After a good result beating East Stirlingshire, Bo’ness United now visit in form Linlithgow Rose at the MV Commercial Prestonfield Stadium. The Rose are on a good run at this time when, since losing at Lochee United they have won five games in a row, four in the league plus a South Challenge Cup tie. They are third in the Lowland League table, only five points behind leaders Tranent.

The corresponding fixture at Linlithgow was around the same time last year where Bo’ness matched them in most areas but not where it counts in taking their chances. The Rose went ahead through Connor McMullen from a corner though the BU keeper looked to have been fouled on his goal line. In the second half Dylan Paterson bagged a brace before Bo’ness scored a late goal from Shaun Brown (Report). In the return game at Newtown Bo’ness exacted some revenge, Shaun Brown giving the BUs an early lead, Kieran Mitchell doubling the score just before the break. Linlithgow saw a first half header hit the Bo’ness bar while missing a golden opportunity to pull one back late on but Bo’ness also had chances to score even more, and on the day fully deserved their win (Report).

The win against the Shire, was also a victory over the elements, Keir Macaulay putting the BUs in front and Kieran Mitchell scoring in the second half. East Stirlingshire had a late surge hoping to get back at Bo’ness but were unable to make the breakthrough (Report).

Both Bo’ness and Linlithgow have difficult Scottish Cup ties the week after the derby clash, the BUs at home to Irvine Meadow while the Rose host Clydebank though the full focus will be on the clash this weekend. Linlithgow have scored fifteen goals in their last four league matches and the Bo’ness defence need to be at the top of their game. Meanwhile in the same number of games Bo’ness have scored nine, though five of them were at the University of Stirling and that’s the form required against Linlithgow.

A tough match in front of a large crowd is the order of the day when the Bo’ness players need to be at their best while the BU Faithful want to match the home support at the side of the park. A good combination and one that can bring Bo’ness success at the MV Commercial Prestonfield Stadium.

John Spowart
Friday 25 September 2026

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Saturday 06 September 2025

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Linlithgow Rose 3
(McMullen 25, Paterson 61 86)

Bo’ness United 1
(Brown 90+3)

Bo’ness United lost out to Linlithgow Rose in the first derby match of the season and were left to rue the missed chances that could have shown a different result on the day. At Clydebank in midweek the BUs struggled to create opportunities but this time round it was a case of not converting what came their way.

The early part of the game had Bo’ness dominating possession with a number of shots fired at the Linlithgow goal. Unable to make the breakthrough it was Linlithgow who struck first albeit with some controversy. Ben Fry tipped a Calum Rae shot over his bar but from the resulting corner the Bo’ness keeper went up to punch clear and as he came down was barged onto the ground allowing Connor McMullen to nod in from a few feet out. Rae came close with another effort that just missed the target before Bo’ness went on the attack again.

After the break Bo’ness resumed their efforts to get back at Linlithgow, Dan Irving getting in a shot that went over. Fifteen minutes into the half Jamie Watson latched onto a Dan Irving pass and he lobbed the Linlithgow keeper only to see the ball come back off the post before being cleared for a corner. From that corner Cameron Binnie gathered then threw the ball to Cameron Thomson who charged up the left and his low ball across the box found Dylan Paterson at the far side in acres of space with time to shoot past a despairing Ben Fry. Bo’ness responded, Jack Hodge shooting just wide and Jamie Watson shooting into Cameron Binnie’s arms but once more were sucker punched, Dylan Paterson again with space to angle a shot into the Bo’ness net. That sealed the points for the Rose and three minutes into time added on Shaun Brown’s fine control and low angled shot into the Linlithgow net proved no more than a consolation though provided some reward for their efforts over the game.

Bo’ness have now played the two top teams in the Lowland League and though they have competed well, the inability to find the net has proved to be the difference between the sides. Bo’ness have a blank week coming up and can take time to prepare for the next few weeks with important league games plus a Scottish Cup tie against Banks O’ Dee coming up.

Bo’ness United: 1 Ben Fry, 2 Adam Masson, 3 Shaun Brown, 4 Mark McLuckie,
5 Dan Irving, 6 Jordan Armstrong, 7 Jack Hodge 9 Jamie Watson,
10 Tom Grant (Schiavone 72),11 Roan Fitzpatrick (Johnston 55),
16 Kieran Mitchell (Scullion 89).

Subs: 8 Kyle Johnston 12 Ali El-Zubaidi (Not Used), 14 Ryan Schiavone, 15 Flynn McCafferty (Not Used), 17 Keir Macaulay (Not Used), 18 Conor Scullion, 19 Kodi McKinstray, (Not Used)

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Saturday 27 December 2025
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo’ness United 2
(Brown 2, Mitchell 39)

Linlithgow Rose 0

You’re never really sure what you might receive at Christmas but the gift to the BU faithful from the players was a strong determined performance that swept Linlithgow Rose aside for a convincing derby victory at Newtown Park.

