Bo'ness United 3-2 Stirling Albion

Fanview courtesy of BRYAN COPELAND!

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Bo’ness United v Stirling Albion
Newtown Park, Bo’ness
Saturday 03/07/2021 KO 13:00

For the 1st time since March 2020 fans are finally back to see the BU in action.
With a season called early due to the pandemic, and the BU finishing mid table last year it can be classed as a successful opening season in the Lowland League.

Although fans were able to watch some games on live stream I’m sure everyone would agree it’s just not the same as being there cheering your team on.

With several friendlies already having to be postponed, today will be a great chance for the new faces in the squad to get some game time together before the new Lowland League season gets going two weeks today with an away trip to face Rangers B team who play at Dumbarton.
I’m sure the manager and players would have liked more pre season games and the postponements so far have not been ideal but Max and his staff will have done plenty preparation.

There’s many new faces came in at Newtown Park as well as ones going, be it to other clubs or retiring, and I’m sure all those players will be missed however for the current squad it’s heads down and prepare for a long season ahead.
Todays game will be looked forward to by many I’m sure and Stirling Albion will pose a good challenge.
All the best to Max his back room team and the squad for the season and let’s hope fans can get in to see all the matches.

Into today’s game then and the visitors got us underway kicking towards Fisons with the BU attacking the school end of the ground. The opening 10 mins was evenly shared possession wise with a good cross put over from the right and Murphy at full stretch almost getting fingertips to it before the ball was cleared. 12 minutes and Hunter replaced D.McCormack for the BU. A minute later and Miller won a penalty for the home side. He calmly converted slotting the ball low into the net past a helpless visiting keeper. BU 1 - 0 Stirling Albion. The visitors tried to strike back immediately with a quick run into the box but an alert home defence cleared any danger. Minutes later and forward came the visitors again with a low drive from just inside the box that went wide of Andy Murphy’s left hand post. Stirling Albion were now enjoying a good spell as another ball was flighted over the penalty area for the home defence to deal with. A free kick not far out side the box was well struck and curled towards the top corner with Andy Murphy making a good save to maintain the 1-0, tipping the ball away for a corner. A good header resulting from it had Murphy making another good save sending the ball for a second corner in a row, this time the header towards goal was wide and the ball went for a goal kick. A quick break from the home side saw a low drive go just wide of the left hand post on 34 minutes before an effort was cleared off the line at the other end moments later. A very good shot from the visitors crashed against the crossbar with five minutes to half time and I think it would be fair to say that even though the home side were 1-0 up the visitors have had the best of the game so far. A low drive into the side netting from the visitors, a free kick crossed into the box from the home side and Murphy was quick off his line to punch clear a cross into the box finished off the 1st half, Bo’ness United 1 - 0 Stirling Albion.

The home side got us back underway with the teams remaining the same so far. The home side started bright with a good cross from the left causing problems for the visiting defence, Miller almost got a shot away only a block stopping it just inside the box before a foul right on the edge gave the BU a free kick. Grant and Locke stood over the ball before Locke left it for Grant to hit, a brilliant strike came crashing back off the bar. A few minutes later and the good start to the half paid off with Miller netting his second of the afternoon BU 2 - 0 Stirling Albion. A free kick saw the visitors have a shot but it was well wide of the post. Comrie and McPherson came on for the BU as manger Max Christie made a double change with Hawkins & Herron going off. A very fast move forward with good link up play saw the visitors put a great ball over the box again and a shot come crashing off the underside of the bar. Another double change followed for the home side this time Stevenson & Anderson for McKenzie & Grant. The visitors then got a goal back a low ball across the 6 yard box from the left hand side was tapped in low to the corner BU 2 - 1 Stirling Albion. Minutes late the two goal difference was restored as a corner was sent to the back post for Hunter to rise above everyone and head the ball into the waiting net. BU 3 - 1 Stirling Albion. Another double change for the home side this time saw Miller & Locke replaced by (Trialist) and McMullen. A good block and clearance stopped the visitors next nice forward as a decent ball came across the box low from the right hand side. Murphy was quick off his line to knock the ball past an advancing forward before playing it away with a good pass. With only a few minutes left McPherson went back off after receiving some treatment and was replaced by McKenzie coming back on. The visitors tried to carve out a chance but Hunter saw the ball safely out for a goal kick as the game drew to a close. Into the dying moments and the visitors got a goal as the ball went straight through keeper Murphy and into the net. BU 3 - 2 Stirling Albion. From the restart Anderson had a chance to score a 4th for the home side and the ball was soon back at the other end with BU keeper Andy Murphy making a very good save to keep the lead for the home side.
Overall a good run out for both sides a good win in front of fans for the home side and a good game of football enjoyed by fans of both sides.

Full time Bo’ness United 3 - 2 Stirling Albion.