Match Preview

Match Preview 2018 2019

Bonnyrigg Rose, League Cup Semi Final, Carmuirs Park, Monday 06 May 2019

Bo’ness United welcome East of Scotland League Champions Bonnyrigg Rose to Carmuirs Park as both teams look to win through to the final of the League Cup. Bonnyrigg, as winners of Conference B, defeated other conference winners Penicuik Athletic and Broxburn Athletic in the playoffs and now go forward for a place in the Lowland League.

It’s been a successful season for Bonnyrigg so far, already in the final of the South of Scotland Cup and still with an interest in the Football Nation and King Cups. As a result they are playing three games a week but maintain the aspiration of the clean sweep of trophies. Bo’ness United, while congratulating the Mid Lothian team on their success, want to put a spanner in the works, as they also have ambitions for silverware. The BUs are looking to make amends for the expulsion from the Alex Jack Cup earlier in the season to get to the final of the League Cup and King Cup both at the expense of the League Champions.

The Bo’ness hopes are not unrealistic as they are on a great run of form that included the win at Bonnyrigg, their only defeat in that successful League campaign. Brian Morgan and Stuart Hunter had Bo’ness two up at half time. After the break Bonnyrigg were reduced to ten men when Jonathan Brown received his second yellow card of the game but Keith Lough pulled one back for them ten minutes from time. However Marty Wright came on just before the end and he made sure of the BU win. Bo’ness therefore know they are capable of getting the win although Bonnyrigg want to avenge that defeat last month.

Bonnyrigg cruised through their League Cup section against Stirling University, Hill of Beath Hawthorn and Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts followed by a convincing win at Haddington Athletic. Their second round tie against Penicuik was somewhat closer where with five minutes remaining each team had scored twice but two late strikes saw Bonnyrigg go through.

The Bo’ness journey was not so straight forward with an initial loss at home to Jeanfield Swifts, the situation only retrieved by beating both Leith Athletic and Oakley United. It took extra time to beat Tynecastle and extra time and penalties to win at Newtongrange Star. Even at Tranent Juniors in midweek, despite going ahead early through Michael Gemmell, the BUs struggled losing two goals before a Fraser Keast cross drifted into the net early in the second half. Tranent reclaimed their lead from the spot but Bo’ness finally got themselves sorted out scoring three goals through Michael Gemmell, Craig Comrie and Ross Campbell finishing the game strongly, Tranent not sure what had happened to them.

A great number of BU fans made it all the way to Tranent for an early Tueday night kick off but thankfully this time round it’s only the short trip to Carmuirs Park and once more the team can benefit from a noisy home support to encourage them to the Final.

John Spowart
05 May 2019