Bo'ness United 1-0 Rangers B

'Fanview' Match Report submitted by BRYAN COPELAND!

Lowland league Match day 17
Bo’ness United v Rangers B
Saturday 06/11/21. KO : 15:00
Newtown Park, Bo’ness

Bo’ness Team :
Murphy (Gk). Jacobs Carstairs, Skinner, Gemmell, Nicol, Peggie, Locke, Galbraith, Wilson, Anderson.
Subs : Stevenson, Flynn, Hawkins, MacAuley, Johnston.

Some of you may notice there is no report for match day 16, this is because it was meant to be an away trip to Dalbeattie however with them drawing in the Scottish cup a replay took precedence meaning our match had to be postponed.

The last game for Bo’ness was away to Edinburgh City in the Scottish cup where we gave a great account of ourselves only to be beaten by a 30+ yard strike after taking the lead.

The last time these two sides met was the opening game of the season at Dumbarton where Rangers B play their home games and for over an hour it was an even game with Bo’ness more than holding their own against the full time professional outfit, fitness showed through in the end however and Rangers picked us off and scored a couple to run out winners.

With the BU however picking up form in recent games and having already giving a good account of themselves against Rangers and Celtic we can go into today’s game with confidence of taking something from it and with our ​new signings showing up well last time out BU manager Max Christie should have some welcome selection headaches with who starts the game and who sits on the bench ready to make an impact if called upon.

A big crowd in prospect, potentially the biggest of the season, is expected at Newtown Park which should make for a good atmosphere throughout the game.

Into the first half then and then and both sides started with a bit of possession in a fairly open first 10 minutes. Only thing to note was a shot from distance comfortably saved by the Rangers keeper before the wind which was rather strong blew a supporters cap off. A good move forward with a ball slid through towards Wilson set the home side on the attach before the move was broken down and Rangers quickly countered playing the ball forwards quick and sharp with Murphy getting down low to make routine stop. Good play on the left between Peggie and Locke allowed an opportunity to cross into the box but the cross was poor and never made it past the first man on the way in. A good move forward from Anderson then called the Rangers keeper into action but it was a routine simple stop with the ball straight at him. At the other end it looked like the opening goal before a really good block sent the ball for a corner. A free kick on the left from Galbraith was blocked as it went towards the box and as the ball broke on the edge of the area to Peggie but his shot was well over the bar. Jacobs did well twice in the space of a minute firstly making an interception on the edge of the box and running the ball well clear then doing the same thing down by the corner flag on the far side. A corner from Rangers was headed away but the ball went up in the air and with Murphy looking to be in no mans land he recovered really well to smother the ball. At the other end Nicol made a great cross from the left standing the ball up at the back post only for the Rangers keeper to clutch it high above his head. Right on half time and three corners in a row led to the opening goal, the initial two were cleared but the third saw poor defending allow Carstairs and Wilson to attack the ball with it looking like Carstairs with the final touch past the keeper and into the net. Galbraith was the man on corner duty sending the ball in.

Half time Bo’ness United 1 - 0 Rangers B.

Into the second half and the home side were first on the attack with a close range shot well saved by the Rangers keeper low to his left. A corner at the other side saw a threatening ball in but it was headed wide and out for a goal kick. Skinner made a really good block as the home side looked to be hiding out well specially against such a strong wind. A sub for the home side saw Flynn replace Anderson in a second half that really had very little to report about as the match went into the final fifteen minutes. Quick passing got Rangers quickly forward only for the ball to go out of play as it was crossed and at the other end Peggie tried to curl a ball into the box where Flynn was waiting but it was intercepted and cleared by Rangers. A good through ball almost caused problems for the home side but Murphy was out quickly and smothered the ball with seven minutes to go. Galbraith won the ball high up the pitch with a great tackle stopping Rangers quickly countering. A good ball wide to Flynn saw him cross first time only for the defence to clear for a corner. Galbraith swung in an excellent delivery that was headed clear from the centre of goal about seven yards out and the home support could now start to believe a great result was coming with now only two minutes to go plus whatever the referee adds on. Wilson picked up the ball on half way and ran it forward to the edge of the box but found his pass intercepted as he tried to find Flynn wide left. The home side however were keeping possession, passing the ball well, and with now a minute over time the referee waved play on as the visitors got a throw on the near side. At the other side Bo’ness had a throw which allowed them to tick the clock down further as we now got to three added on minutes. Rangers hooked the ball forward but it was straight through to Murphy who gathered it easily. That was to be the last action.

Full time Bo’ness United 1 - 0 Rangers B