Tuesday evening sees Bo’ness United with the opportunity to progress to the final of the Lowland League Cup but it will take a monumental effort to get past Tranent who have already enjoyed two victories against the BUs this season. Early on in the league campaign Jake Hutchings put Tranent ahead at Foresters Park before Smart Osadolor equalised for the BUs, only for Dean Brett to give the home side a late win from the penalty spot (Report). Just before Christmas Tranent prevailed once more on a frosty Newtown Park, Euan Bauld cancelling a Smart Osadolor strike and again the East Lothian side scored the winner from the spot in the final minutes courtesy of Daniel Handling (Report).

Tranent reached this stage after a convincing win against Gala Fairydean Rovers followed by another home victory versus Broxburn Athletic. Bo’ness had a first round success at Albion Rovers thanks to a single Kieran Mitchell strike (Report) and a home win against Civil Service Strollers. Ryan Schiavone and Keir Foster had Bo’ness two up before Alieu Faye pulled one back before the break. With minutes remaining Max Dowling ensured the win for Bo’ness (Report).

After a trio of league defeats Tranent have won their last two at home to Broxburn Athletic and Gretna 2008. These recent wins contrast with the BUs form, losing at both Linlithgow Rose and against Broomhill at Newtown. Bo’ness competed well at Linlithgow but Saturday’s defeat was disappointing both for the result and performance. Callum McKenzie quickly cancelled out an early Lucas Stenhouse penalty strike, the same player putting the visitors ahead from the spot before half time. Late on Keir Foster equalised for Bo’ness but before the end another Callum McKenzie penalty conversion consigned Bo’ness to a depressing defeat.

Bo’ness have shown they can compete with the top sides in the Lowland League and will have to produce their A game if they want to get to the League Cup final. The players must be up for it and despite the disappointment of the last few games the BU Faithful can still fulfil their role in the hope of having a cup final to look forward to.

John Spowart
Monday 10 March 2025

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Tuesday 06 August 2024

Competition –Park’s Motors Group Lowland League

Tranent 2
(Hutchins 38, Brett 90+1 pen)

Bo'ness United 1
(Osadolor 56)

After the midweek trip to Tranent, Bo’ness United are still looking for their first win of the season after a narrow defeat at Foresters Park. On the balance of play a draw would have been a fairer result but as with University of Stirling a second half comeback was thwarted with a goal conceded in time added on.

The game started at a frantic pace, the sides going at each other with both getting early shots in on goal. As the first half progressed so did the home side with the BU defence working hard to keep them at bay. Seven minutes before half time Tranent did get ahead, a McGowan corner beyond the far post, Jake Hutchings heading back across goal, the ball finding the opposite corner of the net.

During the break the visiting fans bemoaned a disappointing performance so far but were delighted to see the BUs come out in the second half and take the game to their opponents. Ten minutes into the second half, the enterprise was rewarded after good play on the right finished with a great Ryan Stevenson cross, Smart Osadolor getting off the mark to head into the Tranent net. Bo’ness pushed on looking for a second with Tranent keeper Mason pulling off a fantastic save to stop his side going behind. Tranent were dangerous on the break winning a corner that saw Handling head over from close in. The game moved into time added on and a Tranent goal kick up the park saw Girdwood dash forward with Michael Travis in pursuit with his last-ditch tackle penalised. There was some doubt whether the foul was in or out of the box but the referee took advice from his assistant to give the penalty converted by Dean Brett. To compound the BU misery, Travis who had been previously booked was shown a second yellow card followed by a red.

After three games Bo’ness have only a single point compared to the maximum haul this time last season. In saying that, both defeats have been by the odd goal illustrating the fine margins at this point going against the BUs. Both have also seen Bo’ness having to retrieve a losing situation, something the manager is keen to sort out. With only two sides, Heart of Midlothian B and Berwick Rangers, on maximum points after three games there may be concern at the slow start but with the necessary adjustments Bo’ness can soon start to enjoy the winning feeling once more.

Bo'ness: Campbell, Stevenson, Macaulay, Duffy (Rutherford 46), Travis, Gemmell, Stenhouse, Johnston, Osadolor, Porteous (Grant 73), Nicol (Kennedy 76). Subs (Not Used): Hawkins, Henderson, Malcolm.

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Tuesday 10 December 2024

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo’ness United 1
(Osadolor 60)

Tranent 2
(Bauld 77, Handling 84pen)

Bo’ness United can consider themselves unfortunate not to get anything from this match against Tranent where the display was much improved from the last few outings. Both teams missed chances throughout the match and in the end, it was the visitors who came from behind to claim the points.

On a bitterly cold night both sides served up a good game of football to entertain the hardy souls who turned up on the night. The game was fast, end to end with plenty of goalmouth action, the goalies doing their bit with some decent saves. The first half was goalless and it was with thirty minutes remaining Bo’ness went ahead when Kieran Mitchell touched on a JJ Henderson pass to Smart Osadolor who slotted past Tranent keeper Kelby Mason from just inside the box.

One goal was never enough and sure enough Tranent equalised, Euan Bauld heading home from a Euan Greig corner. That was just inside the final fifteen and with only four left Tranent scored the winner, Daniel Handling converted from the spot after the referee adjudged Dan Irving had fouled Guy McGarry in the box.

