Bo'ness United 4-1 Burntisland Shipyard

Fanview report submitted by BRYAN COPELAND, thanks Bryan.

A break from league duties for this cup tie today sees the BU face a team that they have played in the past with both sides being in the conference league together before Bo’ness progressed to the EOS Premier league, then by winning that gained promotion the Lowland League where we are now.
While the league run remains unbeaten I’m sure a cup run will have been thought about as well and this is the 1st opportunity to start that off. Winning will also keep the momentum with more league games to come beginning again this midweek.

Into today’s match then and it was the home side that got the match underway attacking the goal at the Kinneil school end of the ground. It was an even start with both sides having their fair share of the ball but none of the keepers were worked early on. The first opportunity of the match came as the visitors rolled a ball across the 18 yard line. As play developed the visitors had a man down and once the move had fizzed out the ball was put out of play to allow treatment to be given. At end other end a good diagonal ball allowed a cross into the box and a shot from a tight angle at the front post was blocked for a corner. The home side had a decent drive from the edge of the box blocked and as the visitors played the ball out with good passing the final ball towards the box saw them caught offside. Play was then spread to both ends as 1st the home side had a shot blocked then at the opposite end a shot went well off target. From the resulting goal kick a header was well won and the ball played out to the left, a cross was sent into the box and a decent shot blocked near the line with a resulting shot from the block by Kyle Bell crashing off the cross bar.
The visitors were still as much in the game as the home side however and quick passing through the centre saw the BU defence already and a brilliant interception made. The home side were awarded a free kick which led to a corner and it was quickly cleared and a soon the ball was sent for a corner at the other end. As the home side broke clear with Grant through the centre he was brought down and a yellow card produced by the referee. A long ball forward was defended for a corner by the visitors and a long diagonal ball saw a threat at the other end. Moments later the BU defence were doing well again defending a good ball across the box twice in succession. A mistake in possession on half way allowed the visitors to gather the ball and make a run into the box finishing with a low shot on goal. A fairly even opening 32 minutes saw the scoreline remain 0-0. Adamson in the BU goal then produced a great save tipping the ball round his post for a corner. A major chance was given to the visitors as they were awarded a penalty. In fairness it was poorly struck and Adamson got down well to make a save. Anderson crossed in a free kick that was headed clear before Comrie saw a yellow card from the referee. Into stoppage time at the end of the half and it looked like an even 1st half was finishing even but the last action saw a ball forward picked up by Brian Ritchie just inside the box, he took a touch then fired the ball into the net. Half time Bo’ness 1 - 0 Burntisland Shipyard.

Into the 2nd half and there was no changes by either manager at half time as the visitors got us back underway. It only took minutes for a change to come and it was home manager Max Christie who replaced Wharton with Snowdon. Stevenson went down inside the area but BU appeals were waved away. 11 minutes in and a BU corner came to nothing as the visitors wasted no time getting up to the other end a long searching cross caught out the home defence and although Jacobs almost got the ball off the line in it went from the equaliser.
The home side tried to bounce straight back and good link up play between Bell and Anderson through the centre saw Anderson play a pass to Jacobs allowing him to cut inside and cross with a resulting header saved by the Burntisland keeper. A 2nd home sub saw Gemmel replace Grant. Anderson had a direct hit towards goal but the ball was blocked by the defensive wall from a free hit a decent shot from the edge of the box that called the visiting keeper into action. 32 minutes into the half and it was a double for Ritchie to put the home side back in front. Bell played a through ball which Ritchie got on the end of and lashed a shot into the top corner. BU 2 - 1 Burntisland. A few minutes later and the visitors were crossing into the box again with a low shot defended for a corner. The corner was swung in and a header caught the top of the cross bar. Into the final 5 mins and no one would probably have predicted an upcoming goal fest but it started with good play forward and from close in Brian Ritchie completed his hat trick. BU 3-1 Burntisland. Then with 2 minutes to go Bell hit a shot from the edge of the box past the visiting keeper to make it 4-1. The last action of the game was a free kick from distance hit by Anderson but the referee blew for full time the minute the ball left his boot.

Full time Bo’ness 4 - 1 Burntisland Shipyard.