Bo’ness United take a break from Lowland League action with a visit to Pumpherston in the KDM Evolution Trophy South Challenge Cup. Pumpherston play in the East of Scotland League Second Division. They are currently in eighth place in the north west conference winning only two from eight starts. In saying that, they defeated Luncarty at home on Saturday and will be buoyed by this good result.

Bo’ness last played Pumpherston thirteen years ago in an East of Scotland Qualifying Cup tie at Newtown where it took a last minute Scott Gibb header to win the game (Report). You have to go back some time before that when Bo’ness previously visited Recreation Park. That was in the 1997/ 1998 season when a Paul McKinley hat trick and a Ronnie Scott strike won the day in a League Cup section game. Later in the season Darrell Drew and Paul McKinley were on target as Bo’ness progressed in the Brown Cup. Bo’ness exited last season’s Challenge Cup at the same stage going down at home to Johnstone Burgh. Meanwhile Pumpherston went out in the previous round losing heavily at Ardeer Thistle.

Bo’ness come into this match after a comprehensive victory at University of Stirling. Robbie Murdoch, Roan Fitzpatrick, and Kieran Mitchell scored in the first half while after the break Kieran Mitchell got a second, this time from the spot and Shaun Brown completed the BU scoring. Before the end the University pulled two goals back through Euan Walker (Report).

Given there are three divisions between the teams this game should be straightforward for Bo’ness. However, football doesn’t play out that way. Pumpherston have home advantage with nothing to lose and all the pressure is on Bo’ness to get the win. The players will take this fixture lightly at their peril where only maximum effort can see Bo’ness prevail. The BU Faithful will be looking forward to a return to Recreation Park while hoping to see their favourites continue their winning run.

John Spowart
Friday 04 September 2026

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH REPORT SEASON 2013/2014

Date – Saturday 14 September 2013

DJ Laing East of Scotland Cup Round 1

Bo'ness United 1
(Gibb 90)

Pumpherston Juniors 0

BU Main Sponsor: Express Taxis

This was one of those cup ties where the visiting team had nothing to lose as they face a team from a higher division. Pumpherston Juniors came to Newtown Park and chose to set themselves up with exactly that thought in mind.

Pumpherston defended in depth and appeared to be playing for the penalty kick shoot out from the outset. Bo’ness keeper Connor Wallace didn’t have a save to make all match while the defence easily dealt with the few occasions Pumpherston ventured up the park.

BU manager Allan McGonigal decided to give some of his young players a run out and Anton Heffron, Craig Gardner, and Kieran Anderson all made their first starts for Bo’ness United. Connor Wallace, Craig Scott and Zander Miller were also in from the off and there was definitely a youthful look about this Bo’ness United side.

All acquitted themselves well although the team as a whole struggled to make the final pass or shot count. The Bo’ness corner count in the second half must have been double figures but the Pumpherston defenders put themselves in front of the ball to make it a very frustrating afternoon for the Bo’ness players and supporters alike.

Bo’ness were quick out of the blocks and looked as they might over run Pumpherston with a cross quickly followed by a shot from Walker. The home side continued to push forward but without success. They did get the ball in the net in 25 minutes although Gardner was adjudged to be offside as he netted from close up.

The pattern of the second half was similar with attack after attack breaking down and even when Bo’ness got through a Pumpherston defender or their keeper Gear got a head, foot or hand to keep the ball out.

As the game moved into time added on it looked as if Pumpherston’s game plan was going to succeed until Bo’ness finally made the breakthrough. Gribben’s corner from the right was fired back into the danger area by B Jaconelli and Gibb was in place to head in on the line. The goal was not met so much by a cheer but rather a big sigh of relief was heard all around Newtown Park.

There was a scare after that when a Forret effort from distance came close to getting Pumpherston a goal but the shot was off target and Bo’ness were deservedly in the next round.

BUs: Wallace, Snowdon, Sloan, Gibb, Heffron, Nimmo, Walker, Gardner, Miller (Donnelly 60), C Scott (Gribben 70), Anderson (B Jaconelli 60).

Subs: T Jaconelli, SG Peat.

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2026/2027

Date – Saturday 29 August 2026

Competition – Lowland League

University of Stirling 2
(Walker 74 82)

Bo’ness United 5
(Murdoch 13, Fitzpatrick 18, Mitchell 45 67p, Brown 61)

Bo’ness United produced the best display of the season so far as they comprehensively defeated University of Stirling at the Forthbank Stadium. However the polish was tarnished slightly with the loss of two late goals.

The game started even enough both teams getting shots away, BU keeper Allan Fleming tipping a Chulainn Doan effort over while at the other end Jack Hodge saw his fierce shot blocked. Things changed just before fifteen minutes when Bo’ness went ahead, Robbie Murdoch receiving a pass before cutting in from the right, running into the box to fire past Joseph Danes in the University goal. Robbie’s first goal for his hometown club. Only four minutes later Bo’ness doubled their lead when Shaun Brown cut back from the line to Roan Fitzpatrick whose low shot from a tight angle found the far corner of the net. Bo’ness were playing some great football at this point and even when the students got forward they couldn’t get through, perfectly illustrated when Vonk Thomas was through on goal only to be disposed by Roan Fitzpatrck. Six minutes before half time Kieran Mitchell had an effort cleared off the line but just before the whistle he latched onto a great Tom Grant through ball before slotting past the University keeper.

Two minutes into the second half a Jordon Armstrong shot went just over the University cross bar while at the other end there was a scare after slack defending allowed Archie Gibson to get a shot in that was defected for a corner. The students were trying to get back into the game but they lost goal number four, a low cross from BU sub, Murray Binnie swept home by Shaun Brown. A few minutes later Jamie Allan started a run from deep in his own half, making it all the way into the Stirling box only to be toppled allowing Kieran Mitchell to convert from the resulting penalty. In fairness to the University, they never gave up and with fifteen remaining were rewarded when Euan Walker shot in from the edge of the box and five minutes later the BU keeper was unable to hold a cross ball and in the resulting scramble Euan Walker bundled over the line. Before the end the University created a number of chances and in time added on Allan Fleming looked lively tipping a Vonk Thomas shot over his bar.

In the end this was a fine win for the BUs rounding off a welcome unbeaten August.

Bo’ness United: 1 Allan Fleming 2 Jamie Allan 4 Jordan Armstrong (Macaulay 80)
5 Joe Cassidy 6 Adam Masson 7 Roan Fitzpatrick (Smith 68) 8 Jack Hodge
10 Tom Grant (Capt) (Binnie 60) 11 Shaun Brown 14 Robbie Murdoch (Nimaga 68)
16 Kieran Mitchell

Subs: 3 Keir Macaulay 9 Jackson Mylchreest (Not Used) 12 Alfie Smith
15 Murray Binnie 17 Hamza Nimaga SG Sam Gardner (Not Used)