Bo'ness United 2-1 Berwick Rangers

Match report, and a fan view report from Bryan Copeland below!

Bo’ness recorded another victory to continue their promising start to life in the Lowland League.

Berwick Rangers were the visitors to Newtown Park and there were familiar figures in the visiting party in the shape of former assistant manager Kevin Haynes, and forward Calum Smith who had a single season at the club. Bo’ness had a few regular starters missing through injury and suspension, however there were returns to the starting eleven for Kieran Anderson, Andy Murphy, Chris Donnelly and Stuart McFarlane.

Berwick made a quick start and were on top in the early stages and although they had a flurry of shots, these were largely blocked well by the Bo’ness defence. In the 8th minute United tested Berwick goalkeeper Peter Horne who had to come off his line quickly to deny Tom Grant who had raced onto a clever Ryan Stevenson free-kick. It was the home side who take the lead from the penalty spot in the 29th minute. Ross Campbell was barged in the box as he looked to get on the end of a Grant cross, with the defender Forster taking a sore one to the head in conceding the foul. After a lengthy delay for treatment Stevenson stepped up and sent Horne the wrong way to open the scoring. Not a lot of goalmouth action to report afterwards although Berwick did threaten shortly before the interval, firstly Devon Jacobs had to make a good last-ditch tackle to take the ball from the feet of Calum Smith as he was about to pull the trigger on a shot, then BU keeper Andy Murphy was called into action to save a Grant Nelson strike after good hold up play from Lewis Allan.

Into the second half and Berwick defender Craig Reid had to make a very good block to halt Nicky Locke and at the other end Murphy did well to save from Euan Smith from a Sam Daniel corner-kick. In the 59th minute United doubled their lead with a fine goal. Jacobs nicked the ball to win possession in the middle of the park, Chris Donnelly and Tom Grant then exchanged passes with the latter finding the run of Kieran Anderson with a nicely weighted through ball, Anderson was composed and lashed the ball past Horne from the edge of the box. Locke came close to ending the game as a contest but his left foot effort drifted just wide. With 13 minutes remaining the visitors got on the scoresheet themselves to set up a nervy ending, substitute Daniel Purves raced onto Allan’s flick-on from Horne’s punt up the park to slot the ball past Murphy. Anderson almost grabbed his second with a minute remaining, but his left foot strike was wide of goal.

Full time and a good result for United.

And don't forget the view from an armchair, the United Club report by BRYAN COPELAND! ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Match report
Lowland league Match day 7
Bo’ness United v Berwick Rangers
Newtown Park, Bo’ness
Saturday 08/11/21. KO 15:00

With the BU on a great run still unbeaten with 4 wins and a draw so far in the league campaign it was disappointing that last weekends trip to Dalbeattie Star was postponed due to the weather following heavy rain fall which deemed the pitch unplayable.

Today ex SPFL side Berwick Rangers visit Newtown park with the BU looking to keep the good run going.
It will be a tough test today playing such an established side but the home team can enter the match in high spirits and great confidence with the manager already saying he is always looking to play attractive attacking football in every game.

With still no fans allowed again the report is being done from viewing the fantastic live stream which is a credit to the club for setting up to allow the faithful BU support to still see their team play. Also credit to Fanbase for the organisation of tickets to view the steam, and to Sanctus media for providing the service. All streams have been excellent so far and there is no reason why today should be any different.

Into the match then and the visitors got us underway after a minutes silence for Remembrance Day. The BU were attacking the goal towards the Fisons end of the ground. Berwick had a free kick which was crossed into the box and a shot on goal was blocked by the BU defence. The ball rolled out for a throw in and the visitors had a shot from it headed clear. The BU then got forward themselves and a cross into the box was headed out wide by the Berwick defence only to be returned in well by the home side and cleared once again. Really good cross field passing by the BU led to a good ball down the wing that was intercepted before it could be crossed. A free kick from the BU was rolled into the box and a shot blocked by the quick actions of the visiting keeper who was out his goal and down quickly to gather the ball. Another free kick from the BU from their own half was played long to Anderson who tried to get on the end of it but it was just too long. Gemmell played a great ball out wide to Locke who fizzed it over the box. Another long ball saw Anderson give chase again only to be just beaten by good defending to clear the ball. Berwick then had a good run forward through the middle of the park and good pass out wide allowed a cross which was well gathered by Murphy. Jacobs had a long throw into the box headed clear before a good play by Anderson saw him obstructed near the box with the referee awarding a free kick. It was curled into the bud by Grant then punched clear by the visiting keeper at the back post. Bo’ness got a throw in which was taken quickly by Grant to Locke who gave him it back allowing a great cross into the box. This drew a foul leaving the match referee to point to the spot. There was a delay while a visiting player received treatment but it made no difference to Ryan Stevenson as come the time he stepped up and confidently put the ball on the spot before sending it past the keeper and into the net 1-0 BU. After the restart Berwick had a ball into the box but it was poor and went out for a goal kick. Another chance for the visitors to get the ball forward saw a long pass sent but it was mis controlled and slipped away for a goal kick. The final actions of the half was a corner to the visitors but the ball in didn’t beat the 1st man in defence for the BU and it was headed clear, as it fell on the edge of the box a shot was sent towards Murphy from distance but it was a comfortable save.

Half time Bo’ness 1 - 0 Berwick.

Into the 2nd half and Berwick saw a low cross cleared. A quick break minutes later again from the home side saw some great passing that led to the ball being cleared for a throw in. It was taken long into the box but gathered by the Berwick keeper. The ball was played out quickly and the counter attack led to a Berwick corner. It was headed away as it came into the box and Grant played a brilliant through ball perfectly timed for Kieran Anderson to latch onto and head into the box 1 on 1 with the Berwick keeper. Anderson paused and made no mistake smashing the ball into the net. BU 2 - 0 Berwick just before the hour mark. The home side still kept coming forward and Gemmell did well to find Locke who was fouled but got nothing as the referee waved play on. Forward then came the visitors but calm, no panic defending saw the ball cleared on the edge of the box. Again minutes later calm defending saw Berwick’s play down the right not even result in a cross coming into the box. The home side got a free kick mid way inside the visitors half and sent the ball long to the box only for it to be gathered by the keeper. Berwick played it out quickly with a good run forward followed by a pass out wide and a cross into the box which in the end was very well defended. A BU free kick was played right across the field from wing to wing then forward to Locke who had a great run up the left cut inside to the box and played the ball across but it was well blocked. The visitors then got hope with a goal back after a very quick counter attack to make it BU 2 - 1 Berwick. Anderson did well for the home side out wide right and crossed the ball only for a header to go well over the bar. Berwick came forward again but Snowdon was on the edge of the box to intercept and calmly head the ball back to Murphy. At the other end the visiting keeper took the ball from the feet of Anderson. A late substitution by manager Max Christie saw Donnelly replaced by Ritchie. Berwick worked the ball forward but again the BU defence stood firm and done a great job clearing the ball up field. A final ball forward from Berwick was gathered by Murphy and he got the last kick of the ball as he sent it forward the referee blew for full time.

Bo’ness 2 - 1 Berwick - Full time.

Another great result for the BU and the unbeaten run continues.