Bo’ness United are on the road this weekend with a trip to the Forthbank Stadium to meet the University of Stirling. The Students have not had a good start to their season, still looking for a point after five games. They have lost at home to Broxburn Athletic and Tranent while going down at East Stirlingshire, Berwick Rangers and Cowdenbeath. The University are generally slow starters but this season so far will be disappointing for everyone at the club.

It was a year ago when the BUs visited Stirling coming away with a draw. Shaun Brown put Bo’ness ahead just on the break but with fifteen minutes remaining the Students were awarded a controversial penalty converted by Finlay Moffett. Things could have been even worse for the BUs as into time added Finn Regan hit the post (Report). January saw a BU win in the home contest thanks to a goal in each half from Kieran Mitchell (Report).

Bo’ness go into this match after a tough draw at Musselburgh on Saturday. Former BU Ryan Porteous headed Mussy into the lead early on but after the break two quick fire goals saw Bo’ness go ahead, Kieran Mitchell scoring from the spot before Tom Grant headed home. Nathan Evans equalised for the home side and despite their best efforts no one was able to claim the winner (Report).

Despite their poor start to the season Bo’ness know better than to take University of Stirling lightly. This is always a difficult fixture and Saturday at Forthbank will prove to be the same. The players need to be up for the clash and hopefully there will be a solid BU faithful backing on the day.

John Spowart
Friday 28 August 2026

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Sunday 24 August 2025

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

University of Stirling 1
(Moffett 75 pen)

Bo’ness United 1
(Brown 45)

Bo’ness United earned a point at University of Stirling where they could have come away with all the points though at the end only the post ensured they did not lose out. The BUs edged the first half creating a number of chances while the defence did their bit keeping the eager University forwards at bay. Just before the whistle Bo’ness took the lead, a Tom Grant right footed cut back dispatched by Shaun Brown for his first goal for the club.

The second half had the clubs exchanging blows, Bo’ness looking for the knockout strike while the Students wanted to get level. With fifteen minutes remaining Stirling did get back, the referee adjudging Mark McLuckie had brought down a University forward in the box. There were little in the way of appeals from the Stirling players but they gratefully accepted the opportunity, Finlay Moffet scoring from the spot. The tails were up and Stirling went looking for a winner and just before the end Calan Ledingham shot just wide and a Finn Regan effort came back off the post.

Goals change games and while there was debate about the validity of the penalty decision it saw the balance of play favour Stirling and in the end it was a case of what might have been with both sides having to be content with a share of the spoils.

Bo’ness United: 1 Ben Fry, 2 Adam Masson (Stevenson 83), 3 Shaun Brown, 4 Mark McLuckie,
5 Aldin El-Zubaidi (Capt) (Duffy 78), 6 Jordan Armstrong, 7 Jack Hodge (Irving 50),
9 Jamie Watson, 10 Tom Grant (Scullion46), 11 Roan Fitzpatrick (McKinstray 83),
16 Kieran Mitchell.

Subs: 12 Lewis Duffy, 14 Ryan Stevenson ,15 Flynn McCafferty (Not Used),
17 Keir Macaulay (Not Used), 18 Conor Scullion, 19 Kodi McKinstray,
19 Dan Irving.

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Saturday 24 January 2026

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo’ness United 2
(Mitchell 43 68)

University of Stirling 0

Another Saturday and another win for Bo’ness United making it four on the trot, the best run since manager Stuart Hunter’s first games in charge two seasons ago. It was hard fought particularly as a red card saw Bo’ness complete most of the second half one short. The BUs started on the front foot, a Tom Grant free kick coming off the cross bar and a Kieran Mitchell shot going just beyond the far post.

