Bonnyrigg 0-0 Bo'ness United

Match report kindly provided by BRYAN COPELAND

Firstly can I say I am delighted and honoured to be back as Official Match Reporter for the coming season, following on from last season so thanks to Kev & the committee for asking me to continue my duties.
Tonight will be my 1st look at the BU due to previous cancelled friendlies and holiday. From what I have heard and read however it sounds as though the team are shaping up well and are confident ahead of the season starting this coming Saturday.
Tonight will prove a good test even though it is only a friendly match with Bonnyrigg runaway winners of our conference last season they also followed it up with a win in the playoffs and rightly in the end earned their place in the lowland league following appeals to the SFA so congratulations and all the best for the coming season to tonight’s opponents.
It’s well known that due to work ongoing at Newtown park all friendlies for the BU have had to played away from home as will most games at the start of the season up until the park is ready excluding of course the cup ties we have which depending on fixtures elsewhere may have to be reversed to our opponents grounds or played at Carmuirs Park home of Camelon Juniors like our home games were towards the end of last season.
Finally before we get into tonight’s game I would also like to take the opportunity to wish departing BU players all the best in their future careers, returning players a big welcome back and new signings also a big welcome to the club. Lastly all the best for the season to Max Christie his coaching staff and backroom team, all the players, fans and committee and eveyone associated with the BU a happy and successful season. Mon the BU!!!

Into tonight’s game then and it was taken in by a decent crowd from both sides on an absolutely glorious night of sunshine and warmth. The visitors looked bright early on with a couple of decent through balls giving the home keeper and defence some work to do. The home side were then on the front foot with A good ball into the other box finding a man and the shot stung the gloves of Murphy as he made a really good stop from close range. Seconds later and Murphy made another brilliant save this time a deflected shot saw him reach up and palm the ball to safety. Hunter was then involved at both ends 1stly reading a pass perfectly to be tight on his man and win it back on the edge of the BU box then moments later he got his head on a corner for the BU putting the ball wide of the home keepers post. The home side were looking quick at breaking out from the back and within 4 one touch passes the ball was with the home striker McGachie who hit a shot 1st time only to see the ball come crashing back off the cross bar. The opening 20 minutes saw the home side looking the better with sharper passes and the best if the chances in front of goal so far. Another was soon to come for them as a corner was swung in from the far side only for the resulting header to put the ball well over Murphy’s cross bar. BU Gaffer Max Christie then looked to have changed the formation to go to 3 at the back but there was more defending to be done by the visitors as yet another ball came across the box and had to be dealt with sending the ball for a corner. The ball was played into the middle and after being initially cleared a looping shot from the edge of the box was saved by Murphy. The visitors then got forward and a cracking shot from Jacobs went just wide of the post. Jacobs lost the ball after a good pass out from Murphy but done well to recover and win it back before doing the same thing again moments later but this time conceded a free kick before being rather harshly booked. The home side has an eye on goal again with now 5 minutes of the half to go as a shot went wide of the post from the edge of the box. Right on half time and Hunter saw a yellow card for booting the ball away in frustration at the referees decision to award a free kick to the home side. Murphy was called into action to save again before the half ended
Bonnyrigg 0 - 0 BU.

Into the 2nd half and before we got underway BU Gaffer Max Christie made a trio of changes with Hewitt, Grant & Keast were replaced by Campbell, Stevenson & McKenzie. The visitors started brightly as they had in the 1st half creating a couple of early chances the 2nd seeing a shot to wide of the post. Murphy was soon busy again at the other end as he made another really good save followed by a routine collection of a ball into the box minutes later. Using all available subs BU Gaffer Max Christie made a further 2 changes as Gemmil & Donnelly were replaced by the two trialists. The home side were then reduced to 10 men for the final 25 minutes after the referee produced a 2nd yellow after a found followed by so words spoken between both payer and ref it would appear. Nimmo done well winning the ball high up the pitch before his pass was cleared only as far as hunter who swung in a good cross that was headed towards goal, the home keeper was alert and saved well towards the top corner of his goals. A great chance came the way of the visitors as a ball was played across the box, Stevenson was there and more than like had time to take a touch but he took the shot on 1st time on the volley and the ball went spectacularly high and wide. As the home side played the ball out from the back Hunter as ever looked assured to head it clear and when I came back his defensive partner Campbell won it well before beating his man to play the ball forward to Nimmo. The visitors held possession with sharp passing in their own half before a long ball forward was cut out before it reached McKenzie. A good ball forward from Hunter found Simpson who made a great run into the box to get on the end of it, the shot that followed went wide of the post. With minutes remaking another chance came the way of the visitors as they were awarded a free kick outside the box unfortunately the resulting ball was simple for the home keeper to gather. A final ball into the box from the visitors as gathered by the home keeper before the referee ended the match Bonnyrigg 0 - 0 BU.