Cumbernauld Colts 4-1 Bo'ness United

"Fanview" Match Report submitted by BRYAN COPELAND!

Lowland League Match Day 15
Cumbernauld Colts v Bo’ness United
Saturday 10/10/2021. KO 15:00.
Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld.

Bo’ness Team :
Murphy (Gk). J. McCormack, Skinner, Hawkins, Macauley. Galbraith, Gemmell (C), Jacobs, Locke, Anderson, Wilson.
Subs : Mitchell, Stevenson, Johnston, Hunter, Trialist

Another win going into this one for the BU as they edged out a narrow 1-0 victory at home to Broomhill just a few days ago soaking up pressure from the visitors after taking a 1st half lead from a Kieran Anderson free kick. Much as the vistors seen a lot of the ball Murphy was kept fairly quiet, however when it counted he was there making a good stop in the 1st half and an absolutely outstanding save with the last touch of the game from a point blank range header that looked to be going into the back of his net. Cumbernauld however will be confident also winning 4-1 against Rangers B also a few days ago. Injuries and suspensions have plagued the BU squad recently and an addition in youngster Kyle Johnston on loan from Stirling Albion until the end of the year and the bench was also made up with a returning familiar face Darren Gribben as a Trialist in the last couple of games.
It’s been a good run recently for the BU and we can have every confidence going into this game that we can head home with something from it so long as the performances are the same as they have been in recent games home and away. And the suspensions are thankfully ending to give Gaffer Max a bigger pool of players to choose from and with injuries also hopefully coming to an end the only long term absentee will be Zander Miller after his horrific injury which hopefully after surgery he can recover from and we will see him back in action at some point. A very unfortunate and tough blow not only for the club but for Zander himself as he was the top goal scorer before the injury occurred and on the form he was showing there was no reason why he couldn’t have still been at the top of the scoring charts come the end of the season. Thankfully in Zanders absence other forward players such as Wilson and Anderson have provided goals with others also chipping in with some absolute screamers it must be said to keep the goals coming and as we all know you can’t win football matches without scoring goals.

Into today’s game then and as per usual the large visiting support was out in numbers to support the BU shouting encouragement from the stand. Both sides enjoyed some of the ball in the opening 10 minutes with the only thing of note Murphy coming off his line to smother a through ball. Galbraith played a ball forward to Anderson which he brought down well for a shot outside the box, it was blocked but came back to him and he had another go from the edge of the box which was also blocked well by the home defence. A free kick was struck from 25 yards or more by the home side which was a comfortable stop for Andy Murphy on 19 minutes. 23 minutes and a ball forward from the home side was picked up from what looked to be and offside position however as the fans appealed from the stand the ball went over Murphy and bounced into the net off the underside of the cross bar. The flag stayed down and the goal stood. Cumbernauld Colts 1 - 0 BU. A ball over the box from the right had the Colts keeper and defence scrambling as it dropped just beyond the far post, unfortunately it came off Anderson and went for a goal kick as he tried to bring it down for a shot. Just a minute later and the visitors were putting the pressure on again this time a block at the near post sent the ball for a corner on the far side. Jacobs played a brilliant ball from half way to the right of the box however Hawkins touch let him down as he got on the end of it and sent the ball for a goal kick. The linesman on the near side finally flagged Colts offside after 36 minutes much to the sarcastic cheers from the visiting support while at the other end another great long ball looked promising but once again was poorly controlled and possession given cheaply back to the home side. As they broke forward a blatant dive in no way deceived the referee and the Colts man was rightly booked for simulation with now just a few minutes of the half remaining. McCormack played a good pass to Galbraith who was quickly moving forward over half way before being brutally hacked down bringing out another yellow card for the home side. Into added time and a corner game the visitors a final chance to get the ball into the box, a brilliant cross had to be picked clear by the home keeper.

Half time Cumbernauld Colts 1 - 0 Bo’ness United.

Into the 2nd half and before the home side got us back underway a change for the BU saw Johnston replace Macauley. Straight from the kick off the same offender that picked up yellow for his late tackle was at it again, the referee awarded the free kick but neglected to show a 2nd yellow card. A good ball into the box almost fell for a shot however a last minute deflection took it it away as the visitors stared the half very well. Galbraith did well winning the ball in midfield and skipping past two players before before being brought down for a free kick. Anderson chipped it into the box but the home defence reacted 1st to clear. 14 minutes into the 2nd half and the better side so far found themselves 2 down as a free kick was awarded on the edge of the box for hand ball. It was slipped across and slotted into the net. Colts 2 - 0 BU. Before the visitors restarted a 2nd change saw Stevenson replace Gemmell. A good ball forward over the top found Wilson who let it bounce in front of him and with the home keeper advancing he calmly lifted the ball over him and watched it bounce into the back of the net. Colts 2 - 1 BU. Unfortunately the resulting accidental collision between Wilson and the home keeper saw them both unfit to continue as they were both helped off the pitch. This saw the home side make a change to bring on their sub keeper and Bo’ness gaffer Max Christie make his final change as Darren Gribben listed as a trialist made another return to the the BU. He was into the action straight away and played a clever and brilliant flick to allowed the ball to come over the box, Stevenson was advancing and possibly should have got on the end of it for a tap but the ball went past him. Straight to the other end and Murphy made a really good stop from close range. Locke won the ball wide right and played a cross field ball to Anderson who quickly advanced towards the box, he played a great ball across laying it on a plate for Stevenson who somehow shot wide of the target from around the penalty spot. Gribben picked the ball up wide right and played it infield to Anderson who tried to chip it into the box but the delivery this time was poor while at the other end as the home side tried to break forward Skinner made a brilliantly timed last ditch tackle to avert danger. Locke linked up with Gribben who’s quick thinking flicking the ball forward got the BU a corner and as the ball was cleared for a goal kick it was obvious to all inside the stadium and the home side there was only one side in the game and looking likely now as the home keeper took over two minutes to take a goal kick which was allowed by the referee, the most blatant time wasting you will ever see. 7 minutes to go and seeming to have taken the sting out the game the home side forced Murphy into a save low to his left hand side sending the ball for a corner. As the corner came in it was completely mishit by the home side for a goal kick but the referee awarded another corner with no help from his assistant, thankfully the ball in came to nothing. Hawkins done well down the right and almost got a good cross over but the ball went just over the line provoking the home keeper to once again take his time over goal kick and once again the referee to turn a blind eye. Hawkins played a good ball to Anderson who’s pass was intercepted then a bad day and an unfair day by all accounts was brought to a close for the BU when a long ball forward was crossed in and although Murphy blocked the initial shot a hand to control it allowed Colts to smash it into the net. The hand went unnoticed and it was Colts 3 - 1 BU on 90 minutes. The visitors took the restart quickly and with everyone forward left ourselves wide open at the back so the long ball was picked up played on an slotted into the net. Colts 4 - 1 BU. Galbraith curled a shot which was comfortable for the home keeper as the match went on into a 6th added minute. Full time Cumbernauld Colts 4 - 1 Bo’ness United.