BU'S Edge past Crossgates Primrose after Extra Time

This is the 1st of 3 games in 3 weeks against the same opposition firstly today the Football Nations Qualifying Cup Round 1, next up it’s an EOS League match away to Crossgates Primrose followed the next week by the Alex Jack Cup also away from home. Crossgates are another of the new sides this season the BU will face and as the game got underway with the Home side shooting their preferred first half way attacking the goal towards Kinneil School they set about showing the visitors how they wanted play passing the ball well and playing at a good tempo. Good work from Snowdon down the left got at cross into the box with a header on goal going just wide of the target. After the first half hour it was the home side with the majority of possession but not a lot of shots on goal. On 31 mins there was concern for the BU fans and bench as Morgan was down injured and looked to be finished, however he came back on and seemed to limp it off as the BU quickly broke up the left and delivered a great ball into the box. The next 10 mins was a game played very much in the midfield but the BU still looked the better side of the 2 in possession of the ball. With 4 minutes remaining another good ball was played over the visitors box but no one was there to get on the end of it. A throw in down the right then led to another cross from the BU again it came to nothing. A corner from Morgan was swung in with minutes remaining but it was very deep and the header couldn’t get near the target. As the half came to an end the BU players and fans must have noticed they were playing a decent team in Crossgates but still overall looked the better team. Having said that it was slightly lacklustre compared to the midweek game. Right on half time Marty Wright went off to be replaced by Nicky Prentice. Having not seen any problem can only assume injury forced the change. With No more action the first half came to an end.
BU 0 - 0 Crossgates Primrose.
Into the 2nd half and an early change was made from BU manager Kerrigan as Donnelly replaced Morgan. It was much the same as the first half as the home side still had most of the possession. A corner was swung in from the left by the Home side but the visiting keeper done well to push the ball away for another. In it came this time it was defended well and cleared towards the half way line. A great chance came for the BU minutes later but the ball went wide of the post. Donnelly was next through on goal for the home side as his shot went just wide. The next chance was a corner for the BU swung in from the right but it came to nothing. With the home side still having most of the play the decent home crowd were growing frustrated with the lack of shots on goal. Prentice had a shot for the home side from outside the box that went well high and wide but as the game went into the last 15 minutes there was no real danger being shown from either side. With 12 mins to go BU manager Kegs played his last roll of the dice substitution wise as McDonald was replaced by Rintoul as again the Home support grew ever more frustrated at the lack of shots on goal. The BU swung a free kick into the visitors box with again no end result. Mackenzie had a shot with 8 minutes remaining but it was well over the bar. A long ball was sent forward towards MacKenzie but the visiting keeper rushing off his line got there first to clear the ball. Marshall in the BU goal then eventually had his 1st save to make with 4 minutes to go as Campbell allowed the visiting side to pass him easily and get a shot away. As the game went into added time a good ball across the box almost found Rintoul then dropped to Donnelly but just not right to strike it towards goal. The BU then got a corner but as it was swung in it came to nothing. MacKenzie got on the end of a pass deep into stoppage time but was adjudged by the female assistant on the left to be offside. The final action was a corner for the BU now 5 minutes over time taken by Jacobs, Hunter got a head on it but couldn’t direct the ball towards goal.
Full time BU 0 - 0 Crossgates.
Into the first half of the extra time and the BU were again shooting towards the Kinneil School goal as in the first half. The action was much as it was in the full game with the home side doing a lot of pressing with no end result. Yet more BU domination followed until the first half of extra time ended but still no clear cut chances were to come for the home side with no threat what so ever coming from the visitors.
Into the 2nd half of extra time and the BU forced a save from the visiting keeper as good play saw the ball come over the box and the shot stung the gloves of the visiting keeper. There was no threat at all coming from the visitors and with 6 minutes to go Hunter got on the end of a corner, the cheers went up as the ball looked goal bound with Hunter and the fans all thinking it should have been a goal as the ball went wide of the post. With 4 minutes to go the breakthrough deservedly came as Keast found the net to make it BU 1 - 0 Crossgates Primrose. Right from the re start the game could have been over as Snowdon done well done the left to find to Keast, the visiting keeper was equal to the shot however and made the save. Keast then hit a free kick from outside the box over the bar as the game was now at full time of extra time. With no more action the BU qualify for the next round as the match ended
BU 1 - 0 Crossgates Primrose.