Bo'ness United 1-2 Bonnyrigg

"Fan View" Match Report submitted by BRYAN COPELAND!

Lowland league Match day 9
Bo’ness United v Bonnyrigg Rose
Sat 21/08/21. KO 15:00
Newtown Park, Bo’ness

Bo’ness Team :
Murphy (Gk). Hawkins, Macauley McCormack Skinner. Comrie, Genmel, Galbraith. Grant Locke Miller.
Subs : Allen, Flynn, Hunter, McKenzie, McMullan, Anderson, Stevenson.

You could forgive the home fans for being rather sceptical about today’s game given that it’s against one of the Lowland League title favourites and what has always been a very good side.
The start of the season has been average results wise to say the least for Bo’ness with 8 games played 2 wins (Edinburgh Uni & Vale of Leithen) both away from home. A draw at home to Gala Fairydean and 5 defeats (Dalbeattie, Celtic B & Spartans all at home and Rangers B & East Kilbride away)
The last defeat came just three days ago and with games coming thick and fast it wasn’t a good one for the confidence and spirits of everyone as Bo’ness took a one goal lead in at half time, went two up just after the interval only to then loose to Spartans by 3 goals to 2.
Today however is another day and Michael Gemmell back in the starting line up is a positive but Stuart Hunter on the bench is a bit of a blow.
The usual large home support will be back as always however to cheer the team on and let’s hope for a positive result as it could just be the kick start we need for the rest of the season.

Into the first half and the referee got us underway with the home side taking the centre attacking the goal towards Fisons. The opening ten minutes was quiet for both keepers but on eleven minutes a good cross into the Bonnyrigg box saw the visiting keeper drop the ball, unfortunately for the home side it didn’t drop for a clear shot on goal but as the ball was deflected appeals for handball went up as it rolled away for a corner. The corner was a decent delivery to the back post but was cleared and as the ball was returned the linesman flagged for offside. A good ball down the left flank for Locke saw him step inside beating his man and curl a shot towards the back post which went just wide. At the other end Bonnyrigg played a quick move on the right and a flick on inside the box almost allowed a clear shot on goal but good defending saw the home side quickly on the counter attack with Locke bursting down the left, his cross looked to be easy for the keeper as he got down quickly but yet again an error saw him drop the ball this time he got away with it as it fell to his own defender who cleared it long towards the half way line. Moments later a ball flashed across the box looked dangerous from the visitors but came to nothing as it went out of play at the far post. Nicky Locke looked to be the danger man for Bo’ness as once again he was causing problems down the left this time a block before the ball made it to the keeper sent the ball for a corner. A good delivery went all the way over to the back post and this time the Rose keeper parried the ball over the bar for another corner. Gemmell then done well in his own half blocking a shot from distance then as the home side tried to break again through Locke he was brought down however no flag from the linesman and nothing done by the referee allowed play to continue much to the disagreement of the home side and fans. 33 minutes in and good defending twice in succession from McCornack saw him then combine with Comrie to get the ball away before a loose pass in midfield had the vistors coming forward again. A square ball across the 18 yard line then saw a shot but Macauley was there to block before the rebound was fired well wide. Forward down the right this time from the home side saw a free kick awarded for a synacle foul and it rightly brought out a yellow card. The deliver into the box was poor and the visitors were quickly on the counter and looking dangerous with a ball from the right hand side flashed over the 6 yard box, sliding down was McCormack however to make a block. The return ball was collected by Murphy but his poor pass meant the home side conceded a foul wide left in an ideal position for a good cross. The delivery was decent and landed between the penalty spot and the six yard box, up went the heads and unfortunately for the home side a free header was sent into the net. Bo’ness 0 - 1 Bonnyrigg, 39 minutes played. A well played first half from the home side saw them go in at the break trailing.

Bo‘ness 0 - 1 Bonnyrigg.

Into the second half and before we got underway Bonnyrigg made a change bringing on new signing Evans recently bought from Musselburgh. After bobbling around the home box the ball was cleared away up the left towards Locke who done really well cutting inside, help was slow to arrive and the ball was almost lost but Locke done really well holding into it and making a pass, the ball was then slid through towards the corner flag where a blatant push was ignored by the linesman and a goal kick awarded rather than a free kick which it should have been. A few minutes later and another good delivery into the visitors box had to be defended for a corner from which the delivery was poor. A good ball up field found Miller who had to try and go himself as there was no support up to help him he played a ball across and as it was sent back out it fell to Galbraith who done really well to get a corner. It was taken short then the ball crossed on and Macauley with an overhead kick was desperately unlucky at the back post as the ball just cleared the wrong side of the bar. All signs of encouragement for the home side who were playing well and could feel unfortunate to be behind. Also signs of encouragement for the home support now urging players to get up in support and the team to push forward. 20 minutes into the half and the home side had some defending to do as a ball was played across the box from wide right Macauley was on hand to block and the rebound that fell kindly to Bonnyrigg was hit well over the bar. There was then more encouragement for the home side as an excellent delivery from the right just didn’t drop in the right place and the ball was cleared as far as Grant who took it forward again and win himself a corner. As the ball broke out there was almost a shooting chance for Galbraith but as he was shut down Grant picked up the ball and tried to bend it from the edge of the box however the attempt went well wide. Hawkins took the ball to the corner flag and as he hit the ball across the box a very late 2 footed lunge brought him crashing to the ground. A red card in the eyes of the home side yellow in the eyes of the referee. The home side made their 1st change as Anderson replaced Gemmell. Just a few minutes later and now 75 minutes in Stevenson replaced Macauley for the home. 80 minutes played and a good performance so far looked to definitely come to nothing for the home side as a ball was rolled across the edge of the box no one in blue went towards the man and with loads of time and acres of space he picked his spot in the top corner beyond a helpless Andy Murphy, can only describe the goal as an excellent strike take nothing away from it but absolutely shocking defending allowing it to happen. Bo’ness 0 - 2 Bonnyrigg. Anderson saw a shot deflected away for a corner as the home side tried to find a goal from somewhere with now only 4 minutes of regulation time left. 3 minutes to go and as he broke into the box Locke was brought down leaving the referee no option but to point to the spot. Miller retrieved the ball and calmly placed in on the spot before sending it into the back of the net with a very well taken penalty, a lifeline perhaps for the home side with two minutes left. Miller was eager to get the game started again as he collected the ball from the net and sent it towards half way for the restart. A long ball into the box was brought down well on the chest by Miller but just as he went to take a shot from around 10 yards it was nicked away from him as we now entered whatever time the officials decide to add on. As the home side continued to push Skinner sent a long throw into the box which was cleared and saw Murphy having to play sweeper keeper as he rushed out towards half way to blast the ball back up field. Anderson tried a shot from outside the box that was easily taken by the Rose keeper when with plenty bodies in the box a cross may have been the better option. That was to be the last action as after three minutes added on the game finished Bo’ness 1 - 2 Bonnyrigg.

United Club Man of the Match today is Nick Locke.