East Kilbride 1-0 Bo'ness United

This week's "Fanview" report submitted by BRIAN COPELAND!

Lowland League Match day 7
East Kilbride v Bo’ness United
Saturday 14/08/21. KO 15:00
K Park Training Academy, East Kilbride.

Bo’ness Team :
Murphy (Gk). Stevenson, Skinner, Hunter (C) Macauley, Grant, Comrie, McMullan, McKenzie, Galbraith, Miller.
Subs : Hawkins, Gillespie, Anderson, Flynn, Allan.

After a shaky start of two defeats and a draw the BU got the season off and running with 2 resounding wins, both away from home, before another defeat to Celtic B last time out where for the most part Bo’ness held their own, the turning point of the game coming late on when the fitness levels of a professional side and being down to ten men went against us.
It’s another away trip this time to what is classed as one of the Lowland Leagues big teams. There will be a good away support again today for the visitors as there always is and of course a mention to the Bo’ness United Supporters Club who are finally back on the road today taking a bus load of fans to the game.
It will be a tough encounter but as always Max and his backroom staff I’m sure will have the players well prepared and know what to expect.

Into the game then and the home side got us underway. An early opportunity was well blocked on the edge of the box by the visitors as both sides tried to settle into the match. A silly foul given away around 30 yards out also earned Tom Grant a booking. It was a direct hit which was on target and Murphy had to get down well to save. Nine minutes in and the opening goal came in what can only be described as unbelievable circumstances two East Kilbride players looked to be well offside and the official failed to raise his flag and allow play to continue, over came the ball back off the post and left and empty net and a tap in to make it East Kilbride 1 - 0 BU much to the dismay of the large travelling support, players and staff of the visitors. Twenty minutes gone and the home side seemed to be enjoying most of the game passing the ball about well and dominating the possession. The only chance of note for the visitors was a shot from wide right by Miller that worked the home keeper. An early change for the visitors saw Comrie replaced by Allan in midfield. Once again the officials were centre of attention this time the referee as a crunching tackle flew in from the home side, yes a foul was awarded but no card shown when it certainly warranted one specially given the soft nature of the Bo’ness yellow early on for Grant. Right on the half hour and the ball was won fairly on the edge of the box in the eyes of the referee it was a foul and yet another unfair booking against the visitors. The free kick was hit and only a really good stop by Murphy kept the score at 1-0. Quickly to the other end and the vistors who seemed to be struggling to hold onto the ball got a chance as Miller broke into the box he had a shot but it was way too high and wide not coming close to the target. A corner was sent in from the visitors initially looking poor but a flick on at the near post saw it deceive everyone and land perfectly for Skinner he hit it hard towards goal but too many bodies in the way blocked it before the line. The home side cleared and started a counter with a long ball again sent up towards an offside player again missed by the stand side linesman. The visitors were struggling to get any sort of grip on the game not holding onto the ball long inviting pressure back onto themselves with the only look of getting forward was a hit and hope long ball towards Miller. The home side carved out another chance with a good diagonal ball followed by a cross into the box that was cleared by Skinner. Just a few minutes to half them and the home side side concise crisp quick passing were dominating this game and had done all half as the visitors still frustratingly struggled to pass the ball accurately and therefore struggled to keep hold of it inviting more pressure as Hunter this time had to head a ball away for a corner. Another yellow was flashed the visitors way for a tackle on the half way line.

A contrast in the team talks at half time I’m sure with home manager fairly satisfied with his teams efforts and the visiting qmanager more than likely with some harsh words for his players.

Half time East Kilbride 1 - 0 Bo’ness United.

Into the second half and the visitors got us going looking to get back into the game. The opening 10 minutes however were mostly like the 1st half with slack passes and a lot of the ball going backwards or given away. A free kick gave an opportunity to get the ball into the box but it was a poor delivery and cleared away this time only as far as 35 yards where once again a free kick was awarded. No card shown by the referee to the home side however which if it wasn’t a yellow for the challenge it was for persistent fouling. Anyways the game went on and once more frustration as the ball into the box was terrible specially with the visitors having everyone committed forward. A long ball was well got by Miller inside the box he connected with it well but just got slightly under it sending the ball up over the bar. Twenty minutes into the half and Anderson replaced McMullan as BU gaffer Max Christie made his second change. At the other end a ball into the box was cleared and initially the linesman said goal kick and the referee agreed until some appeals from the home side seemed to change his mind to a corner which thankfully came to nothing. The visitors burst forward quickly and got a free kick from over 30 yards out which this time left the referee no option but to produce a yellow card to the home side although he did take his time before going it. Anderson had a direct hit only for the ball to come back off the wall. Seventeen minutes left and the final sub came as McKenzie was replaced by Flynn. A long diagonal ball found Flynn out wide as the visitors still roared on by the support enjoyed their best spell of the game but still with only 12 minutes to play the score remained with home side a goal to the good. The home side got a free kick which they were on no hurry to take then a ball into the box gave Murphy a simple catch. Another no option yellow was shown to the home side after a crunching tackle on half way showed no intent on playing the ball and Miller was almost in for the visitors just being beaten to the 50/50 ball by the home keeper. A quick move back to front starting with Flynn to Grant who found Hunter and after side stepping his man found Grant again who played a long ball Anderson got on the end of it and played a dangerous ball low over the box that was cleared for a corner. Frustration from the players and fans followed however as the corner was taken poorly by Grant. The match ended in huge controversy, forward came the ball with everyone clearly on side it was cut back and knocked into the waiting net only for then the linesman to raise his flag. The referee looked and hesitated surely thinking like the players bench and fans all inside cut back tap in can’t be offside L, however he went with his assistant disallowing the equaliser and that was to be the last action of the game.

Full time East Kilbride 1 - 0 Bo’ness United.