, 6 Jordan Armstrong, 7 Jack Hodge, 9 Ryan Schiavone,
10 Tom Grant, 11 Freddie Rowe, 16 Kieran Mitchell.

Subs: 8 Kyle Johnston (Not Used), 12 Jamie Watson, 14 Taylor Penman (Not Used),
15 Connor McMinn (Not Used), 17 Hamza Nimaga (Not Used), 18 Owen Andrews (Not Used)
SG Sam Gardner (Not Used)

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Saturday 14 March 2026

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Civil Service Strollers 1
(Laird 17 pen)

Bo’ness United 0

Bo’ness United must wait another season to see if they can finally get that elusive win at Christie Gillies Park, this time a ten man BUs losing out to Civil Service Strollers. Bo’ness played more than three quarters of the match one less as keeper Allan Fleming was red carded but apart from the inability to convert the numerous chances created, the BUs played most of the game in the opposition’s half.

It was just after fifteen minutes when Allan Fleming appeared to slip with the ball and although he managed a good tackle on Alieu Faye the keeper had grabbed the Strollers forward resulting in the penalty award and red card. Step up U20s Sam Gardner who was unable to stop Mark Laird converting but the young keeper went on to make a number of remarkable saves to keep the BUs in the hunt. The red card decision was probably right but there was some disquiet among the BU Faithful as earlier in the game Mark Beveridge was booked for a reckless challenge and was fortunate the card had not been a different colour.

After this early drama Bo’ness set about getting back at the Strollers, the closest a Mark McLuckie header, well saved by Adam Meek. In the second half Bo’ness again got forward as much as possible but were unable find the inside of the goal frame. Civil Service also had opportunities to put the game to bed but a combination of great goalkeeping and resolute defending kept them at bay leaving the opportunity for Bo’ness to benefit. The game finished with the BUs on the attack and although the all important goal proved elusive, the ten must be credited for a tremendous effort even though the outcome could have been different with better finishing.

Bo’ness United: 1 Allan Fleming 2 Roan Fitzpatrick (Johnston 64) 3 Keir Macaulay (Capt)
4 Mark McLuckie 5 Jordan Armstrong 6 Adam Masson (Hodge 64) 7 Lewis Hodgkiss (Nimaga 70)
10 Tom Grant (Gardner 17) 11 Shaun Brown 14 Jamie Watson 16 Kieran Mitchell

Subs: 8 Kyle Johnston 12 Jack Hodge 15 Hamza Nimaga 17 Thiery Tawanda (Not Used)
19 Ben Murdoch (Not Used) SG Sam Gardner