Bo’ness United embark on what they hope can be an extended journey in this season’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup though they face a tough first round tie at home to Irvine Meadow. Last season’s campaign was short lived, going down against Banks o’ Dee at this stage. Liam Duell put the Aberdeen side ahead before BU keeper Ben Fry was red carded for a reckless challenge. Kane Winton scored a second and Lachie MacLeod sealed the tie in time added on (Report). Bo’ness don’t want a repeat this time round.

Irvine Meadow have experienced some setbacks in recent seasons but are on the up once more winning the West of Scotland League First Division and currently sit top of the Premier Division on goal difference. ‘Medda’ lost two league games early in the campaign but are on a nine game winning run including two preliminary Scottish ties, beating Edinburgh University on penalties and at Benburb. They have also disposed of Arthurlie and Maryhill in the South Challenge Cup and Buckie Rovers in the Scottish Communities Cup. Their latest win was a league match at Kirkintilloch Rob Roy on Saturday.

Boness fans always remember the name Irvine Meadow, the BUs opponents in their first Scottish Junior Cup triumph in 1948. However the last time the sides met over twelve years again in a Scottish Junior Cup tie at Meadow Park this time it was Meadow who came out on top. Darren Miller put the home side ahead in the first half, this proving to be the winner as Bo’ness spurned the opportunity to get back late on when Darren Gribben saw his penalty kick saved by Stephen Hall (Report).

The BUs come into this game on the back of a comprehensive defeat at Linlithgow Rose. Bo’ness were second best all over with the exception of keeper Allan Fleming who kept Bo’ness in the game during the first half. Dylan Paterson did score before the break while James Berry and Jordan Tosh effectively put the game beyond Bo’ness early in the second period. Just before the end Calum Rae rubbed salt in the Bo’ness wound though Hamza Nimaga scored a late consolation for the BUs (Report).

Irvine Meadow clearly provide formidable opponents and Bo’ness must learn from Saturday’s debacle while quickly turning their mind to ensure a much improved performance for this weekend. This is an important game for both teams and while Irvine will bring a large contingent with them the BU fans can shake off their own derby hangover and get behind the team as they strive to make amends and progress to the next round of the National Tournamnet.

John Spowart
Friday 02 October 2026

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Saturday 27 September 2025
Competition – Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Round 1

Bo’ness United 0

Banks o’ Dee 3
(Duell 28, Winton 54, L MacLeod 90+4)

It was a case of what might have been for Bo’ness United as ten man BUs exited the Scottish Cup at the first time of asking. Reduced to ten men after just half an hour, Bo’ness struggled to make an impact and never looked like recovering from the set back. Up to that point Bo’ness had matched Banks o’ Dee and even though they had gone behind they had created chances of their own looking to get back on level terms.

It was just around the half hour period the whole complexion of the game changed after Banks’ Dee had gone ahead a Liam Duell low angled shot found the opposite corner of the net. Only a few minutes later BU keeper Ben Fry came charging out of his goal clattering a Banks o’ Dee player, injuring himself in the process with the further punishment of a red card for the reckless action. A few minutes later a further blow for Bo’ness as Mark McLuckie was injured in a clash causing a further reshuffle of the pack. Bo’ness survived until the break and early in the second half were unlucky not to get even, a Roan Fitzpatrick volley hitting the top of the Banks o’ Dee bar. Shortly after Bank o’ Dee went two up, Mark Gilmour cutting back for Magnus Winton to shoot low into the net from the edge of the box.

Bo’ness stand in keeper Scott Ritchie made a couple of good saves to prevent further scoring while Jordan Armstrong cleared off the line to keep the score down but just before the end Lachie McLeod made it three to complete a miserable day for Bo’ness.

That’s now four defeats in a row for Bo’ness and with many difficult games to come in the next few weeks they must look to find a way to get back to winning games.

Bo’ness United: 1 Ben Fry, 2 Dan Irving, 3 Jordan Armstrong, 4 Mark McLuckie (Schiavone 39)(Watson 67), 5 Ali El-Zubaidi, 6 Roan Fitzpatrick, 7 Jack Hodge (Masson 58), 8 Kyle Johnston (Capt), 10 Tom Grant (Ritchie 34), 11 Shaun Brown, 16 Kieran Mitchell

Subs: 9 Jamie Watson, 12 Lewis Duffy (Not Used), 14 Adam Masson, 17 Ryan Schiavone,
18 Conor Scullion (Not Used), 19 Keir Macaulay (Not Used), SG Scott Ritchie

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH REPORT SEASON 2013/2014

Date – Saturday 29 March 2014

Scottish Junior Cup Round 6

Irvine Meadow 1
(Miller 22)

Bo'ness United 0

It was a tale of what might have been for Bo’ness United as their Scottish Junior Cup venture finally came to an end.

The day got off to a bad start with news that the SJFA had rejected Stuart Hunter’s appeal after his controversial red card the week before. There was further disappointment during the game itself when, trailing Irvine Meadow, the BUs won a penalty kick only for Meadow keeper Stephen Hall to save from Darren Gribben.