Bo’ness will be disappointed with the result but if they can take this performance into future games, they can get back to winning points in the weeks to come.

Bo'ness: Melrose, Stevenson, Macaulay, Irving, Travis, Henderson (Kennedy 86) Stenhouse, Johnston, Osadolor, Porteous (Grant 82) Mitchell (McLinden 79), Subs (Not Used): Hawkins, Hamilton, Duffy Masson SG: Ritchie.

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 01 February 2025

Competition –Lowland League Cup Round 1

Albion Rovers 0

Bo’ness United 1
(Mitchell 4)

Bo’ness United edged through to the next round of the Lowland League Cup courtesy of a single Kieran Mitchell strike. The goal came early, Mitchell nodding in from a corner but this victory was achieved largely thanks to resolute Bo’ness defending, the players working hard getting in the way of anything and everything Albion Rovers threw at them,

After the Bo’ness goal Rovers dominated the possession, their best chances coming from a Dom McMahon shot that went narrowly past and a Peter Mendy effort saved by BU keeper Liam Campbell. In the second half the hosts continued to enjoy the lion’s share of the ball but the BUs kept them at bay with very few clear cut chances. Indeed, Bo’ness had a great opportunity to double their lead, a Ryan Stevenson low ball across the face of the goal, Smart Osadolor just short of touching in on the line. In the final minutes Albion threw everything into getting back but Bo’ness held out for a hard earned victory.

New Queens Park loan signing Lennon Connolly showed up well for Bo’ness on his debut but it was a farewell outing from. Michael Travis whose new work commitments sees him leaving the BUs. A big loss for the club but all the best to ‘Trav’.

Bo’ness: Campbell, Hawkins, Macaulay, Rutherford (Duffy 46), Travis, Gemmell, Mitchell, Connolly, Osadolor, Grant,
Stevenson 71), Dowling (Irving 58),. Subs (Not Used): Kennedy, McCormick, Hutchison, Henderson

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Tuesday 18 February 2025

Competition – Lowland League Cup Round 2

Bo’ness United 3
(Schiavone 3, Foster 28, Dowling 89)

Civil Service 1
(Faye 42)

Bo’ness United progressed into the last four of the Lowland League Cup although not without a struggle as the tie at home to Civil Service Strollers was only settled in the final minutes. The BUs started well scoring after only three minutes, a Ryan Schiavone angled shot that flew into the opposite corner of the net. Ryan Stevenson then stung the hands of Strollers keeper Freddie Owens with a shot from distance and just before the half hour mark Bo’ness extended their lead, Keir Foster scoring on his Newtown return, looping a header over the Civil keeper’s head. The Strollers created a decent chance, Matthew Shaw heading just past from a Euan Valentine free kick cross and just before the break they did pull a goal back as Liam Campbell grabbed an Alieu Faye header but the near side assistant signalled the ball had crossed the line.

As much as Bo’ness had been the better side during the first half, after the turnaround they struggled as Civil Service took the game to their hosts. The BU defence came to the fore as the ball was increasingly being sent back into the Bo’ness box. They created a number of opportunities and as the half wore on the Strollers were looking the likelier for the next goal. That next strike was to be defining and in the final minute it was Bo’ness who confirmed their place in the semi final, Max Dowling cutting inside before firing a shot low into the Strollers net.

Bo’ness: Campbell, Stevenson (Duffy 81), Macaulay, Irving, Hawkins, Johnston, Mitchell (Osadolor 81), Dowling, Schiavone (McCormick 46), Foster (Kennedy 81), Grant (Connolly 75). Subs (Not Used): Hamilton, Hutchison

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 08 March 2025

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo’ness United 2
(Stenhouse 8p, Foster 84)

Broomhill 3
(McKenzie 10 29p 89p)

Bo’ness United once again were unable to get the better of a team sitting bottom of the league table, this time Broomhill leaving Newtown Park with all the points. The BUs put in one of their worst performances of the season even to the point of conceding a last minute goal after getting back into the game with a late equaliser.

Bo’ness started well and went ahead from the spot, Lucas Stenhouse converting following Kieran Mitchell being brought down in the box. Unfortunately, the BUs were unable to hold on to the lead two minutes later with Callum McKenzie taking advantage of a defensive lapse to fire past Liam Campbell. Fifteen minutes before the break Bo’ness were behind as the referee consulted with his assistant to turn a free kick at the edge of the box into a penalty kick dispatched by Callum McKenzie.

Twenty minutes into a scrappy second half the Bo’ness task was to become even harder as Tom Grant was sent off for a tackle in the middle of the park and as time moved on the BUs struggled to make an impact. However, with six minutes left on the clock Keir Foster finished off a good move to get the BUs back into the game. Bo’ness then set about getting a winner but disaster struck as a clumsy challenge in the box gave Broomhill another penalty and Callum McKenzie scored his third of the day to give his side a significant win.

Bo’ness now face Tranent in Tuesday’s League Cup semi final and only a greatly improved performance will see the BUs with a chance to progress to the final of the tournament.

Bo’ness: Campbell, Stevenson, Rutherford, Masson, Duffy (Hawkins 46), Dowling (Foster 46),
Stenhouse, Johnston, Mitchell (Osadolor 43), Grant, Kennedy (Schiavone 46) Subs (
Not Used): Connolly, Gemmell. SG (Not Used): Ritchie