Bo’ness United visit East Stirlingshire on Saturday for the recently established derby match that took on all the qualities of such a clash from the very beginning. There’s been plenty of drama on the park with both sets of supporters looking forward to each game and this week is no different. Last time round the BUs enjoyed a comprehensive win at Newtown Park, with the Shire getting their revenge in the Hogmanay contest. The summaries of both games are at the end of this preview.

East Stirlingshire are not enjoying the best of seasons, out of both the Scottish and South Challenge Cups losing to Huntly and Caledonian Braves respectively, and are currently sitting third bottom of the Lowland League table. It’s just over a month since they won at Celtic B but have since lost four in a row including a defeat at Linlithgow Rose last weekend, their situation not helped going three weeks without a competitive game prior to the visit to Prestonfield. Clearly the Shire are keen to turn things round and will pull out all the stops to achieve a home victory against the BUs.

Bo’ness had a good win at home to Cowdenbeath last week, a result that keeps them in touch with the top teams while staying ahead of the chasing pack. The first half saw action at either end with goals at the beginning and the end of the period. Just over ten minutes in Cowdenbeath keeper Craig Hepburn dropped a corner and in the resulting goalmouth scramble Ryan Porteous touched over on the line to put his side ahead. Just before the break Cowdenbeath equalised with a run and low cross from Matthew MacDonald finding Ewan Macpherson who scored from close in.

Four minutes after the turnaround Bo’ness regained the lead as Scott Dalziel headed on a long ball for Tom Grant to score with a first time shot from the edge of the box. Soon after the BUs extended their advantage, Dalziel crossing from outside the box for Porteous to loop a header over the Cowdenbeath keeper and into the net. Cowdenbeath pulled a goal back thanks to Jamie Docherty whose angled run and shot beat BU keeper Musa Dibaga at his near post. With ten minutes remaining Bo’ness sealed the points, Keir Foster fighting to keep the ball wide on the left before cutting inside to fire home a low shot from just outside the box. That goal appeared to knock the stuffing from Cowdenbeath, their misery compounded just before the end when Andy Rodden was shown a straight red card for a stamp on Louis Kennedy.

Despite the gap in the table between the teams Bo’ness United know they face a hard game at the Falkirk Stadium and nothing is being taken for granted. Only East Kilbride are showing consistency in their results while the rest scrap with each other for points. Recent displays have shown Bo’ness do not give up and they must be at it for the ninety minutes to get a result. The BU Faithful will be there to support the players, also looking to win the off-field competition against the noisy Shire support.

John Spowart
Friday 17 November 2023

Date –Saturday 24 September 2022
Competition – Lowland League

Bo’ness United 6
(Jones 9, Miller 14 86 (both pens), Watt 33, Grant 71, Smith 87)
East Stirlingshire 0

Saturday’s derby win against East Stirlingshire proved surprisingly straight forward and although the Shire had to play the majority of the game a man down, Bo’ness were looking good from the off. The BUs struck early with a super left foot Alassan Jones shot and went two up shortly after when Shire’s trialist defender hauled Lennon Walker back as he was through on goal. The trialist was red carded and Zander Miller converted from the spot and it was not yet fifteen minutes into the game. It was unclear how the visitors would respond to the setbacks but Bo’ness continued forward, Shire keeper Ross Connelly making two great saves, one from Miller through on goal and tipping a great Jones free kick shot over his bar. Just over half an hour into the game Bo’ness did get a third as a perfect Jamie Hamilton through pass found Dan Watt who steered past the exposed Connelly. Jamie McCormack had a shot blocked in front of goal and on the whistle, Jamie Hamilton also had an effort cleared off the line and it looked like being a long afternoon for the visitors.

After the break the Shire did try to get back into things but spurned a great opportunity, Daniel McDonald shooting over from a low Shaun Brown ball across the goal. Both teams made use of their substitutes and with twenty minutes remaining Bo’ness looked out of sight as Tom Grant’s shot from eight yards finished a great short passing move in the opposition box. East Stirlingshire were dejected and conceded another penalty, Grant’s free kick cross handled in the box. Zander Miller stepped up once again and although Connelly made the initial save Miller pounced to dispatch the loose ball into the net. With a few minutes remaining Miller turned provider as Jack Smith met his cross to fire in his first BU goal from close in.

Bo’ness: Dibaga, Hawkins (Jacobs 63), Macaulay, McCormack, Todd, Gemmell (Grant 52), Miller, Jones (Johnston 63), Watt (Smith 52), Hamilton (Hughes 52), Walker. Subs (Not Used): Ward. SG Torres

East Stirlingshire: Connelly, Trialist, Brown (Honeyman 63), Coutts, Greene, Fotheringham, Barr, Kay, McDonald (Connolly 63), Hodge (Kilpatrick 63), Watson (Ewing 38). Subs (Not Used): Shirra, Wilson SG Iain Ure

Date – Saturday 31 December 2022
Competition – Lowland League

East Stirlingshire 2
(Greene 11 pen, Watson 35)
Bo'ness United 1
(Locke 85)

Bo’ness United experienced disappointment in the Hogmanay derby, losing out to East Stirlingshire at the Falkirk Stadium. Their cause was not helped there being a limited squad for Manager Max Christie to choose from and the task was to become even more difficult as the Shire went ahead after eleven minutes. A miss-hit passback forced Musa Dibaga out to the edge of his box where the referee adjudged him to have fouled a Shire forward. The Bo’ness keeper almost redeemed himself stopping Connor Greene’s spot kick but the player followed up to hit home the rebound.

Bo’ness rallied, moving forward while dealing with anything East Stirlingshire had to offer and just before the half hour had a great opportunity to draw level. Zander Miller’s run in on goal was halted by a fine tackle and from the resulting corner Michael Gemmell was fouled in the box. Ryan Stevenson stepped up to take the resulting penalty kick but Shire keeper Ross Connelly was more than equal to the task, parrying the initial shot while staying alert to tip over Miller’s follow up header. Only a few minutes later things went from bad to worse as Bo’ness conceded again, Dean Watson outstripping the BU defence before firing high into the net from just inside the box.

The start of the second half saw a change in personnel and formation as Bo’ness set about the job of getting back into the game. They dominated both possession and territory but where it mattered they struggled, unable to get that final pass or touch in the box. However, with five minutes remaining the BUs did get a goal, Nick Locke connecting with a Devon Jacobs cross to head home from close in. Unfortunately, it was to prove too little too late although shots by Jamie Hamilton and Tom Grant might have brought the visiting fans some late joy.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Macaulay, Locke, McArthur, Gemmell, Hamilton, Johnston (Jacobs 46), Miller, Grant, Heeps (Todd 46). Subs (Not Used): Murdoch, SG Thomson

East Stirlingshire: Connelly, Ewing (Dunn 72), Murray, Moyes, Greene, Kay, Barr, Hodge, Kirkpatrick (Honeyman 61), Watson, Brown. Subs (Not Used): McAlpine, Wilson, Connolly,
SG MacDonald