Bo’ness face their first cup tie of the season in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup when Vale of Leithen from the second division of the East of Scotland League come calling. The Vale visited Newtown Park just over five years ago beating the BUs by a single goal. Putting the Vale result in perspective, the win at Newtown Park was their first success in two years having gone over forty games without a win. They defended in depth and Bo’ness struggled to break through and even then, were unable to take any of the chances presented to them. Vale of Leithen did create opportunities throughout and as the game neared the end were looking more likely and scored the winner in ninety minutes, Mark Deya shooting home from close in. Here is the BU line up from that day:

Bo’ness United: 1 Andy Murphy 4 Greg Skinner 5 Stuart Hunter 6 Michael Gemmell (Capt)
7 Gregor Nicol 8 Reis Peggie 11 Danny Galbraith 12 Devon Jacobs (Grant 46)
17 Michael McFarlane (Anderson 46) 18 Kyle Johnston (Stevenson 46) 20 Matty Flynn

Subs: 3 Ryan Stevenson 10 Tom Grant 14 Kyle Wilson (Not Used), 15 Lewis Hawkins (Not Used)
16 Keir Macaulay (Not Used) 19 Kieran Anderson

This round of the cup proved to be the only tie Bo’ness won all season last time round that being a win at Dundonald Bluebell. After a difficult start with Dundonald going ahead through Fionn Kay the BUs responded, Jamie Watson opening his BU account before Kieran Mitchell put the BUs ahead from the spot. Ross Drummond scored a penalty to bring Dundonald equal but in the second half Adam Masson regained the Bo’ness lead, his first for the club and Kieran Mitchell increased the lead. Dundonald were reduced to ten men, Jordan Orru red carded for dissent and Bo’ness took advantage with further goals from Jamie Watson and Adam Masson (Report). In the following round Civil Service Strollers were the visitors. Kieran Mitchell gave Bo’ness a half time lead and shortly after the break the Strollers had a man sent off. However, the ten men fought back with two goals from Alieu Faye and although Bo’ness equalised through Jamie Watson, they lost the penalty shoot out (Report). Vale of Leithen exited at round two last year going down away to Penicuik Athletic.
Bo’ness have won their last two games, last week defeating Civil Service Strollers at Newtown. The Strollers had a man sent off after thirty minutes and shortly before half time Joe Cassidy put the BUs ahead in spectacular fashion, his first goal for the club. After the break Kieran Mitchell scored a second the BUs winning all the points (Report). Vale of Leithen have won two of their three league matches so far, beating Dalkeith Thistle and Tweedmouth but went down in midweek at Edinburgh CFC.
Both Stuart Hunter and Michael Gemmell were in the BU line up that loss at home to Vale of Leithen and will not have forgotten the experience. No doubt they will remind the current players not to take anything for granted as lightning can indeed strike in the same place twice. This is a game that Bo’ness should win comfortably but only if the players apply themselves and work for the victory.

John Spowart
Friday 14 August 2026

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Tuesday 05 August 2025

Competition – East of Scotland Qualifying Cup Round 2

Dundonald Bluebell 2
(Kay 10, Drummond 34 pen)

Bo’ness United 6
(Watson 27 65, Mitchell 33 pen 55, Masson 47 72)

After a hesitant start Bo’ness United went on to enjoy a comprehensive win at Dundonald Bluebell scoring six goals, four of them in a dominant second half.

In the first minute Jamie Watson’s angled shot hit the top of the Dundonald bar but after that the home team looked the sharper side in the early part the game. They had the ball in the net though the ‘goal’ was ruled out for offside but a few minutes later they did go ahead as Fionn McLeod Kay barged through the centre of the BU defence before forcing the ball past keeper Ben Fry. Dundonald continued to look the better outfit with Bo’ness working hard to get back into the game. Just before the half hour Bo’ness found a way with Dan Irving’s pass finding Roan Fitzpatrick whose cross to the far post was headed in by Jamie Watson, his first goal for the BUs. Five minutes later Bo’ness were ahead, Roan Fitzpatrick fouled in the box, the penalty converted by Kieran Mitchell. The lead did not last long as only two minutes later it was Dundonald who were awarded a penalty with Ross Drummond firing home from the spot.

All square at half time but two minutes after the restart Bo’ness were ahead again when Adam Masson opened his BU goal scoring account, curling a low shot that found the net just inside the far post. Ten minutes into the second half there was a flashpoint when the ball landed nicely for Kieran Mitchell to volley into the net from close in. The assistant signalled for offside but after consultation between the officials the referee awarded the goal. The Dundonald players took exception to the decision with Jordan Orru pushing his protest too far, shown a straight red card.

Two goals ahead against a team with a man short Bo’ness set about sealing the tie and with twenty five minutes remaining a Keir Macaulay cross was cut back by Ryan Stevenson for Jamie Watson to score from close in. Seven minutes later Adam Masson ran forward, his pass to the edge of the box breaking back to him as he continued on shooting past the now exposed Bluebell keeper.

There was no more scoring but it was a job well done for Bo’ness who now look forward to finding out who their opponents are for the next round.

