Bonnyrigg 5-1 Bo'ness United

Match Report
King Cup Quarter Final
Bonnyrigg Rose v Bo’ness United
Sat 18/05/2019 New Dundas Park
KO 14:30.

BU Team :
Gk : Murphy Def : Syme Hunter Campbell Jacobs. Mid/Att : Snowdon Stevenson Comrie Morgan Donnelly (c) MacKenzie.
Subs : Macdonald Wright Keast Marshall.

Less that a week ago new Manger Max Christie’s unbeaten run continued with a 1-0 win over Musselburgh at Penicuik Park to bring the EOS League Cup to Bo’ness giving the players fans committee and all associated with the club a huge lift I’m sure. Today’s opponents Bonnyrigg Rose were one of the teams the BU defeated on the way to winning that cup with a win in the fading light on penalty kicks at our temporary home of Carmuirs Park.
Incidentally the time before that these 2 sides met was at New Dundas Park the home of Bonnyrigg and after going the full season undeafeted including beating the BU at Newtown Park earlier in the season, Max Christie and his BU side were the 1st to inflict defeat on this fine Bonnyrigg Rose team on Saturday April 13th this year. Some could have argued and Bonnyrigg did that they had their eyes on other things back then but no matter what it was a Stella display from the BU that day and one that we will have to repeat today if we are to keep our season going and get another result under Max Christie. With the semi final draw for this cup being made through the week there is a potential for a local derby semi final at Prestonfield if both the BU and Linlithgow win today but as I’m sure will have been said by many let’s get today over before we worry about the next one. Having been in a high of so many games won and with a cup final to look forward to for Bonnyrigg in another cup already they must be on a high like the BU specially since they also won the Conference Round Robin play off which featured Penicuik and Broxburn. The only down side for today’s hosts is they through promotion to the Lowland League was secured and it should have been only for them to be denied access due to not having and SFA licence. I’m sure many feel sorry for Bonnyrigg however given that they done everything right in applying and paying the subsequent fee only to be told the criteria had moved and they required floodlights. With it being moved so late on Bonnyrigg have of course and rightly appealed so we await the outcome of that but it may mean should they loose Bonnyrigg could be playing alongside us again in the league next season. For the BU the sole focus is on today and keeping the cup run going, if we win it’s a semi final this coming Friday if we loose its season over.

Into today’s game and it was the home side that got us underway. Hunter had to clear a ball out the box as it came in from the left and his clearance found MacKenzie who was fouled on the half way line as both teams looked to start well. The home side were awarded a free kick outside the box when it was a good tackle from Jacobs thankfully the danger was cleared by Hunter. Murphy in the BU goal made a good save from a close range shot and the visitors had a header over the bar from a corner. Forward again came the BU this time with good passing along the deck and eventually got a corner. This came to nothing as the ball didn’t beat the 1st man in defence at the near post. It was then the home sides turn as Murphy was quick off his line to clear a good chance followed by a ball laid off and hit from the edge of the box that went over the bar. The visitors had another chance with a free kick but again the delivery didn’t beat the 1st man in defence as some of the passing was starting to become poor. On 23 minutes the 1st booking came and it was for the home side as Murphy raced off his line to clear the ball and was cynically brought down. A great chance fell to the visitors on 27 minutes as a fantastic ball into the box found Morgan with a free header that he somehow put well wide of the post. Straight up to the other end and the opening goal came. A simple ball in from a corner wasn’t properly defended and a simple pass into the net made it Bonnyrigg 1 - 0 BU. The visitors tried to get right back in the game but slack passing was costing us going forward. A chance to get a good ball in the box came however as a free kick was awarded not far outside the box. Morgan swung in s good delivery this time but it was cleared for a throw in. From the throw a good pass was played followed by a great ball into the box, up went Morgan and got a head on it but yet again another great chance went wide of the post. Straight up the other end and a free kick was awarded that was never a free kick to the home side. From previous decision the home side were getting in the referees back and it looked like he pressure told as a player hit the deck and got a free kick for nothing. Worse than that the free kick was delivered and a shot went into the corner of the net from it making it Bonnyrigg 2 - 0 BU. Forward came the BU and a shot from Donnelly went just over the bar. Another free kick for the visitors on the edge of the box should have seen a red card for the home side as the same player that got a yellow for a similar offence earlier got off without even a taking too. It appeared again the referee was influenced by the home side. Anyways on with the game and the free kick was back off the defensive wall but the back jnto the box that followed found MacKenzie who scored and pulled a goal back for the BU. Bonnyrigg 2 - 1 BU.
That was to be the last action of the half as it ended Bonnyrigg 2 - 1 BU.

Into the 2nd half and it was the home side with the 1st chance as they got a free kick outside the box. In it came and was defended for a corner. As the corner was swung in it was hard to say whether it came off anyone or went directly into the net but either way it was goal making if Bonnyrigg 3 - 1 BU. A chance for the visitors straight after they kicked off then went over the bar. The visitors tried to get forward and were awarded a free kick for another cynical foul this time on the half way line, unbelievably again the referee kept his cards in his pocket. A ball into the box found hunter with a header but the he keeper saved. 23 minutes into the half and it looked like game over as the home side got forward and a good strike made it Bonnyrigg 4 - 1 BU. The visitors weren’t for giving up as they came forward again but the final pass failed to find a man which then led to Murphy being alert to clear after a quick counter attack. BU Gaffer Max Christie made a change as Morgan was replaced by Wright with 17 minutes remaining. Good play earner the BU a corner and the delivery was good but cleared by the Bonnyrigg defence. The home side played the ball out but again the visitors won it and came back at them. With 6 minutes to go however it looked like the BU had given up as a ball was played into the box and Hunter stepped over the ball rather than clear it leaving a simple tap in to make it 5-1 to the home side. As the minutes ticked down the home side tried to keep possession running the clock down and the Katz action was to be a free kick for them on the right wing. They swung the ball into the box and it was headed clear by Syme but the home side regained possession on the half way line. The visitors were to have the final shot on goal but it was over the bar from a good distance outside the box.
Full time Bonnyrigg 5 - 1 BU.

As this is the last game of the season with the result for the BU it has to be said the new management has been a breath of fresh air to the BU with a 17 game unbeaten run that started after a 5-1 defeat so for the BU let’s be positive going into next season. That’s all for this season back in the new one with more match reports.