Berwick Rangers 0-1 Bo'ness United

"Fan View" Match Report submitted by BRYAN COPELAND!

Lowland League Match day 11
Berwick Rangers v Bo’ness United
Tuesday 31/08/2021 KO 19:45
Shielfield Park, Berwick

Bo’ness Team :
Murphy (Gk). J. McCormack, Skinner, Macauley, Stevenson. Gemmell (C), Comrie, Wilson, Hawkins, Galbraith, Miller.

Subs : Allan, Anderson, Flynn, Trialist.

With a trip to Gretna only completed three days ago it’s another long distance travel for the BU as we travel to Berwick this evening and if the result is the same as Saturday I’m sure the journey home won’t be so bad with another three points.
Hopefully the win on Saturday will give renewed confidence to the squad and I’m sure no one will want to lose the winning feeling specially with games coming thick and fast. After this one tonight it’s a home match against local rivals East Stirlingshire on Saturday followed by another trip to Gretna this time for a cup tie and only a week after that it’s all the way north to Wick for the Scottish Cup Round 1.

With this being a midweek game and a good distance away we can only hope there is a good pool of players available to the Gaffer and whoever plays we know will give it 110% for the full 90 minutes.

Into the match then and the visitors got us underway kicking from left to right as I look from the stand side of the ground. The visitors got the first opportunity with a free kick just outside the box in the centre of goal, however the wall done it’s job and blocked the effort. At the other end a promising move forward ended with a poor pass inside that was intercepted before from just past half way a lovely looking diagonal ball was unlucky not to find Miller on the edge of the visitors box. Murphy was called into action at the other end as the ball was played forward and took an awkward bounce almost landing nicely for shot but for Murphy to be quick off his line and block with the ball rebounding to McCormack who cleared it. A really good corner was floated into the six yard box and as it was headed out Gemmel had a go on the half volley and although he caught it well his effort went high and wide. After the initial five minute pressure from the home side the visitors were now finding their feet and once again came close, firstly the home keeper making a decent save then an effort just past the post moments later. A through ball looked to have handed Miller the opening goal on a plate as he found him self one on one with the keeper he tried to pick his spot low in the corner but just didn’t connect with the ball and a very thankful home keeper could make the save. From the resulting corner the ball was cleared and when it landed out wide left a decent effort landed on the top of the net as once again Bo’ness came close to breaking the deadlock. The home side did give their defence a breather as a driving run forward to the edge of the box saw a shot dragged wide as it went low past Murphy’s right hand post. Good play once again from Bo’ness saw them play some good football across the box and spaces did open up for a shot a couple of times however the ball ended up out wide and crossed into the area on for it to then be cleared. A quick break had Skinner alert at the back to block a cross from the right and good play from Gemmell ato Galbraith saw him pick a pass back into the attacking third, shouts of shoot once again as the ball was near the edge of the box but again it was played out wide and the cross in from the right hand side cleared. Four minutes to half time and Comrie saw a yellow card from the match referee as he was late with a tackle on half way. A shot from distance went high over Murphy's crossbar before a free kick on the right handed the visitors another chance to send a ball into the box. The delivery was brilliant and it fell to Miller between the penalty spot and six yard box unfortunately although he got power into his header he couldn’t direct it on target. Right on half time and the home side found themselves down to ten, men an absolutely shocking tackle on Gemmell gave the referee no option but to reach for his pocket and produce a red card. Thankfully after a couple of minutes Gemmell was back on his feet and able to continue. A minute or two added and the half ended PlBerwick Rangers 0 - 0 Bo’ness United.

Into the 2nd half and the 361 spectators settled in (thanks to Berwick’s half time tannoy announcement for the crowd number) Bo’ness had a chance down the right that was blocked before it made the box and at the other end Murphy was off his line quickly to easily gather the ball on the edge of the box. A high ball froward was perfect for Miller to run onto and as he approached the box he was brought down in what should have been a foul however the referee waved play on and Berwick could consider themselves fortunate not to be down to nine men as it was a last man foul they got away with. Bo’ness were enjoining long spells of sustained possession, the only thing lacking was shots on goal and working the home keeper on balance so far the visitors deserved to be in front after the good play and possession but as the hour mark passed the score remained 0-0. Stevenson swung a good corner in low to the six yard box before Galbraith won the ball well and made a driving run into the box only for his shot to go narrowly wide of the post. A great ball over the top almost found Miller who had timed his run really well as the Bo’ness team must have been wondering like the fans watching on how they weren’t ahead after dominating so much of the game. Hawkins swung a good cross in from the right that was headed clear before Comrie did really well to keep the ball out on the touch line stopping any counter attack from Berwick. A low drive from distance by Comrie went wide of the keeper’s right hand post and minutes later Miller sent a great cross over the six vyard box only for the home keeper to do really well and gather the ball. 17 minutes remaining and Bo’ness gaffer Max Christie went to his bench as Stevenson was replaced by Anderson. Gemmell linked up well with Galbraith as once again the visitors came forward and as the home defence cleared for a throw a secondq change saw Gemmell replaced by Flynn. Anderson thought about a shot but as he just wasn’t quite set for it he sent the ball wide and the cross into the box saw the hole side clear for a corner. Galbraith put a great delivery over into the six yard box and the home keeper was scrambling to his back box to make a save with 9 minutes remaining. Galbraith skipped a bad challenge to keep going forward and played the ball to Flynn who almost fed Hawkins down the right hand side but there was just too much on it as the ball rolled away. In fairness to the referee it was a good advantage played and he then returned to book the offender at the break in play. Finally with five minutes remaining the deadlock was broken and the visitors persistence paid off. Galbraith delivered a stunner of a corner and as the ball bobbled in the six yard area McCormack sent it into the back of the net all be it off a home defender. McCormack goal or OG the jury’s still out but either way Berwick 0 - 1 Bo’ness. Another tackle flew in this time wide left and another yellow went the way of Berwick before the free kick was cleared inside the box. The visitors were looking after the ball well after taking the lead as the match went into whatever time the referee wanted to add on. Anderson drove forward from his own half keeping the ball well away from where Berwick wanted it to be and controlled passing and possession ensures another happy long trip home for the BU fans. It didn’t stop Berwick getting one final opportunity as the ball was defended for a corner. The ball went for a goal kick and after three minutes added on by the referee he finally blew the full time whistle.

Berwick Rangers 0 - 1 Bo’ness United.