Bo’ness United: 1 Ben Fry, 2 Adam Masson, 3 Ryan Stevenson (Capt), 4 Mark McLuckie,
5 Aldin El-Zubaidi, 6 Jordan Armstrong (Duffy 61), 7 Jack Hodge (Mulvanny 61), 8 Dan Irving,
9 Jamie Watson, 11 Roan Fitzpatrick (Macaulay 61), 16 Kieran Mitchell (Osadolor 64)

Subs: 12 Lewis Duffy, 14 Cameron Mulvanny, 15 Kyle Johnston (Not Used), 17 Keir Macaulay,
18 Smart Osadolor, 19 Michael Gemmell (Not Used), SG Scott Ritchie (Not Used)

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Saturday 25 October 2025

Competition – East of Scotland Qualifying Cup Round 3

Bo’ness United 2
(Mitchell 42, Watson 89)

Civil Service Strollers 2
(Faye 64 69)

(Civil Service Strollers win 5-4 on penalties)

After a penalty kick shootout Bo’ness United lost out to a ten man Civil Service Strollers meaning this elimination from the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup along with the South Challenge and Scottish Cups exits only leaves the opportunity of silverware with the League Cup.

With the wind at their backs Bo’ness enjoyed the bulk of the pressure but came up against an inspired goalkeeper as Adam Meek made a number of great saves with other attempts on the Civil Service goal off target. Two minutes before the break Bo’ness finally struck home as Kieran Mitchell swivelled to fire a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Two minutes into the second half Josh McCulloch was booked and only two minutes later a second yellow card saw the Strollers player send off. Bo’ness went close to taking advantage with a Roan Fitzpatrick free kick shot going narrowly wide while an Alasdair Davidson header hit the post. Not taking the opportunities that came along proved costly as with just under thirty minutes remaining two Alieu Faye strikes in five minutes turned the game in the visitors’ favour. The Strollers’ tails were up and oblivious of their reduced numbers with minutes remaining missed a great opportunity to seal the tie as Alieu Faye was unable to connect with a low cross into the danger area. The BUs had struggled for most of the second half though with only a minute left on the clock scrambled an equaliser, Jamie Watson getting the final touch close to the line. Into the penalty kick shootout each side had seven attempts and it was the Strollers who prevailed, Bo’ness left to consider what might have been.

Bo’ness United: 1 Matthew Wallace, 2 Roan Fitzpatrick (Grant 66), 3 Keir Macaulay(Capt),
4 Dan Irving, 5 Alasdair Davidson, 6 Jordan Armstrong, 7 Jack Hodge, 9 Ryan Schiavone,
10 Tom Grant, 11 Freddie Rowe, 16 Kieran Mitchell.

Subs: 8 Kyle Johnston (Not Used), 12 Jamie Watson, 14 Taylor Penman (Not Used),
15 Connor McMinn (Not Used), 17 Hamza Nimaga (Not Used), 18 Owen Andrews (Not Used)
SG Sam Gardner (Not Used)

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2026/2027

Date – Saturday 08 August 2026

Competition – Lowland League

Bo’ness United 2
(Cassidy 42, Mitchell 66)

Civil Service Strollers 0

Bo’ness United achieved a competent victory against ten man Civil Service Strollers, a red card forcing them to play for an hour a man short. Having the extra man doesn’t guarantee success but the BUs took full advantage and fully deserved the win.

The Strollers chose to play into the strong west wind in the first half and set about stopping Bo’ness while looking to catch them out on the break. Bo’ness had early efforts on the goal. A Tom Grant free kick shot going over though the visitors created a good opportunity, Santos seeing his shot easily saved by BU keeper Allan Fleming. After thirty minutes the game changed when Strollers’ Josh McCulloch was sent off but it was the visitors who created the next chance Fleming having to make the save from another Santos effort. Roan Fitzpatrick, Tom Grant and Kieran Mitchell all had attempts at the Strollers’ goal the closest a Shaun Brown effort well saved by Macallan Whyte in the Stroller’s goal. However it was centre half Joe Cassidy who showed how it was done controlling before striding forward to hit a great shot from all of thirty yards the ball flashing past Civil Service keeper

Into the second half Bo’ness facing the elements would be tough despite their numerical superiority. However the BUs illustrated perfectly how to take advantage while playing into the wind with a passing game that restricted the Strollers time on the ball therefore starving them of opportunities to get forward. Twenty minutes into the half Bo’ness were rewarded with a second goal as Robbie Murdoch weaved into the position to lay the ball in for Kieran Mitchell to shoot home from close in. Bo’ness continued to dominate but all credit to Civil Service Strollers who never gave in and just before the end Jordan Armstrong blocked a goal bound shot ensuring a clean sheet to go with the welcome three points.

Bo’ness United: 1 Allan Fleming 2 Jamie Allan 3 Dan Irving 4 Jordan Armstrong
5 Joe Cassidy 7 Roan Fitzpatrick (Masson 67) 8 Jack Hodge 9 Jackson Mylchreest (Klimionek 81)
10 Tom Grant (Capt) (Nimaga 81) 11 Shaun Brown (Murdoch 62) 16 Kieran Mitchell (Mortimer 81)

Subs: 6 Adam Masson 14 Bayley Klimionek 15 Hamza Nimaga 17 Robbie Murdoch
18 Billy Mortimer SG Sam Gardner (Not Used)