After Tuesday night’s defeat at Clydebank, the next challenge for Bo’ness United is a visit to current league leaders Linlithgow Rose. As a local derby this game is always eagerly anticipated but there is a bit extra for this game with both sides enjoying a good start to their Lowland League campaign. Linlithgow lost their first match at home to Gala Fairydean Rovers but since then they have had a clean sweep, winning the next seven games and boast a significant goal difference of twenty three.

Linlithgow achieved the double over the BUs last season winning both at Newtown and Prestonfield. Dylan Paterson and Dean Watson had given Linlithgow a two goal lead when just before the break the Rose were reduced to ten men and Ryan Porteous pulled one back for the BUs. In the second half, despite being a man short Linlithgow blunted the Bo’ness attack and scored a late third to secure the points (Report). In the return at Prestonfield Dylan Paterson opened the scoring for Linlithgow before Keir Foster equalised for the BUs. Connor McMullen regained the advantage for the Rose and Dylan Paterson increased their lead from the spot. Just before half time Lucas Stenhouse reduced the leeway. Early on in the second half Keir Macaulay was red carded for Bo’ness but the ten men had two decent penalty claims turned down, leaving Linlithgow able to claim the points (Report).

On Tuesday Bo’ness visited Clydebank but returned empty handed as the Bankies scored two without reply. Keir Samson put his side one ahead after half an hour and just before the end Nicky Little sealed the Clydebank win (Report).

Given their current form and the fact they have home advantage, Linlithgow are listed as clear favourites for this match. They want to maintain their lead over Clydebank though Bo’ness are equally determined to keep in touch with the top two. Bo’ness know they must be at their best and the defence in particular must be on their toes, prepared for a busy afternoon. This is the type of game players and supporters look forward to and there is sure to be a large crowd there including many hoping to see a win for the team in blue.
John Spowart

Friday 05 September 2025

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

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

Linlithgow Rose 3
(Paterson 7 38p, McMullen 22)

Bo’ness United 2
(Foster 21, Stenhouse 43)

It was a case of what might have been for ten man Bo’ness United at Linlithgow Rose as after being reduced to ten men they had two solid penalty claims turned down, any of the decisions going the other way might have seen a different outcome.

A big crowd had assembled for the contest and there was an early goal, Linlithgow’s Dylan Paterson curling a free kick shot inside the top near post corner. Bo’ness responded with a Keir Macaulay cross headed in at the back post by Keir Foster though almost right away Linlithgow regained the lead a Connor McMullen shot from just inside the box zipping low past BU keeper Liam Campbell. Linlithgow then extended their lead from the spot after Michael Gemmell’s attempted block saw Connor McMullen go down and the referee gave a penalty. Interestingly there were few claims for an award but Dylan Paterson gratefully converted. Just before the break Bo’ness reduced the gap with Lucas Stenhouse latching on to a great through pass from Ryan Schiavone before running through to shoot past Cammy Binnie in the Linlithgow goal.

The second half produced no further scoring though with plenty of talking points. Fifteen minutes in Bo’ness were reduced in numbers as Keir Macaulay was sent off for a tackle on Dean Watson, the referee deciding the challenge was reckless. Bo’ness fought on and with fifteen remaining Lucas Stenhouse looked to have been pushed inside the box but the referee waved away the Bo’ness appeals for a spot kick. Minutes later there looked to be a clear handball in the Rose area but once more the referee was having none of it. Before the end Liam Campbell produced a double save to keep Bo’ness in touch and just on the whistle a Tom Grant shot drifted just wide of the target.

It proved a difficult day for Bo’ness United and their supporters though the players never gave up and if judgements had gone a different way the trip back over the hill could have been less painful.

Linlithgow: Binnie, Thomson, Thom, Skinner, Paterson, Mullen (McDowell 79, Watson (Rae 57), Berry (Ogilvie 73), Devine (Sneddon 79), McMartin, Maguire, Allan, Subs (Not Used): Wallace, McLinden, McDowell

Bo’ness: Campbell, Stevenson (Grant 77), Macaulay, Hawkins, Rutherford, Gemmell (Duffy 59),
Stenhouse, Johnston, Schiavone (Irving 63), Foster (Osadolor 77), Connolly (Kennedy 46).
Subs (Not Used): Dowling, Hutchison

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 28 December 2024
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo’ness United 1
(Porteous 45)

Linlithgow 3
(Paterson 35, Watson 37, Rae 79)

It proved a disappointing afternoon for Bo’ness United as they lost out to Linlithgow Rose in the first of the festive derbies. Two down, just before the break the BUs pulled one back as Linlithgow were reduced to ten men but with a punchless second half display Bo’ness were unable to take advantage, Linlithgow sealing the points with a third just before the end.

