Bo'ness United 2-1 Cumbernauld Colts

Bo’ness United began their maiden campaign in the Lowland League with a win after a gritty performance saw them overcome Cumbernauld Colts at Newtown Park. After a whopping break of 217 days between this and their previous competitive match way back in March, it was unsurprisingly an unfamiliar looking United side which took the field. Injuries, retirements and suspensions meant that options were extremely limited for Bo’ness manager Max Christie with three trialists getting called into the match squad. United almost got off to a dream start two minutes in when new recruit Nicky Locke crashed a header off the top of the bar. After this early chance the game settled down and it was largely an even half with both sides creating few clear cut chances, although the visitors did force two good saves out of Andy Murphy around the half hour mark, firstly turning a Craig Murray drive wide then from the resultant corner the goalie managed to claw away a Scott Davidson header.
Both sides had sight of goal early in the second half, former BU top scorer Marty Wright miscued his effort from 12 yards after good set up play from Billy Mortimer and at the other end Tom Grant did well to make space for a shot, however this was well watched and easily saved by Colts keeper Jonathan Grier. Bo’ness enjoyed a decent spell afterwards without really testing Grier, while Colts came close with headers on two occasions, efforts from Davidson and Wright drifting wide of the upright. In the 69th minute the deadlock was broken after a huge slice of good fortune helped the home side make the breakthrough. Luke Main clattered Michael Gemmell around 25 yards from goal and from the resultant free-kick, KIERAN ANDERSON found the back of the net after his strike took a deflection off the defensive wall and keeper Grier could only look on helplessly as it found the corner. A few minutes after this setback the visitors must have thought they had grabbed a quick equaliser when Billy Mortimer drove into the penalty area and put over a dangerous cross which found a teammate at the far post, a fierce drive was on target however a combination of Murphy and man-of-the match Ross Campbell managed to block the ball and clear the danger. Cameron Foy was proving to be a real dangerman aerially for the visitors and he was desperately unlucky to send a free header wide of goal after finding space again in the penalty area. With an equaliser looking the likeliest event, Bo’ness stunned the Colts when they extended their lead with 10 minutes remaining. If the BU’s had had luck on their side with the opener, there was nothing flukey about their second – a magnificent TOM GRANT strike from the edge of the penalty area which flew into the top corner of the net. Colts fought back immediately and the previously mentioned Foy again showed his power in the air, this time superbly directing a Stephen O’ Neill corner-kick into the top corner to half the deficit. Seconds later the visitors were once more on the attack and Murphy had to be at his very best to stop a Davidson effort finding the net. Colts pushed hard for a leveller afterwards however Bo’ness held out well for the remaining minutes and claimed all 3 points.

Max Christie spoke to website after the match and he hailed once more the spirit and determination that typifies his Bo'ness side. "It was a great result considering everything! We have had a terrible pre-season really, the first night back at training we had around twenty players there. Since then we’ve had two retirements, seven injuries and a suspension so we had only ten signed players fit today. We drafted Martin Lawrie in and he did very well. So we came into today and didn’t know what we were getting, what we saw again was what has made us so successful. To beat us you have to be good, our spirit and togetherness was fantastic above everything else and they are good players. That result today is right up there today for me, no outfield subs and Will Snowdon couldn’t run because his back had spasmed, he got through it which says a lot about the man to play so well. Will, Ross Campbell, everyone to a man were outstanding. It’s been a great day for me honestly, I loved it and it’s great to be back!".