A Hill of Beath select visit Newtown Park on Sunday to honour Michael Gemmell in his testimonial year with Bo’ness United. Michael made over one hundred and fifty appearances winning silverware with the Haws before signing for the BUs in August 2015.

Michael’s history with Hill of Beath made them the easy choice to provide Sunday’s opposition though this will be the third meeting this season. The sides met for a pre season friendly at Newtown (Report) and in October clashed in a Scottish Cup tie at Keirs Park. In a tough encounter, Bo’ness eventually won through with two Lucas Stenhouse goals in extra time (Report)

There will be some well kent faces in the BU ranks, including manager for the day Allan McGonigal. On the player front around twenty players are in the squad, with a who’s who of Bo’ness United greats from the past fifteen years or so. There may also be a couple of familiar faces in the Hill of Beath squad with possibly one player who would equally be at home in the blue of Bo’ness.

In the days when most players move from club to club on a regular basis it is becoming less common for someone to chalk up a large number of appearances for one team. After his move from Hill of Beath there was only one club for Michael Gemmell and the club are grateful for his stellar service for the club.

The weather forecast says the sun will shine and hopefully the BU support turns out in large numbers to honour a wonderful servant for Bo’ness United.

John Spowart
Friday 09 May 2025

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 26 October 2024

Competition – Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Round 2

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 0

Bo’ness United 2
(Stenhouse 92 110)

On a difficult day for football in a game that was only settled after extra time Bo’ness United emerged as winners and look forward to round three of the National Competition.
Shooting into the strong wind, Bo’ness withstood early Hill of Beath pressure though created the first real chance, a Keir Macaulay angled shot that just beat the far post. Jordan Tosh also went close for the Haws but it was the conditions that were dominating proceedings. Lucas Stenhouse had a couple of efforts, one that brought out a great save from Hill of Beath keeper Blair Penman and a Stuart Love header went just wide of the Bo’ness post.

The second half proved as scrappy as the first although both sides had chances to go ahead. A Ryan Stevenson free kick shot was well saved by Blair Penman and at the other end a Hill of Beath break finished with Cade Melrose getting down to hold a Calum Runciman shot. Just before the whistle Hill of Beath had a chance to win it but Jordon Tosh watched as his effort went narrowly wide of the goal.

Ninety minutes without a goal but only two into extra time Bo’ness went ahead. Tom Grant saw his shot blocked before the ball broke to Lucas Stenhouse who drilled a low shot into the net. Hill of Beath tried to respond but five minutes into the second period Bo’ness scored a vital second goal Keir Macaulay’s diagonal ball found Lucas Stenhouse who cut inside before his fabulous shot from outside the box flew into the top corner of net past the helpless Penman.

Hill of Beath continued to work to get back but Bo’ness managed the final minutes and celebrated a great win against very difficult opponents in very difficult conditions.

Bo'ness: Melrose, Stevenson, Macaulay (Masson 111), Duffy, Travis, Irving, Stenhouse, Johnston, Osadolor (Hawkins 109), Porteous (Henderson 111), Kennedy (Grant 70). Subs (Not Used): Gemmel, Mitchell,

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Tuesday 02 July 2024

Competition –Friendly

Bo'ness United 4
Hamilton 31, Porteous 45+1, Mitchell 49 53, Sokari Dublin-Green 65

Hill of Beath 3
Kinninmonth 12, Luke 26, Allum 51

Bo’ness United started their preparations for the new season with an eventual good win against East of Scotland League Premier League side Hill of Beath Hawthorn. It was the visitors who started the beat dominating the first half hour scoring two goals, a low shot at the far post by Joe Kinninmonth and a great free kick strike from Brandon Luke.

The BUs eventually responded just after the half hour when Haws keeper Sam McGuff made a great save from Kieran Mitchell but the ball landed at the feet of Jamie Hamilton fifteen yards out and he lashed a shot into the top corner of the net. Just on the break Bo’ness equalised when a Shaun Rutherford free kick cross was headed back across goal by Michael Travis allowing Ryan Porteous to score on the line.

Three goals in four minutes at the start of the second half saw Bo’ness go ahead as Mitrchell pounced onto a great through pass from Tom Grant before round the Haws keeper to angle into the empty net. The visitors responded right away Ross Allum converting a low cross from close in. Bo’ness then regained the lead as Haws substitute keeper Sonny Rae could only parry Somina Dublin-Green’s cross, Mitchell smashing the loose ball into the net from a few yards out. With twenty five minutes remaining brother Sokari Dublin-Green competed the scoring with a low shot finding the net just inside his post.

Bo'ness: Campbell (Wilson 80), Stevenson, Rutherford, Finlay, Travis, Henderson, Malcolm (Somina 46) Johnston (Sokari 46), Mitchell (Furness 66), Hamilton (Grant 46), Porteous.