In the first thirty minutes play was even with opportunities at either end, the closest a Dylan Paterson free kick shot well saved by Cade Melrose who also stopped Dean Watson’s follow up. However, two Linlithgow goals in two minutes had the visitors firmly in the driving seat, the first Dylan Paterson connecting with a Jack Ogilvie low cross to divert the ball into the opposite corner of the Bo’ness net. The second saw Dean Watson making room for himself to hit a low shot that beat Melrose from twenty yards. Just on half time Linlithgow were reduced to ten men as Louis Maguire’s barge on Kyle Johnston was judged to be preventing a goal scoring opportunity and the player was sent off. From the resulting free kick Ryan Porteous fired low past Cameron Binnie

A great time to score but after the break Bo’ness struggled to break down the Linlithgow defence and it was the Rose who looked the more dangerous with their quick breaks up the park. Unable to make the breakthrough, any hope of a Bo’ness comeback was shattered late on as the ball was given away allowing Calum Rae to run from half way before smashing an unstoppable shot past Cade Melrose.

This was a deserved Linlithgow Rose win and Bo’ness are left to lick their wounds, leaving manager Stuart Hunter with plenty to think about as the sides meet again at Prestonfield next weekend.

Bo’ness: Melrose, Stevenson, Macaulay, Irving, Travis, Johnston (Henderson 79), Stenhouse, Grant (Hamilton 74), Osadolor (Schiavone 63), Porteous, Mitchell (Kennedy 74). Subs (Not Used): Gemmell, Duffy, Masson,

Linlithgow: Binnie, Thomson, Thom, Skinner, Paterson, McMullen (McMartin 74), Brown (Devine 63), Watson (Rae 74), Ogilvie, Allan. Maguire. Subs (Not used): Wallace, Allison, Sneddon, McCracken.

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Tuesday 02 September 2025
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Clydebank 2
(Samson 29, Little 84)

Bo’ness United 0

Bo’ness United’s good run ended at Holm Park as they went down to joint Title favourites Clydebank. The result sees the start of a gap between the top two and the rest though Bo’ness still hold onto third in the table.

Clydebank were all over Bo’ness in the first ten minutes but gradually the BUs worked themselves back into things with opportunities at either end. Chris McGowan fired a shot over the Bo’ness bar and at the other end Jamie Watson’s header was just high of the target. Kieran Mitchell then had a good run to the line but Bankies keeper was brave as he got down at Mitchell’s feet to cut off any cut back. Just short of the half hour Clydebank got their noses in front when Keir Samson got onto the end of Aaron Black’s low cross to shoot into the BU net. Just before the break Bo’ness were given a good opportunity with a free kick just outside the box but Tom Grant’s effort went well over.

In the second half Bo’ness worked hard to get back, enjoying a lot of possession
though their play lacked the cutting edge up front. Clydebank continued to look the more threatening and with six minutes remaining sealed the points, Nicky Little firing past BU keeper Ben Fry.

Things don’t get any easier for the BUs as they visit league leaders Linlithgow Rose on Saturday, providing another stiff test for Stuart Hunter’s squad.

Bo’ness United: 1 Ben Fry, 2 Adam Masson (Duffy 82), 3 Shaun Brown, 4 Mark McLuckie,
5 Dan Irving, 6 Jordan Armstrong, 7 Jack Hodge, 9 Jamie Watson, 10 Tom Grant (Capt),
11 Roan Fitzpatrick, 16 Kieran Mitchell (Schiavone 46).

Subs: 8 Kyle Johnston (Not Used), 12 Lewis Duffy, 14 Ryan Schiavone,
15 Flynn McCafferty (Not Used), 17 Keir Macaulay (Not Used), 18 Conor Scullion (Not Used),
19 Kodi McKinstray (Not Used).