From the off the BUs were up for it, rewarded with an early goal as an Adam Masson forward pass was flicked on by Billy Mortimer to Shaun Brown, who cut in from the left before curling a great shot past Cameron Binnie. The Rose keeper got a hand to the ball but was unable to keep it out.
Bo’ness came close to a second when Mark McLuckie connected with a Roan Fitzpatrick corner but his header was wide of the target.

Linlithgow worked back into the game and Oliver Hamilton was unlucky to see his header from a Lucas Stenhouse corner come off the Bo’ness bar but it was the home side who were to get the next goal. Adam Masson won yet another midfield header, the ball landing nicely for Kieran Mitchell at the edge of the box, who controlled, turned and hit a great half volley beyond a despairing Cameron Binnie.

Into the second half Linlithgow looked to get back but were faced with a resolute defence, keen not to give anything away. Bo’ness also got forward at every opportunity and created some good chances that might have sealed the game in their favour. As it was, nine minutes before the end Alan Sneddon got onto the end of a low ball across the face of the Bo’ness goal but from a few yards out send his shot high over the bar.

Bo’ness managed the rest of the game and the final whistle was greeted with the expected celebrations reserved for a derby day victory.

Bo’ness United: 1 Allan Fleming, 2 Roan Fitzpatrick, 3 Jordan Armstrong, 4 Mark McLuckie,
5 Alasdair Davidson, 6 Adam Masson (Hodge 84), 8 Freddie Rowe,
9 Billy Mortimer (Stevenson 85), 10 Tom Grant (Irving 72), 11 Shaun Brown, 16 Kieran Mitchell

Subs: 7 Jack Hodge, 12 Dan Irving, 14 Jamie Watson (Not Used), 15 Ryan Stevenson,
17 Keir Macaulay (Not Used), 18 Kyle Johnston (Not Used), SG Matthew Wallace (Not Used)

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2026/2027

Date – Saturday 19 September 2026

Competition – Lowland League

Bo’ness United 2
(Macaulay 13, Mitchell 66)

East Stirlingshire 0

Match Ball Sponsor: Life’s a Beach

Bo’ness United battled the elements to get back winning ways with a home victory against East Stirlingshire. The Shire chose to face into the wind in the first half and Bo’ness had an early chance after a good Robbie Murdoch run set up Roan Fitzpatrick whose shot from the edge of the box was blocked. At the other end Allan Fleming had to look sharp, getting to the ball before Stephen O’Neill was able to latch onto a through pass. Soon after the BU keeper was in action again making a good save from Lewis Harrison.

Just short of the fifteen minute mark Bo’ness were ahead as a partially cleared Keir Macaulay corner found it’s way back to the same player whose curled shot landed behind Jay Cantley in the Shire goal. Bo’ness looked to add to their tally before the break but the wind was proving a challenge making it hard to make a pass without the ball scurrying out of play.

East Stirlingshire looked forward to having the elements in their favour but like Bo’ness they struggled to keep the ball in play. As it was, Bo’ness adapted into the wind, passing the ball around doing their best to avoid longs balls that would see it coming back into their faces. With twenty five minutes remaining this was perfectly illustrated as Allan Fleming played the ball to Keir Macaulay who in turn passed forward to Tom Grant. Grant the curved a ground pass to the feet of Kieran Mitchell who stepped forward before blasting a shot into the top near corner of the net.

The Shire woke up to the fact they were now two behind and enjoyed their best period of the game as they tried to hit back. An Oliver Simpson free kick shot hit the post while the BU keeper tipped over a Sonny Aluko shot and from the resulting corner Adam Masson cleared off the line. East Stirlingshire were unable to make the breakthrough and Bo’ness now look forward to a derby visit to Linlithgow Rose, the week following hosting Irvine Meadow in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup first round.

Bo’ness United:1 Allan Fleming 2 Jamie Allan 3 Keir Macaulay (Capt) 4 Jordan Armstrong
5 Adam Masson 6 Roan Fitzpatrick 7 Robbie Murdoch (Binnie 85) 8 Jack Hodge
10 Tom Grant 11 Shaun Brown 16 Kieran Mitchell

Subs: 9 Jackson Mylchreest (Not Used) 12 Joe Cassidy (Not Used) 14 Murray Binnie
17 Ben Murdoch (Not Used) 18 Kyle Coulter (Not Used) SG Sam Gardner (Not Used)

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