After the heavy defeat at home to Lochee United Bo’ness United must dust themselves down and prepare for the visit of East Stirlingshire in the new derby match this weekend. It was a tale of missed chances and slack defending against a good Lochee side where Finlay Allan scored three while substitutes Ross Fraser and Bruce Hearn bagged a goal apiece (Report).

Like Bo’ness East Stirlingshire come into this game following two defeats losing at home to Linlithgow Rose and at Cowdenbeath and the teams are on equal points and goal difference. Nevertheless the Shire have enjoyed an improved start compared to their previous season when they finished bottom of the pile with only five wins over the league campaign. With three wins already chalked up they will want to regain their early form beating Hill of Beath Hawthorn, University of Stirling and most recently Dunipace.

In the corresponding fixture last season a Kieran Mitchell strike in each half did the damage though things might have been different had the Shire converted their first half chances. However in the second half Bo’ness got a grip of the game and in the end deserved the win (Report). In the game at Ochilview, now at the Shire Ryan Stevenson had Bo’ness ahead at the break but a penalty just into the second half saw Dan Irving red carded and East Stirlingshire draw level. Despite being a man short Ryan Stevenson regained the Bo’ness lead and before the end Jordan Armstrong sealed the points with his first goal for the BUs. (Report).

Since Bo’ness entered the Lowland League the games against the Shire have been eagerly anticipated with some great contests plenty of goals and no little controversy making it worthy of the title the ‘new derby’. Given the current position of both sides this is a hard one to call though the Bo’ness players have a point to prove after the disappointing outcome against Lochee. An exciting game is in prospect and hopefully the BU Faithfull can turn out to more than match the visiting Shire supporters while ensuring the players have plenty of encouragement on the day

John Spowart
Friday 18 September 2026

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2026/2027

Date – Tuesday 15 September 2026

Competition – Lowland League

Bo’ness United 0

Lochee United 5
(Allan 3 40 67, Fraser 83, Hearn 89)

Bo’ness United experienced their worst result of the season so far as they lost heavily at home to Lowland League newcomers Lochee United. Lochee were out of the blocks quickly, going ahead in only three minutes as Finlay Allan latched onto a long ball before driving into the box, slipping past the advancing Allan Fleming. Bo’ness survived without further damage and worked themselves back into the game creating a number of chances to get back. Tom Grant and Keir Macaulay had shots on goal but the closest was a Kieran Mitchell effort hitting the post and a Jackson Mylchreest shot from close in being blocked on the line.

Unable to convert these opportunities, just before half time the BUs were punished as Lochee scored again. Jamie Richardson danced into the box before laying back to Finlay Allan who smashed the ball into the back of the net.

Into the second half Bo’ness once again created openings without taking advantage and once again were punished as Finlay Allan completed his hat trick with a fine solo effort, jinking through the BU defence before hitting home. Before the end Lochee rubbed further salt into the Bo’ness wound with further goals from Ross Fraser and Bruce Hearn.

This was a comprehensive defeat although the story could have been so different if Bo’ness had taken even some of their chances. Clearly losing five goals raises questions about the BU defending and the management team will be hoping lessons can be learned with many difficult games ahead.

Bo’ness United: 1 Allan Fleming 2 Jamie Allan 3 Keir Macaulay (Capt) 4 Jordan Armstrong
5 Adam Masson 7 Robbie Murdoch (Binnie 76) 8 Jack Hodge (Fitzpatrick 63)
9 Jackson Mylchreest (Nimaga 63) 10 Tom Grant (Coulter 86) 11 Shaun Brown 16 Kieran Mitchell

Subs: 6 Roan Fitzpatrick 12 Joe Cassidy (Not Used) 14 Murray Binnie 15 Hamza Nimaga
17 Ben Murdoch (Not Used) 18 Kyle Coulter SG Sam Gardner (Not Used)

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Saturday 10 January 2026

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo’ness United 2
(Mitchell 15 73)

East Stirlingshire 0

Bo’ness United made it three in a row, beating East Stirlingshire following on from the victories at Broxburn Athletic and home to Linlithgow Rose. Over the course of the game the BUs perhaps just about deserved the win but the Shire proved tough opponents, their main fault being the inability to convert the chances that came their way. This was perfectly illustrated in the first few minutes when from a free kick cross the header went just over the bar and another header, this time from a corner, was headed onto the bar. As often as can happen in these situations the Shire were left to regret the spurned opportunities as Bo’ness went ahead, Tom Grant putting Kieran Mitchell through on goal, the BU striker making no mistake as he shot past Shire keeper Jay Cantley.