The game settled with the University coming into things a bit more and a Finlay Moffett ball across the box only needed a team mate in the right place to convert. Bo’ness enjoyed the bulk of the possession but had to be mindful at the back. Kieran Mitchell saw another shot go wide and a Jack Hodge freekick was scrambled clear. At the other end Sam Martin fired over and only a fabulous block from BU keeper Allan Fleming prevented Thomas Vonk putting the students ahead. This was five minutes before the break and just before the whistle Bo’ness got their noses in front, a deft Billy Mortimer pass perfect for Kieran Mitchell to continue his rich scoring form to angle past Alex Sutherland in the University of Stirling goal.

Seven minutes into the second half Bo’ness were reduced to ten men when Adam Masson was dismissed for a tackle the referee deemed high and dangerous. The sending off sparked a period of University pressure, the BU rearguard called into action until composure returned and a regrouped Bo’ness once again pushed forward. With just over twenty minutes remaining the ten men made it two nil, Kieran Mitchell accepting the great through pass from Lewis Hodgkiss to complete a dash from just inside the opposition half before sidestepping the keeper to slot into the empty net. All credit must go to the Students who never gave up but they faced a back four and a keeper in no mood to concede anything, illustrated with an Allan Fleming stop late on to get down to save Sam Martin’s shot on goal.

There’s no game next Saturday but the following Tuesday sees Tranent come calling in the Lowland League Cup.

Bo’ness United: 1 Allan Fleming 2 Dan Irving 3 Jordan Armstrong 4 Mark McLuckie
5 Alasdair Davidson 6 Adam Masson 7 Jack Hodge 9 Billy Mortimer (Hodgkiss 56)
10 Tom Grant (Capt) (Johnston 56) 11 Shaun Brown 16 Kieran Mitchell (Fyfe 82)

Subs: 8 Kyle Johnston 12 Ryan Stevenson (Not Used) 14 Jamie Watson (Not Used)
15 Keir Macaulay (Not Used) 17 Lucas Fyfe 18 Lewis Hodgkiss SG Ben Fry (Not Used)

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2026/2027

Date – Saturday 22 August 2026

Competition – Lowland League

Bo’ness United 2
(Mitchell 47 pen, Grant49)

Musselburgh Athletic 2
(Porteous 10, Evans 66)

Bo’ness United won a hard earned point in a tough encounter with Musselburgh Athletic at the Olivebank Arena.

On a glorious sunny afternoon Musselburgh went ahead after only ten minutes a Nathan Evans long throw causing difficulties for the Bo’ness defence, ending with former BU Ryan Porteous heading in from close up. The goal gave Musselburgh confidence as they pushed forward and it was not until twenty five minutes in Bo’ness created their first real opportunity, a Jackson Mylchreest header from a Shaun Brown cross safely held by Dan Laing in the Musselburgh goal. Soon after this Kieran Mitchell had an effort on goal but his shot was blocked.

Not a great first half from Bo’ness but they shot out the blocks at the start of the second scoring two goals in two minutes. The first came from the spot, a low Shaun Brown cross handled in the box and Kieran Mitchell converted. The second also came from a Shaun Brown cross, this time to the far post where Tom Grant headed in. It didn’t look to be over as Musselburgh fought back and with twenty five remaining Bo’ness failed to clear a corner and the ball landed nicely for Nathan Evans to fire a deflected shot home from the edge of the box.

Both teams went looking for a winner, a good Bo’ness move finishing with a Tom Grant shot easily saved while at the other end Liam Buchanan headed just over. Towards the end Musselburgh pressed, Bo’ness looking to break forward and in the end it was honours shared.

Bo’ness United: 1 Allan Fleming 2 Jamie Allan 3 Dan Irving 4 Jordan Armstrong
5 Joe Cassidy 7 Roan Fitzpatrick 8 Jack Hodge (Masson 75) 9 Jackson Mylchreest (Murray 46)
10 Tom Grant (Capt) (Smith 85) 11 Shaun Brown 16 Kieran Mitchell

Subs: 6 Adam Masson 12 Alfie Smith 14 Robbie Murdoch (Not Used) 15 Murray Binnie
17 Hamza Nimaga (Not Used) 18 (Not Used) SG Scott Ritchie (Not Used)