Tranent 3-5 Bo'ness United

Thanks once more to BRYAN COPELAND for his report, always appreciated.

Match Report
EOS League Cup Quarter Final
Tranent v Bo’ness United
Tuesday 30/04/2019 KO 18:45

A familiar journey for the BU this season as it’s now the 3rd trip to Tranent. In all 3 games until now Max Christie was in the Tranent dugout as manager and defeated the BU in a cup while at the time manager Stevie Kerrigan also managed a cup win for the BU. The 3rd visit to Tranent was then as said before to be the downfall of Kerrigan as the BU slumped to a shocking 5-0 defeat with all the goals coming in the 2nd half. Fast forward to the 4th time the teams met this season and after Steve Kerrigan no longer holding his post Max Christie made the move to the BU. He got success against his old club with a league victory 4-1 and this was of course 1 of the now 14 games unbeaten we have enjoyed meaning the new man in charge is still unbeaten in all games so far. Tonight is a big game for both sides as a semi final tie against Bonnyrigg awaits the winners next Monday night.

Into tonight’s game and it was taken in by a good crowd as it started at a fairly high tempo. The home side enjoyed a lot of the play in the opening 10 minutes so when the opening goal came on 11 minutes it could be argued it was against the run of play. A good ball forward found Comrie who done really well and then picked out Michael Gemmil who shot into the home keepers net. Tranent 0 - 1 BU. From the restart the home side tried to get forward and were awarded a foul with Devon Jacobs seeing a yellow card from the referee. The home side were still enjoying too much of the game for the visitors liking and within minutes the score was level at 1-1. A ball played down the left was crossed, Murphy could and should have held it but he never and the ball came off him and hit off Syme and straight into the waiting net. A free kick out on the left gave the home side another opportunity but with all the players up in the box for the delivery a bizarre decision to shoot was taken and the ball flew high over the bar. Soon there was a shot on the break at the other end for the visitors and it forced a good block as it was on target and heading for goal. A free kick for the visitors on the half way line was wasted as the home side got the ball straight back with disastrous consequences for the BU, forward it came and a fantastic curling finish past Murphy from the edge of the box had the home side in the lead Tranent 2-1 BU. Forward came the home side again this time stopped by the offside flag but from the resulting free kick the visitors didn’t help themselves by giving their opponents the ball straight back. As the home side came forward again Campbell & Jacobs done well to clear the danger followed by Jacobs doing well again to block a cross into the box and send the mall for a throw in on the far side. Into the final 5 minutes of the half and the visitors got forward only for the home defence to stand firm and clear the ball before there was any shot on goal. The visitors finally got a run going and spent the last few minutes of the half camped inside the home sides box, only the 1 chance came of it however when Campbell had a shot that he should have scored with but put the ball over the bar.
Half time Tranent 2 - 1 BU

Into the 2nd half and the visitors were right back in the game, groans came from around the park as Keast looked to have played a bad cross but the ball ended up past the home keeper and in the net Tranent 2 - 2 BU. Murphy was then busy for the visitors as he got down well to gather the ball inside the 6 yard box. 11 minutes into the half and what can only be described as absolute lunacy as Jacobs went diving into a challenge inside the box and got it all wrong leaving the referee only 1 option and that was to point to the penalty spot. Jacobs already on a yellow was lucky not to see another. The penalty was taken and clinically finished very well low into the corner of the net. Tranent 3 - 2 BU. Moments later and a great ball was fizzed over the box from the visitors it looked like a tap in but the ball was cleared well for a corner. Morgan swung in a great ball and as it bounced in the box and looked to be cleared it fell to Gemmil who looked to just instinctively hit it and the ball looked over the home keeper and bounced into the net. Tranent 3-3 BU. In s now very open end to end game the home side had a chance as space opened up for a shot but it wasn’t taken and the pass that was played got blocked by the BU defence. Straight away at the other end a long ball forward found McKenzie but he was flagged offside. McKenzie done well winking a free kick that Morgan curled into the penalty spot, Hunter got on the end of it but the ball went wide of the costing keepers post. Only a minute later and another goal, McKenzie again done well lining up with Wright and the ball made its way into the box, the keeper and defence initially blocked it but poor defending meant Comrie picked up the ball and fired the ball into the net. Tranent 3 - 4 BU. Minutes later and another goal again for the vistors. Morgan stood over a dead ball just outside the box and swung it in towards the back post, Campbell got the ball towards goal and it’s arguable whether it was going in or not the home defender made it clear however as the ball deflected off him and low into the net. Tranent 3 - 5 BU. From the re-start forward came the home side again and won a corner. Thankfully it came to nothing. The home side were spending time in the visitors half trying to get back in the game but there was nothing major of note for the BU keeper or defence. The visitors could have then put the game well and truly to bed with 7 minutes to go as a quick break forward had the home side scrambling back. A good low cross was played over from the left but the hormone keeper got down well to gather the ball. Forward came the home sore again and Murphy was there to make a good stop with now 6 minutes of the game to go. With a red minutes to go BU Gaffer Max Christie made a change as McDonald replaced Gemmil. McKenzie then done well to play Marty Wright through but his shot was straight at the home keeper. As the game entered added time a 2nd change was made as Mckenzie was replaced by Prentice. That was to be the last action of the game and a semi final against Bonnyrigg awaits the BU.
Full time Tranent 3 - 5 BU.