5 Star Bo'ness

Report by Bryan Copeland

After the friendlies finished it was all cup games for the BU’s start in the new venture of the EOS set up but finally it’s now league time. With the BU placed in a difficult league among other top teams some who we know well others will be new but overall a positive buzz is in the air regarding the new set up and the club moving forward. I’m sure in the opening league match the management players and fans will all be looking for a positive start to get the league campaign underway. Come the end of the season a top 5 finish is a must for the BU in order to get into the top EOS League just below the lowland League next season.
Into the game and it was taken in by a very good crowd given its midweek. The BU started off shooting their preferred 1st half way attacking the goal at the Kinneil School end of the ground. The home side tried to make an early impact on the game and came close with a shot heading towards goal deflected away for a corner. Another soon followed as the home side definitely started the better of the 2 teams. Hunter then done well to stop an attack from the visitors before being fouled as he tried to play the ball out from the back. The breakthrough came 10 minutes in with more good play earning another corner. It was swung into the back post and Campbell rose up to bullet a header into the visitors net. BU 1 - 0 Lothian Thistle. The visitors tried to get back in the game from the re-start but any advances forward were easily and well dealt with by the home sides back line. The BU were on the attack again but got shut down quickly by the visitors who started an attack of their own. The cross was headed away well by Campbell but fell to the visitors again, in came the ball this time headed away by Hunter and cleared by Gemmil. The home side overall still looked the better side and the score line was doubled as they played the ball forward to Marty Wright who finished well to make it BU 2 - 0 Lothian Thistle with 23 minutes played. It was almost 3 just minutes later when a good ball across the box almost found Keast but the visiting defence cleared. The ball didn’t go far however and it was soon back in the visitors box this time the chance was narrowly missed. Just after the hour and the match was being dominated by a high tempo BU side playing very well. Soon another shot was lashed towards the visiting keeper this time from outside the box and went just wide of the far post. With the visitors trying to break quickly Donnelly made a mis timed tackle on the half way line and got a yellow card from the referee. On 39 minutes Murphy in the BU goal had a save to make, a low well stuck drive but he dealt with it well before Jacobs was fouled completing the clearance. The home side broke forward quickly and were in on goal again with minutes of the half reaming only for the shot to be cleared for a corner as it headed for the net. There was to be 1 more chance before half time again it fell to the home side with a good through ball almost finding Morgan who made a good run, the visiting keeper was quick off his line and saved on the edge of his area. The final action of the half was a free kick awarded to the BU on the half way line beside the dugouts as the visitors discipline looked to go a little, their coach paid the price as he kicked the ball away and was sent off by the referee. Right on the 45 minutes the referee ended the half with the BU playing good football and deservedly in front.
BU 2 - 0 Lothian Thistle.
Into the 2nd half after a quick half time turn around and it was the visitors on the attack helped by a free kick on the edge of the box. The defensive wall done it’s job and blocked the shot. The visitors were now passing the ball reasonably well and did manage to get forward showing a bit more than they did in the 1st half although much of the 1st half was to do with how well the Home side played. Finally the BU got back in decent possession and a couple of attacks were formed unfortunately with no more goals as yet. McKenzie then found himself in the referees book for a foul, he argued his case but the free kick was awarded and the yellow shown. 9 minutes into the half and the visiting keeper was kicking the ball from his net in frustration as a cross found Campbell who scored his 2nd of the game. BU 3 - 0 Lothian Thistle. With the BU now coasting in a very impressive display the only chink in the armour was the discipline as Keast made a challenge and was next to make his way into the referees book with now 33 minutes remaining. The referee was being kept busy as a minute later yet another tackle flew in this time Keast took the brunt of it and it was yellow for the Thistle player. 25 to go and Big Ross Campbell was up in the visitors box as the Home side had a corner. It was swung in well by Morgan and Campbell got his head on it looking for his hat trick unfortunately this time it was over the bar. Tackles were flying in again followed by McKenzie being pushed in the chest as the BU got a free kick on the left hand side. In it came and the initial shot was saved really well by the visiting keeper from point blank range, Ross Campbell was there to get the re bound however and with 20 minutes remaining he completed his hat trick therefore making it a double as he also scored 4 in the last match on Saturday. BU manager Kerrigan made his 1st change as Donnelly was replaced by McDonald. With 12 to play the 2nd change was made as Hunter made way for Zubadi. Another corner followed for the BU this time Morgan’s cross was deflected for another corner. 11 minutes left as the next corner came in again from Morgan, Zubadi got on the end of it with a glancing header that found Keast, who Bundled the ball over the line. BU 5 - 0 Lothian Thistle. As the game now entered the final stages the 3rd change was made as Rintoul came on for Mackenzie. The visiting keeper had to be alert again as the home side were through on goal once more. Tackles were still going in as the referee reached for his pocked to book another thistle player. The Home crowd were now waiting on the final whistle to applaud what was a truly 5 star display to get the league season underway for the BU. Before the end 5 goals almost became 6 and what a goal it would have been as Morgan from extremely long range saw the visiting keeper off his line and sent a stunning shot towards the net, the ball went over the keeper but un luckily it struck the top of the cross bar. Right on the 90 minutes the referee called time on the match.