East Kilbride 2 Bo'ness United 0

The BU travel to lowland league favourites East Kilbride on the crest of a wave having not lost since the opening day of the season making it an unbeaten run of 8 games. BU manager Steve Kerrigan (Kegs) will admit himself along with the players it’s been tough with key players suffering long term injuries so other than 1 game at home to Lothian Thistle the manager has never had the luxury of a fully fit squad to pick from. Having said that the team and the back room staff along with the fans and committee have dug deep and gave plenty support and managed to get the desired results. Today’s game also brings memories of the past to the BU as in 1983 East Kilbride defeated us in the Scottish Junior Cup Final 2-0.

Into today’s game and it would arguably be the toughest yet with Easy Kilbride off to a good start in the higher ranked lowland league seeing them placed as title favourites for the coveted play off spot and a chance to get into the SPFL. The home side had an early corner that Murphy got down well to block as both teams tried to get settled into the game. The visitors got a free kick 8 mins in that was delivered well into the home sides box and cleared for a corner. From the corner a great delivery had the home side scrambling to defend as the ball was cleared off the line. From the clearance the home side broke forward but Murphy in the BU goal was alert and quickly made a good save. The home side then applied some pressure and managed to get through on goal, good defending from the visitors saw the ball away for a corner. On 24 minutes the home side got a free kick on the edge of the box, it was curled towards goal but went just wide of the left hand post. The visitors then got forward with a good ball resulting in a free kick. It was delivered into the box well and sent away for a corner which unfortunately came to nothing. Forward came the home side again this time Syme and Donnelly combined well to clear any danger. As the BU got forward again MacKenzie was almost in on goal but the ball got away from him before he could bring it down for a shot. Soon the visitors were on the attack again it was quickly halted with a pass over hit and out of play. Prentice then done well with a good run forward but in came the home side with a tackle just before it was released out wide. Forward however came the BU again in what was turning out to be a good spell for the visitors a great shot stung the gloves of the Home keeper and keeping the pressure on the ball was played back across the box this time well defended. As the home side broke forward a free kick was awarded and Donnelly shown a yellow card as the half now entered the final 5 minutes. Overall in the half the visitors probably had the better chances but the home side looked good on the ball in spells in what was a fairly even game of football.
East Kilbride 0 - 0 BU - Half time.

Into the 2nd half and a change from BU manager Kegs saw MacDonald come on for Prentice and in a reshuffle of positions McDonald went to right back and Donnelly moved to the midfield. The visitors got forward and a corner was swung in that came to nothing. 11 mins in and the opening goal of the match came, the BU gave the ball away cheaply and a simple pass forward left the home side through on goal with the ball slotted away into the bottom corner. East Kilbride 1 - 0 BU. The visitors tried to get forward quickly after the restart but looked to be getting deeper and deeper into their own half. 18 mins in and the home side made a substitution shortly followed by another shot on goal as the BU tried to get a foothold back in the game but struggled. The home side made another change and as the visitors tried to keep the ball and play it was the home side with a shot towards Murphy’s goal. Forward came the home side again and the end result was BU keeper Murphy and the East Kilbride player shown a yellow card after a coming together. Another change for the visitors saw Kegs bring on Zubadi as Watt went off. At 1-0 down the decision baffled slightly as a forward player went off for a defender. The outfield was however reshuffled again with Syme going further forward and Zubadi going into defence. Murphy then had another save to make before the BU were awarded a free kick just inside the home sides half. Having been given the foul a silly yellow card was picked up for the BU and manager Kegs made his final change as Wright came on for MacKenzie with now 10 mins of the game remaining. A lot of misplaced passes were costing the visitors but as they broke forward Donnelly played a good ball out wide and the ball went into the box. Appeals for a penalty went up but were waved away by the referee. On the break the home side got forward quickly then finished the game off by calmly slotting the ball into the net to make it 2-0. As the match entered injury time Hunter done well at the back to win a tackle and clear the ball from any danger. The final shot on goal came from the visitors with the Home keeper making a decent save. Having played 3 minutes of injury time the referee ended the match. East Kilbride 2 - 0 BU.