In the end Bo’ness lost out to a solitary goal and there is no doubt that the overall performance, particularly in the first half, was below what the BU faithful have seen in recent weeks. In saying that the BUs took the game to their opponents after the break and must consider themselves unfortunate not to get the opportunity of a replay.

Scott Gibb returned to the side to take the vacant centre half slot while Stewart Devine was also present despite a recent close family bereavement. Chris Donnelly retained his starting slot, meaning Andy Scott was on the bench.

The first part of the game saw little between the sides although in 18 minutes Meadow created the first clear cut chance, a Fraser shot from the edge of the box well saved by BU keeper Peat.

Four minutes later the home side went ahead. Meadow cleared away a BU cross for Fraser to burst forward hitting a nice pass inside Devine to put McCann clear up the right. His low cross was touched on by Maxwell, the ball arriving nicely for Miller to put in right on the back post.

A thirty yard Sloan shot whistled past the Meadow post providing a hopeful sign for the massive BU support but Bo’ness had to do some defending as Meadow were dangerous going forward.

Two minutes after the break a Gribben free kick shot was tipped over by Hall, the resulting Sloan corner seeing Murphy heading wide. This set the tone for the rest of the match where Bo’ness attacked while Irvine Meadow were happy to defend in depth.

The best opportunity for Bo’ness came along in 72 minutes with the penalty award after Sloan was blocked in the box, but the failure to convert proved to be one setback too many for the BUs. Other chances came along but the Meadow defence backed up by a keeper, having the game of his life, spurned Bo’ness at every turn. Meanwhile the BUs still had some work to do at the back where Meadow broke forward when they could.

Despite their best efforts Bo’ness were unable to make the breakthrough even after Fraser was sent off with five minutes remaining for a second yellow card offence.

A disappointing end to a disappointing day but Bo’ness have much to look forward to particularly in maintaining their place at the top of the Super League table all the way to winning the Championship itself. This week’s match at Lochee United will be the first step in pursuing that goal.

Bo'ness: Peat, Snowdon, Devine, Murphy, Gibb, C. Scott, Walker (Anderson 67), Sloan, Hislop (Miller 67), Donnelly (A Scott 56), Gribben

Subs (Not Used): Clark, T Jaconelli SG Wallace.

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2026/2027

Date – Saturday 26 September 2026

Competition – Lowland League

Linlithgow Rose 4
(Paterson 36, Berry 48, Tosh 56, Rae 90)

Bo’ness United 1
(Nimaga 90+1)

Bo’ness United experienced a significant defeat at Linlithgow Rose who dominated the match from beginning to end.

In the first minutes BU keeper Allan Fleming was called into action as the Bo’ness defence looked hesitant. The visiting support were hoping these early match jitters would disappear but the Rose continued to press, restricting Bo’ness to the occasional foray up the park. Unfortunately, Bo’ness struggled to hold onto the ball for any length of time, making no impression when they did get forward. Just short of thirty minutes Linlithgow had a great opportunity to open the scoring but Dylan Paterson’s free kick crashed into the BU wall and the danger was cleared. Ten minutes later saw another opportunity in a similar position and this time Paterson curled his shot round the wall and past the helpless Allan Fleming. Fleming made another couple of saves to keep the deficit at one and Bo’ness were fortunate to go into the break with such a narrow margin.

Hoping for better things in the second half, after only three minutes Bo’ness were two down, failing to clear their lines allowing James Berry to fire home from close in. Eight minutes later things got worse as Linlithgow broke forward, again Bo’ness failing to clear and Jordan Tosh ran free to slip past the exposed Allan Fleming.

The job was done for Linlithgow who saw the rest of the game out though still managed a late goal, Calum Rae converting a low cross into the BU net. Just before the end Bo’ness scored a late consolation as Hamza Nimaga scored from a couple of yards out, significant in that he had been on the scoring sheet the night before as the BU U20s defeated their Linlithgow counterparts.

This proved to be as bad a day at Prestonfield as any Bo’ness have experienced in the past. Bo’ness knew they were going to have to be at their best to compete against a slick outfit and they fell far short of that achievement. Irvine Meadow visit Newtown next Saturday in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup and Bo’ness must be better if they hope to progress in the National competition.

Bo’ness United: 1 Allan Fleming 2 Jamie Allan (Macaulay 46) 4 Jordan Armstrong
5 Adam Masson (Cassidy 46) 6 Roan Fitzpatrick (Nimaga 81) 8 Jack Hodge (Binnie 73)
9 Jackson Mylchreest (R Murdoch 59) 10 Tom Grant (Capt) 11 Shaun Brown
15 Dan Irving 16 Kieran Mitchell

Subs: 3 Keir Macaulay 7 Robbie Murdoch 12 Joe Cassidy 14 Murray Binnie
17 Ben Murdoch (Not Used) 18 Hamza Nimaga SG Sam Gardner (Not Used)

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