Match Preview

Match Preview 2018 2019

Dalkeith Thistle, Central Taxis East of Scotland League Conference B, Carmuirs Park, Tuesday 23 April 2019

Two games against Dalkeith Thistle will complete the inaugural East of Scotland League campaign for Bo’ness United with second place the likely outcome. Only Dundonald Bluebell can catch the BUs on points although Bo’ness have a ten goal advantage. In saying that Bo’ness want to win points from Dalkeith in either and hopefully the games on Tuesday and Saturday. The home game tomorrow is the third attempt for this fixture, the previous two postponed because of adverse weather.

Bo’ness are on a remarkable run of twelve wins and new manager Max Christie must be pleased with the great start to his time at Newtown Park. Even the Super League winning seasons of the past few years didn’t achieve such a winning streak.

Dalkeith had the chance of making the top five of the League but they lost their management team of Darren Smith and Kevin Rafferty to Newtongrange in early March with Kevin Twaddle and Andy Donlevy taking on the role on an interim basis. John Landells was appointed as permanent boss only a few weeks ago and although Dalkeith have an outside chance of finishing sixth in the table the new boss is likely to want to use the last two games to get a measure of the players at his disposal while planning for next season.

As for the BUs, they want to continue winning games but in terms of priorities they must be thinking ahead to the cup tie at Tranent in a couple of weeks. The BUs managed a great win against them on Saturday but know the visit to Forester Park will be very difficult.

Back to Dalkeith and Bo’ness have played the Midlothian side on a regular basis in recent times, the last outing at Kings Park just over two years ago when the BUs won an East of Scotland Cup tie, but only after a penalty kick shoot out. Colin Strickland had given Bo’ness an early lead but goals from Tyron McLean and Darren Devlin saw the home side ahead at half time. Fraser Keast equalised before the end and Ross Philp’s final penalty conversion saw Bo’ness into the next round. For the last league match at Newtown Park between the sides you have to go all the way back to September 1990 when Bo’ness won by the odd goal in five thanks to a Jimmy Burns hat trick.

The BUs visit Kings Park for the return fixture on Saturday but meanwhile a win on Tuesday will secure the best of the rest spot and as usual the vocal encouragement of the BU Faithfull will be most welcome.

John Spowart
22 April 2019