Bo'ness United 1-4 Berwick Rangers

'Fanview' Match report by BRYAN COPELAND!

Lowland league
Bo’ness United v Berwick Rangers
Saturday 12/02/2022. KO : 15:00
Newtown Park, Bo’ness.

Bo’ness Team :
Murphy(Gk). Stevenson, Hunter, Skinner, Grant, Nicol, Hawkins, Jacobs, Gemmell (c), Johnston, Flynn.
Subs : McLeod, Carstairs, Cross.

It was a Tuesday night trip to Berwick for the BU the last time these two sides met with Bo’ness making the journey home late at night after a 1-0 win. Max and his players will be looking to replicate the performance from last time out in the cup on Tuesday with a convincing win and superb team performance against Musselburgh and I’m sure Max and his players will know if they can keep that form up a good run of result should come.

The sad passing of Chairman Iain Muirhead last week still leaves a sad cloud hanging over Bo’ness and it was touching to see Musselburgh post as regards our very sad loss after the game on Tuesday. A fitting and impeccably observed silence along with a presentation to Iain’s family provided a fitting tribute to the great man Iain was.
Also a big thank you to all the other clubs who have sent condolences and to those who also held a minutes silence in Iain's honour last seeking including our local rivals Linlithgow Rose, our community clubs and Bo’ness Athletic to name a few.

Todays game like event other league game will not be easy in such a tough competitive league but with a strong pool of players hopefully to pick from and home advantage the BU and all that follow them will be looking for a good performance and three more points.
Big mention to Captain Michael Gemmell today who plays his 200th game for the club. Superb and I hope there’s many more to come.

Into the game then and the home side got us underway attacking the goal towards Kinneil School. It was a reasonably bright start for Bo’ness with a lot of possession in the opening 10 minutes. Nichol broke forward on the right and had the ball cleared just as he was about to cross and a few minutes later Jacobs curled a ball in that had to be cleared by the Berwick back line. With conditions becoming wetter and a bit blustery against the wind forward came the home side and Grant saw a shot from outside the box go over the bar. At the other end the ball almost dropped kindly for Berwick to have a go but it was cleared before a shot from distance went over Murphys cross bar. A routine save for the Berwick keeper followed as Jacobs had a go from outside the box on 21 minutes. Nicol done well with the ball at his feet skipping past 3 as he cut in from the right hand side before his cross lingered in the air and was headed away. A great chance was missed by the BU on the half hour mark as a corner swung into the 6 yard box found Hawkins who only had to direct his header into the net from close range but instead put it straight into the arms of the keeper. Grant came very close moments later as the home side searched for the opening goal that they probably deserved so far on balance. The opening goal did come on 34 minutes however it was from the visitors. A smart ball played low across the box left the easiest of tap ins. Bo’ness 0 - 1 Berwick. 2 minutes later and a complete mess at the back allowed Berwick in again, Murphy and Jacobs went for the ball and somehow left the ball to be rolled in from around 7 yards. Bo’ness 0 - 2 Berwick. Moments later it could have been another as a ball over the top almost eluded the home defence again thankfully this time the flag on the far side went up for offside. Was it or wasn’t it from where I was standing it looked very tight. Good play between Johnston and Jacobs saw the latter cross from the right only for it to be headed away. A quick break again showing the lack of pace from the home side at the back cost again as yet another simple finish was put beyond Murphy on 41 minutes. 8 minutes and 3 goals had now left the home side reeling. Bo’ness 0 - 3 Berwick. Nicol showed pace going forward and cutting into the box but his shot was a routine save from the visiting keeper. A long ball forward once again showed up a lack of pace and had it not been for Murphy saving from close range it would have been 4 for Berwick. Not even a minute later and Murphy was again called into action this time rushing out to the edge of the box to gather the ball as again it eluded the home back line.

Half time Bo’ness 0 - 3 Berwick Rangers.

Into the 2nd half and a change before we got underway for the home side saw McLeod replace Jacobs. An early corner was swung into the box but it ended with a routine save for the Berwick keeper. 57 minutes and the visitors were in on goal once again Murphy stopped the shot which this time came straight at him. 61 minutes and Berwick picked up the ball just over the half way like 1 touch in front and a quick step away left a clear run through in goal, inside the box and a low shot was palmed away by Murphy but with no defender near enough the rebound was a simple straight forward tap in. Bo’ness 0 - 4 Berwick. The home side had a bit of possession but done nothing with it meanwhile it was still all to easy for the visitors to get past the home defence as once again they broke into the box. 72 minutes and Berwick had the ball in the net again this time the linesman raised his flag for offside saving the home sides blushes somewhat as once again it looked all good easy to be broken down. A long diagonal ball once again had Berwick inside the Bo’ness box this time when it was crossed it was cleared away. At the other end McLoed had a shot blocked and when the ball fell to Grant his shot from distance went high over the bar. Just inside the final 10 minutes and a corner from Berwick was headed clear at the back post. 5 minutes to go and a chance of a goal for the home side as a late tackle saw a penalty awarded. Stevenson stepped up only to see the ball palmed away by the Berwick keeper however he was quickest to react to the rebound and smashed the ball into the net. BU 1 - 4 Berwick. 90 minutes and a corner was swung into the 6 yard box by the home side only for it to be headed high over the bar from close range.

Full time Bo’ness United 1 - 4 Berwick Rangers.

A bad day at the office for the BU after such an impressive display and performance midweek. Next up it doesn't get any easier with a trip to league leaders Bonnyrigg next Saturday.