Bo’ness United want to build on the good result against Dundonald Bluebell last weekend but they will certainly have to equal or better the fine display to get the points in the next two games. Bo’ness visit League leaders Bonnyrigg Rose in a week’s time and this Saturday it is the third trip of the season to Foresters Park to take on Tranent Juniors. It’s honours even so far with Bo’ness winning the Alex Jack Cup tie but Tranent came out on top in the more recent Football Nation Cup game.

In the Alex Jack Cup, the home side thought James Devlin got their winner with only three minutes remaining but the BUs had other ideas. Chris Donnelly had already brought Bo’ness back into the game after Tranent went ahead with a Shaun Rutherford screamer but in the last minute of the ninety Brian Morgan equalised before Donnelly popped up in time added on to secure victory. Last time round Kayne Paterson put Tranent ahead and Marty Wright equalised for Bo’ness minutes after they had missed from the spot, Will Snowdon slamming the ball against the post. Kenny Fisher showed how it was done converting a penalty for Tranent and despite a lot of pressure inspired goalkeeping from Sinclair Inglis and resolute defending kept the BUs at bay.

Since then Tranent have had mixed fortunes losing at Bonnyrigg in the League and Spartans in the Football Nation Cup. They won at Haddington but perhaps surprisingly lost at home to Dalkeith, both league games.

Bo’ness put in a very good performance against Dundonald who did not help themselves going down to ten men after just over half an hour, Craig Wedderburn receiving his second yellow card of the game. The BUs were already looking the better side and scored through Allan MacKenzie from the resulting free kick. It was always going to be difficult for Dundonald after this and two second half Marty Wright goals sealed the points although Dundonald scored a late consolation through former BU Calum Smith. It was only an excellent display of goalkeeping by James Lennox that stopped Bo’ness clinching the win much earlier in the game.

Tranent are three places and five points behind Bo’ness with one game in hand in what is a tight race for the top five places. The BUs would love to increase the gap between the sides while Tranent don’t want to lose ground. With little between the sides it is the team who turns up on the day who will prevail and the travelling BU Faithfull want that to be their favourites. Tranent have a decent home support and Foresters Park will be a noisy place. A day not for the faint hearted.

John Spowart
24 January 2019