Bo’ness United make their first journey of the campaign with a trip to Galashiels to face Gala Fairydean Rovers. The BUs visited Netherdale at the tail end of last season, returning empty handed as three goals in nine first half minutes, an Ethan Dougal strike and a Jamie McMurdo brace gave Bo’ness a mountain to climb. Lewis Hodgkiss pulled one back after the break but it was not enough to get the BUs back into the game (Report). This contrasted with the game at Newtown where the BUs enjoyed a comprehensive win going three up in the first twenty minutes, the scorers Jack Hodge, Kieran Mitchell and Jamie Watson. Kyle Johnston celebrated his one hundred and fiftieth appearance for the BUs with the fourth and final goal in the second half (Report).

This is the third match of the season, Bo’ness losing narrowly in their first against Tranent followed by a defeat versus Bonnyrigg both at Newtown Park. After a goalless first half Tom Grant put Bo’ness ahead after the turnaround but it was Tranent who went on to win, Harry Girdwood equalising before Euan Bald scored the winner late on, both goals coming from Ryan Murray long throws into the box (Report). 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).

Gala have had a mixed start to their season winning at Cowdenbeath on Saturday though they lost at Broxburn in midweek, both games settled by a single goal. The Rovers will want to win their first home game of the campaign but already the pressure is on Bo’ness to get a positive result. The players were disappointed not to get anything from the Tranent game but know they were up against it in the Bonnyrigg clash. They want to do well for their manager and the supporters so there will be no lack of effort in the aim to get some points on the board. It’s not the start the BU Faithful wanted and hopefully they can make the trip to the Borders and encourage the players as they look to get off the mark for this season.

John Spowart
Friday 31 July 2026

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Saturday 04 April 2026
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Gala Fairydean Rovers 3
(Dougal 20, McMurdo 22 29)

Bo’ness United 1
(Hodgkiss 60)

A devastating three goals in a first half nine minutes at Gala Fairydean Rovers mean that Bo’ness United have now gone eight Lowland League games without a win, collecting a mere three points from a possible twenty four.

Ironically, up until the twenty minute mark Bo’ness had looked the better team with Tom Grant, Jordan Armstrong and Adam Masson all having attempts on goal. However, Gala’s Ethan Dougal showed how it’s done, smashing the ball past BU keeper Allan Fleming quickly followed by Jamie McMurdo’s brace, the Gala player given too much space effectively winning the game for his side with an hour left to play. The setback knocked the stuffing out of Bo’ness who struggled for the rest of the half and into the second period until with thirty minutes left a Lewis Hodgkiss volley from a Tom Grant cross gave Bo’ness hope. A minute later only a great save by Reece Murray in the Gala goal blocked Mark McLuckie’s effort from close in and Bo’ness enjoyed their best spell of the game. In saying that Gala still proved dangerous, Allan Fleming called into action on a number of occasions to keep the home side from increasing the damage.

Bo’ness now have only two matches, left the BU faithful dearly want to witness a win to finish the season on a high.

Bo’ness United: 1 Allan Fleming 3 Keir Macaulay (Capt) 4 Mark McLuckie 5 Jordan Armstrong
6 Adam Masson (Penman 55) 7 Jack Hodge 8 Lewis Hodgkis 9 Jamie Watson (Mortimer 55)
10 Tom Grant 11 Shaun Brown 16 Kieran Mitchell

Subs: 12 Billy Mortimer 15 Hamza Nimaga (Not Used) 17 Taylor Penman
18 Ben Murdoch (Not Used) SG Scott Ritchie (Not Used)

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Saturday 01 November 2025
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo’ness United 4
(Hodge 2, Mitchell 14, Watson 18, Johnston 73)

Gala Fairydean Rovers 0

Bo’ness United enjoyed a comprehensive victory against Gala Fairydean Rovers with a performance that thrilled the BU Faithful there to witness possibly the best display of the season.

Bo’ness started with a bang getting in three shots in the first two minutes and the continued onslaught produced three goals before the visitors were able to catch a breath. After five minutes the BUs were ahead, Freddie Rowe releasing Jack Hodge who cut in from the left before sliding a great low shot past Rovers keeper Shea Dowie, his first goal for the club. Ten minutes later Kieran Mitchell connected with a Shaun Brown cross to volley in, Mitch now having now having found the net in seven consecutive games. Jamie Watson made it three in twenty getting on the end of a Jack Hodge cross to flash in a great near post header.

Gala were struggling to cope prompting their manager to make four substitutions after half an hour though the changes bore little fruit through the rest of the half. At the resumption Gala enjoyed some good pressure and it was the turn of the Bo’ness defence to shine as they dealt with anything that was thrown at them. Fifteen minutes in and Bo’ness were up the park again and from a Roan Fitzpatrick corner Kyle Johnston saw his header blocked before following up to smash the ball into the net to score on his one hundred and fiftieth appearance for the club.

Bo’ness saw the rest of the game out and the players can be satisfied with their work though are well aware a tough test awaits as the BUs visit Bonnyrigg Rose next week.

Bo’ness United: 1 Matthew Wallace, 2 Roan Fitzpatrick (Stevenson 75),
3 Shaun Brown (Macaulay 75), 4 Dan Irving (McLuckie 80), 5 Alasdair Davidson,
6 Jordan Armstrong, 7 Jack Hodge, 8 Kyle Johnston (Capt) (Grant 75), 9 Jamie Watson
11 Freddie Rowe, 16 Kieran Mitchell (Nimaga 80).

Subs: 10 Tom Grant, 12 Ryan Schiavone (Not Used), 14 Keir Macaulay, 15 Ryan Stevenson,
17 Hamza Nimaga , 18 Mark McLuckie, SG Dan Terry T (Not Used).
BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2026/2027

Date – Saturday 25 July 2026
Competition – Lowland League

Bo’ness United 1
(Grant 53)

Tranent
(Girdwood 69, Bauld 90)

After a competitive display Bo’ness United came up short as a late Tranent goal saw the points heading to East Lothian. After a goalless first half Bo’ness went ahead eight minutes after the turnaround, Tom Grant smashing the ball into the net off the bar from the edge of the box. Fifteen minutes later Tranent equalised from a long throw that Harry Girdwood forced home from close. Bo’ness responded and Roan Fitzpatrick was unfortunate to see his low shot go just past the post. The winner came from another long throw this time it was Euan Boyd who put in from a few yards out. Again Bo’ness looked to get something from the game but Tranent keeper Kelby Mason tipped a great Alfie Smith shot over the bar.

There was little between the teams both missing chances but it was Bo’ness who were left to regret the spurned opportunities getting nothing from a game where they looked as if they might make a positive start to the campaign.

Bo’ness United: 1 Allan Fleming 2 Jamie Allan 3 Keir Macaulay (Capt) 4 Jordan Armstrong
5 Dan Irving 6 Adam Masson (Mortimer 90) 7 Roan Fitzpatrick 9 Jackson Mylchreest
10 Tom Grant (Smith 75) 11 Shaun Brown (Murdoch 86) 16 Kieran Mitchell

Subs: 8 Jack Hodge (Not Used), 12 Alfie Smith 14 Bayley Klimionek (Not Used)
15 Robbie Murdoch 17 Joe Cassidy (Not Used) 18 Billy Mortimer SG Sam Gardner (Not Used)

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)