Bo'ness United 2-1 Cumbernauld Colts

'Fanview' Match Report by BRYAN COPELAND!

Lowland league
Bo’ness United v Cumbernauld Colts
Saturday 08/01/2021 KO 15:00
Newtown Park, Bo’ness

Finally the first game of the year for the BU with the last match on New Year’s Day cancelled it was disappointment not to have the derby against East Stirlingshire at the Falkirk Stadium due to medical reasons. With the Boxing Day match at home to Gretna which was moved to Monday the 27th of December also postponed for the same reasons the last game the BU played was the 18th of December which ended in defeat at Airdrie to Celtic B. With the recent run of results and the postponements the last time the BU won was back at the end of November against East Kilbride Thistle in the South Challenge Cup.
With this being the first match report of the year a very happy new year to Max & all his staff, committee supporters and everyone associated with the BU and also to those who read the reports.

I’m order to get a good start to the new year the BU will need to reverse the result of the first game between these two teams at Broadwood Stadium earlier in the season. Much as the final result flattered the Colts somewhat they deserved to win the game and a better performance will be required today to get the desired result.

Into the match then and it was a positive start from the home side attacking the goal towards Fisons. Within the opening five minutes a great ball from the right hand side found the head of Flynn who produced a stunning finish heading the ball beyond the Colts keeper.

BU 1 - 0 Colts.

The home side kept the pressure on with a superb diagonal ball from right to left finding McCormack on the left, he sent a good cross over the six yard box which was cleared before it could be headed towards goal. A poor ball out from defence let the visitors get on the front foot but captain Gemmell was on hand with a brilliant tackle to break the attack down before it reached the Bo’ness box. The visitors got on the attack with a good interception from Skinner sending the ball out for a corner. In it came to the six yard area and was cleared before being sent back in and the loose ball gathered by Murphy in the BU goal. At the other end Grant had a looping shot from outside the box saved by the Colts keeper. Stevenson rolled a ball across the box from the left but there was no takers to get on the end of it for the BU, then just a minute later he sent a shot from outside the box curling past the far post. Another fantastic diagonal ball this time from McCormack found Stevenson who sent a decent cross into the danger area, the visiting defence once again called into action to clear. The visitors tried a few times to get forward but every time the home defence was equal to it and blocked any attack before the ball reached the box. At the other end the Colts defence were called into action forced to send a good ball in from the right for a corner. Six minutes to half time and the second goal came for the home side in magnificent style. A fantastic free kick from out wide was curled in towards the back post by Galbraith, a a stunning delivery, the ball got headed back across goal from the back post and McCormack from there produced a brilliant header looping the ball over the visiting keeper and high into the net. BU 2 - 0 Colts. Galbraith was next to have a go, Stevenson controlled a diagonal ball before laying it off for a shot from distance this time the ball went wide of the post.

Half time Bo’ness United 2 - 0 Cumbernauld Colts.

Into the second half and the home side got us back underway. A good spell of possession controlling the ball followed before a through ball was neatly back heeled just before it went out of play and a shot which went over the bar not troubling the visiting keeper was the best goal mouth action of the opening 10 minutes. 11 minutes in and appeal for a penalty from the home side as McCormack burst forward and was brought down. Judged to be on the line a free kick was awarded. Grant curled it towards goal but it was over the bar. A good ball came over from the left and finally fell to Grant who should have done better with the visiting defence all at sea and the keeper going down he tried to put the ball high into the net but instead very poorly blasted it high and wide from inside 6 yards. At the other end the home defence cleared a cross ball for a corner and as it came in they were once again called into action, this time the ball rather than going clear went high in the air and was met by a Colts player who headed towards goal back only for the ball to bounce off the top of the cross bar for a goal kick. Another free kick this time just a bit too far out for a shot was curled into the area by Galbraith before being headed away for a corner. In it came from the far side and as it fell to Galbraith around 7 yards out it looked certain to be 3-0 but his shot somehow went over the bar. A quick ball forward from the visitors almost caught Bo’ness unawares as they latched onto a long ball with no one up there was no option but to cut inside and go himself with the final shot low and wide of Murphys post. 19 minutes to go and the visitors got back in the game a simple cross followed by a simple shot which Murphy initially done well to stretch for and as the ball looked to be in his grasp it slipped and landed in the back of the net. BU 2 - 1 Colts. The visitors clearly boosted by their goal were on the attack again this time a great block inside the area cleared away any danger. A free kick for the home side was played out wide by Galbraith to Jacobs who sent a low cross in that was cleared. 14 minutes to go and a change for BU manager Max Christie saw Grant replaced by Nicol. The home side had another opportunity this time the ball coming back off the woodwork and as Colts counter attacked quickly the home fans just have been wondering if missed opportunities would cost as the ended up in behind the defensive line and sending a shot very narrowly wide of Murphys post. 10 minutes left and another change for the home side this time Johnston replacing Macauley. As Flynn went down signalling for attention while holding his hamstring the visitors were on the attack and Murphy produced a great save from the shot that came at him from outside the area. Anderson replaced Flynn and the game went into the final 5 minutes with Colts sending a corner across which looked very dangerous before finally the ball was cleared. The home side got some breathing space with a quick run up the left wing before a long ball was sent back towards the box as it was brought down and fed through it trickled to Murphy who easily picked it up although the move was deemed to be offside anyway. Into added time and a long throw in was sent into the box by Colts headed clear before the same thing on the other side. Again the same outcome this time as the ball was cleared the referee blew for full time.

Bo’ness United 2 - 1 Cumbernauld Colts.

A winning start for the home side in 2022.