BU's Held at home by Haddington

Report by Bryan Copeland

Match Day Mascots James Baillie, Harvey Gilmour, Blayke Culbert

With the BU still on a good run of results all told this season finally a home game after some on the road for the BU and a taster for what’s to come in the next couple of weeks as these teams will meet later in the month at Haddington looking for a place in the Alex Jack Cup Final.

Into today’s game and it was taken in by a good crowd with the BU shooting towards the goal at the Kinneil School end of the ground (the usual 1st half way we like to have) In the opening minutes the home side had most of the play and it wasn’t long before the opening goal came McKenzie had a shot that came back to Morgan who finished the chance by putting the ball in the net. BU 1 - 0 Haddington. The visitors were almost right back in the game with a quick break but the shot in the end came back off the post . The home side were soon on the attack again and won a corner. On 17 mins a free kick was swung into the visitors box by Morgan but a good header away by the visiting defence cleared any danger. On 23 minutes the visitors got an equaliser as a shot from outside the box went under Murphy and into the net. BU 1 - 1 Haddington. Unbelievably 3 minutes later on 26 minutes the visitors had turned the score around as a quick break forward resulted in a pass into the box and the ball was struck low into the corner of the net to Murphy’s left. BU 1 - 2 Haddington. The home side pressed on and won a corner which was swung into the box but no one in blue got on the end of it and the ball was cleared by the visiting defence. On 33 minutes in what was now turning out to be a very good open game of football the scores were level again, good play down the left found Donnelly who calmly finished to make it BU 2 - 2 Haddington. Forward came the home side again and got another good shot away towards the visiting keeper. Andy Shirra done well to play a good through ball towards Prentice but the visiting keeper was quick off his line to boot the ball clear. Forward then came the visitors and a dangerous ball was played over the box thankfully no one was there to put it into the waiting net and Murphy gathered on his goal line. The home side were then on the attack again and a good ball was played across the box and finally cleared by the visiting defence. As half time approached another shot from the home side was sent towards goal as Donnelly played a good ball forward the shot however was over the visiting keeper and over the bar from the edge of the box. Overall a very open and good game of football from both sides so far and at half time the score line reads BU 2 - 2 Haddington Athletic.

Into the 2nd half and it was the home side with all the play to begin with as 2 great chances went begging. The 2nd especially as it was a brilliant ball played over just looking for a touch to send it in the net but it never came. More good play from the BU down the left this time from Syme resulted in a good ball over the box and as it broke out a foul was awarded to the left of the box for the home side. Morgan swung in a good ball but it was well defended. With the home side having a great spell and now dominating this half so far Sweeney was next to get into the box and as he went down the players claimed a penalty but the appeals were waved away by the referee. Another ball soon came into the visitors box but no real danger ensued this time. 26 minutes into the 2nd half and BU manager Kerrigan made a treble substitution making all his changes in 1 go as Zubadi, Shirra & Sweeney went off, replaced by Hunter, Wright & McDonald. All the chances this half so far were still falling the way of the home side as yet another ball came over the box this time the shot on the end of it was over the bar. The visitors did get up the pitch and were awarded a free kick wide right of the box. The ball was swung into the box and a header towards goal was well over the bar. Into the final 10 minutes and it was all pressure from the home yet side again in a half we were dominating and a couple of good corners were played in but no finish was there from anyone. Another great chance came as a great ball found Hunter in the box, his header was well over the bar as the lineman flagged for offside anyway. Another corner soon came again swung in by Morgan but the home keeper was quickest to react and hold onto the ball. From his ball out the visitors broke forward quickly and Murphy in the BU goal was called into action to make a good stop. Forward came the home side again and as they broke a foul stopped the attack which reduced the visitors to 10 men. Forward came the home side again but this time the ball went behind for a goal kick. Now well over time the visitors got forward a Final time but a shot was well blocked and possession regained by the home side. The referee finally ended the match at BU 2 - 2 Haddington Athletic.