Bo'ness United 2-3 University of Stirling

"Fanview" Match Report by BRYAN COPELAND!

Lowland League Match day 19
Bo’ness United v University of Stirling
Saturday 13/11/21. KO : 15:00
Newtown Park, Bo’ness.

Bo’ness Team :

Today's Bo'ness team!
Gilpin (Gk). Peggie, Skinner, Carstairs, Hawkins. Gemmell (C), Nicol, Locke, Galbraith, Wilson, Flynn.
Subs : Anderson, Jacobs, Johnston, Hunter, Macauley.

No report from me for match day 18 away to Broomhill where the BU came out 2-1 winners coming back from a goal down.

Going back to last season a reminder from fan Henry McIntosh that Stirling Uni were the first team to beat Bo’ness last season. From that encounter we know learned that they are a young fit and fast side so from the start today the home side will need to be alert and ready to deal with the pace of the visitors.
With really good recent results including recent wins against the aforementioned Broomhill and Rangers B, Bo’ness can go into this one with every confidence of taking all three points especially with the usual large home support getting behind them.
Recent additions made to the squad by Manager Max Christie have looked good and impressed so far and with a decent mix of experience and youth it should stand the BU in a good place for today and going forward for the rest of the season. One game at a time however and all being well we should be in for a very good encounter today.

Into the match then and the visitors got us underway attacking the goal towards Kinneil school with the home side shooting towards Fisons. A perfectly observed minutes silence took place before we got underway with remembrance Sunday coming up tomorrow.
The visitors had the better start and within five minutes found themselves a goal ahead, a cross field ball to just inside the box was controlled and fired low into the bottom corner. BU 0 - 1 Uni. The home side struggled to get into the game as Uni enjoyed a fair bit of possession and other than a good through ball to the edge of the box it was a hit up field and hope so far from the home side. Things got worse on 19 minutes as poor defending left a tap in at the back post to make a it 2-0 to the visitors. The home side responded almost straight away with a ball forward towards the left hand side but as the cross was put in the flag went up for offside, Flynn got on the end of the cross and knocked the ball into the net but the referee had already stopped play for the offside. 24 minutes played and thankfully a goal back for the home side a cross into the box bobbled around and ended up high in the air, Skinner made contact with it so it’s arguable whether it’s his goal or an O.G as it did come off a Uni player, either way the goal counts and it’s BU 1 - 2 Uni. Just a couple of minutes later and the visiting keeper was called into action as he made a brilliant save. On 27 minutes a change for the home side saw Macauley replace Galbraith with a worry of injury to the Bo’ness man as he missed the game midweek before this one. A free kick out on the left was curled into the box from just on the edge of area and brushed just over the visiting keepers bar. The home side since getting a goal back were looking better and a good ball wide found Nicol who played it inside to Gemmell, his lay off almost set up a shot on goal but as the ball was cleared it deflected back to him and he curled a shot with the outside of his boot wide of the post from around 20 yards. A corner from Uni was defended allowing a quick counter attack which was led by Locke moving forward quickly, his pass however was poor and misplace straight to the visitors who cleared high up field. A free kick wide left for the visitors was swung into the box and a shot went wide of the left hand post not causing any trouble for Gilpin in the Bo’ness goal, Gilpin of course standing in for regular keeper Andy Murphy who is unavailable today. Uni were having a decent spell again and a dangerous ball from wide right was flashed across the face of goal with plenty pace on the ball but no one managed to get on the end of it with only a few minutes remaining until half time. A long ball forward from the home side had the keeper rushing off his line and a mix up between keeper and defence saw the defender head it back towards his keeper who handled it outside of his box. A free kick for the BU and a yellow for the home keeper when it arguably could have been a red. Deliberate hand ball outside the area from the keeper usually is. Anyways on with the game and Locke struck the free kick really well, the keeper looked well beaten only to be saved by the ball crashing back off the post before it was cleared for a corner. The corner coming into the box and being cleared was the last action of the half.
Bo’ness United 1 - 2 University of Stirling.

Into the second half and it was a fairly even opening 10 minutes. BU gaffer Max Christie made a couple of changes with Anderson & Johnston replacing Wilson & Nichol.
17 minutes into the half and the home side were level, Flynn picked up the ball on the right and came inside beating a couple of men as he made his way inside the box and as the space opened up he placed a brilliant shot past the keeper. BU 2 - 2 Uni. Big appeals for a penalty from the home players, bench and support as a ball from the left was controlled and down went Locke on the turn. 22 minutes to go and the home side found all the hard work of getting back into the game undone as a ball from the left was crossed to the box and unfortunately once again poor defending was to blame as a tap in was left to make it BU 2 - 3 Uni. Inside the final 20 minutes and a deep cross was almost met at the back post as the home side once again chased an equaliser. Uni had a quick counter with a fast paced dribble right through the middle of the park however a good tackle before the box ensured it was stopped without too much danger. A good move forward saw some nice touches from Gemmell in the middle of the park and as he sent the ball up the left hand side only a well timed interception broke what looked to be a promising move down. Into the final five minutes and a deflected shot from distance was easily held by the Bo’ness keeper as the visitors looked to be seeing the game out for a deserved victory in fairness. The home side had a final push with a couple of minutes to go sending the ball long towards the box and although it was initially controlled well the ball into the box was too easy for the visiting keeper as he clutched it from the air.

Full time and a deserved victory for the visitors as the match ended Bo’ness United 2 - 3 University of Stirling.