East Stirlingshire created openings to get back including in the second half though Bo’ness were improved, defending well while getting up the park looking for a second goal. With just over fifteen minutes remaining they got that goal a good Bo’ness move, Kieran Mitchell finishing off a good move with a great first time shot that flashed into the East Stirlingshire net. That goal settled the destination of the points and while the Shire never stopped trying, they were unable to find their way to goal.

Bo’ness were perhaps not at their best in this game but they worked hard throughout and took their chances to achieve another win that keeps them well in the top half of the Lowland League.

Bo’ness United: 1 Allan Fleming 2 Roan Fitzpatrick (Irving 31) 3 Jordan Armstrong (Macaulay 75)
4 Mark McLuckie 5 Alasdair Davidson6 Adam Masson (Johnston 75)7 Jack Hodge (Hodgkiss 75)
9 Billy Mortimer (Fyfe 65)10 Tom Grant (Capt) 11 Shaun Brown16 Kieran Mitchell

Subs: 8 Kyle Johnston 12 Ryan Stevenson (Not Used)14 Jamie Watson (Not Used)15 Keir Macaulay 17 Dan Irving 18 Lucas Fyfe 19 Lewis Hodgkiss

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Friday 01 August 2025

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

East Stirlingshire 1
(O’Neill 47)

Bo’ness United 3
(Stevenson 3 57, Armstrong 83)

Bo’ness United showed their fighting spirit as despite playing most of the second half a man short they rallied to the cause, leaving East Stirlingshire with all the points.

The BUs made a great start scoring in three minutes, a Ryan Stevenson curling cross deceiving everyone including Shire keeper Jay Cantley who despaired as the ball went in just inside his post. The Shire worked back into the game without creating any clear chances and it was Bo’ness who continued to create opportunities, Jack Hodge seeing a shot saved by Cantley while Conor Scullion’s first contribution after coming on for Tom Grant was to crash an effort off the Shire crossbar.

Just into the second half the complexion of the game changed as Dan Irving pulled Matty Flynn in the box resulting in a red card for the Bo’ness player and a penalty for East Stirlingshire. Ben Fry saved Jamie Hislop’s spot kick but the BU keeper was unable to hold the ball and Stephen O’Neill was quickest to react, firing home the rebound.

East Stirlingshire’s tails were up and Callum Murray was unlucky to see a shot go narrowly past while a Morgaro Gomis effort just cleared the back post. Bo’ness weathered the storm and with just under twenty minutes left they regained the lead, a Kieran Mitchell pass across the eighteen yard line finding Ryan Stevenson who steered a shot past Jay Cantley. Joe Cassidy and Ben Hobbs both had headed efforts on the Bo’ness goal, one easily saved, the other missing the target. These lost opportunities proved costly as with just over five minutes remaining Bo’ness sealed the points. A Kieran Mitchell pass sent Jack Hodge through on goal but Jay Cantley made a great save though at the expense of a corner that resulted in a scramble in the Shire box, Jordan Armstrong taking advantage to poke the ball home from close in. Just before the whistle Lewis Duffy who had just come on made a great goal line clearance and it proved the last action, Bo’ness rightly given a standing ovation from the travelling BU faithful.

Bo’ness United have shown a spirit that was a feature of the past but perhaps missing last season. Hopefully they can keep it going and will certainly need it with two cup ties against Dundonald Bluebell and Johnstone Burgh sandwiching another Lowland League challenge at home to Gretna 2008.

Bo’ness United: 1 Ben Fry, 3 Ryan Stevenson, 4 Dan Irving, 5 Aldin El-Zubaidi,
6 Jordan Armstrong, 7 Jack Hodge, 8 Kyle Johnston (Capt), 9 Ryan Schiavone (Watson 53).
10 Tom Grant (Scullion 39) (Masson 53), 11 Roan Fitzpatrick, 16 Kieran Mitchell (Duffy 90)

Subs: 2 Adam Masson, 12 Jamie Watson, 14 Mark McLuckie (Not Used), 15 Lewis Duffy,
17 Keir Macaulay (Not Used), 18 Conor Scullion, 19 Cameron Mulvanny (Not Used).

Upcoming Matches