Match preview submitted by JOHN SPOWART!

University of Stirling, Lowland League, Forthbank Stadium, Wednesday 25 November 2020

Bo’ness United return to Lowland League action with a short trip to Forthbank Stadium to meet the University of Stirling. The university club have played in the Lowland Football League since 2013, finishing second in the table in that first season as well as winning the League Cup. In previous years they have been winners of the East of Scotland League, the Alex Jack, King, and South Challenge Cups. More recently the University of Stirling have generally finished around mid-table although have maintained success in the university tournaments, such as the Queen’s Park Shield and the British University Championship Sports Tournament. The university has many teams, including a side that plays in the East of Scotland League.
University of Stirling are currently eighth in the Lowland League table with thirteen points from nine games. They have lost three of their last five games but there was a creditable draw against Bonnyrigg Rose, and they won their last game played at Caledonian Braves. The University was idle on Saturday, having been drawn to play their South of Scotland Challenge Cup tie at Ardrossan Winton Rovers who had decided to withdraw from all competitions this season.
Bo’ness did have a South of Scotland Challenge Cup game on Saturday, winning at home to Burntisland Shipyard. The three-goal margin in the BUs favour would suggest a straightforward victory but that could not be further from the truth. It was only in the final fifteen minutes that Bo’ness pulled away and indeed the Fife side might have taken the lead after thirty minutes from the spot but BU keeper Ryan Adamson made a great save from Reece Brown’s effort. Burntisland had created other chances but it was Bo’ness that went ahead just before the break when Brian Ritchie scored the first of his three goals. Ten minutes into the second half Bridgeford struck to bring Burntisland back into the game and for a while the tie could have gone either way, until the final part of the game when Ritchie completed his hat trick, while Kyle Bell fired home the clincher just before the whistle. A tough game for the BUs who will just be glad to get through to the next round.

Unfortunately, there will be no live stream for this game and the BU Faithfull must depend on social media for the updates.

Bo’ness don’t have a match on Saturday and can fully focus on this midweek fixture, yet again, a difficult contest in prospect where only a top performance will bring the reward.

John Spowart
23 November 2020