Bonnyrigg Rose 3-0 Bo'ness United

'Fanview' Match Report submitted by BRYAN COPELAND!
Lowland League
Bonnyrigg Rose v Bo’ness United
Saturday 19/02/22. KO : 15:00
New Dundas Park, Bonnyrigg.

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

Another tough match for the BU today as we head to face league leaders Bonnyrigg Rose at New Dundas Park. With a relatively up and down season a win for the visitors here today would certainly be a confidence boost however it will be very tough against a Rose side with aspirations of climbing up the pyramid system.

Going into this one it’s 9 wins in 24 league games for the BU making it a relatively up and down season so far. Bo’ness still have things to play for and I’m sure the aim will still be to finish as high up the league as possible and there’s still the cup competitions to compete in.

It’s probably not the best time to be going to face the league leaders after a 4-1 defeat at home to Berwick last week however Bonnyrigg suffered their own surprise defeat midweek loosing out 5-1 in a cup tie down at Galashiels against Gala Fairydean.
Best thing for both sides is to gofer those and focus on today with what should be a good game between 2 once big sides in the old junior days and still are even with the transition to football the way it is today. Both sides are no strangers to each other having played many times over the years the most recent being at Newtown Park earlier this season when Bonnyrigg narrowly won 2-1 taking the lead in the 1st half somewhat against the run of play before adding a 2nd after the break. A late penalty gave a fighting Bo’ness team the chance of something from the game however the visitors held out.
With the current BU form not being great with only the odd really good performance a lot of the travelling support will be expecting to leave Bonnyrigg empty handed today with them being run away league leaders however the usuals large support will once again travel to cheer on their team and with Bo’ness you sometimes just never know they may even surprise us. Play how Bo’ness can play and there’s always a chance of something from this game play how they have recently and the home side should take the points.

Into the game then and the visitors got us underway. An early chance for the home side was well defended after some clever play on the edge of the box. 7 minutes and more defending from Bo’ness gave Rose a corner. They curled the ball into the 6 yard area and as Murphy came to punch he only half caught the ball sending it spinning up and luckily for the visitors back off the bar. A shout for handball was waved away by the referee as once again the home side broke into the box before a free kick also saw them send a ball in that was cleared towards the half way line. A ball forward to Flynn finally got the visitors up the field and heading for the box, Flynn laid it off to Smith a forward signed this week but his effort was straight at the Rose keeper. At the other end another corner for the home side was again punched by Murphy this time sending the ball for another corner which was headed clear. Jacobs had a chance and drive a low shot from the edge of the box that went narrowly wide of the post. 22 minutes and McCormack was fed a ball on the half way like setting him on his way at speed towards the box unfortunately his cross was poor and easily defended by the Rose defence. The home side broke forward down the left on the half hour and as the ball was played inside a good block stopped a shot that looked to be on target, the ball rebounded back to the home side however and another shot was well blocked before the ball was cleared up towards the half way line where Flynn held it up well. The home side threatened with a couple of through balls towards the box one of which led to a shot that had to be blocked while at the other end McCormack sent a good ball forward which had to be dealt with by the Rose back line. As half time approached a ball fizzed low across the box from the right almost had the home side however however it missed everyone before being cleared from the opposite side of the box. McCormack won the ball well on half way for the BU before playing it out to the right where Smith gathered it and send a good cross towards Flynn at the back post however the Rose keeper was alert and clutched the ball high out the air.
Half time Bonnyrigg Rose 0 - 0 Bo’ness United.

Into the 2nd half and the home side sent a low ball into the box from the right, Skinner was on hand to clear and sent the ball up the left hand side. McCormack sent the ball forward to Smith who crossed it towards the back post before heading into the box for it to be headed down towards him for a shot, unfortunately he didn’t connect properly and it was a routine stop for the rose keeper. The home side sting a good passing move together before a really good defensive header away cleared any danger. A few minutes later and once again the home side were on the front foot this time claiming a penalty which was waved away by the referee on the left hand side of the box. At the other end a cross was sent for a corner on the far side and as the ball came over the box Hunter was 1st to react and uk highest to head the ball towards goal only for it to be cleared. Gemmell won a free kick allowing another chance for the visitors to get the ball into the box once again the Rose back like cleared before sending the ball to the other end and getting a corner which Hunter headed away really well. The BU temporarily played with 10 men while Michael Gemmell got a bandage wrapped round his head after a hard challenge . Murphy got down well to block a cross with his legs and Hunter headed a ball well clear as once again the home side were appealing for handball which was waved away by the referee. Grant was replaced by the Trialist in todays squad as Max Christie made his 1st change. The home side broke forward again and this time as they rounded Murphy his attempt to win the ball brought down the Bonnyrigg man, the referee had no option but to point to spot and with Murphy expected to see a red card the referee issued a yellow much to the anger of the home side specially those watching from the side lines. To add to the home sides frustration Murphy saved the penalty quickly getting down and making a really good stop. 76 minutes in and more appeals for handball inside the box from the home side saw the referee this time give it pointing to spot once again. The penalty this time was converted the ball driven hard into the net. Bonnyrigg 1 - 0 BU. A 2nd change saw Nicol replace Smith. Once again the home side came forward and a good ball over the box was well blocked by Skinner. Bonnyrigg weren’t done yet however and once again the ball came dangerously over the box this time a very close range shot was somehow stopped by Murphy in a magnificent block. 7 minutes to go and the 2nd goal came a ball played up the left hand side was played across towards the edge of the box then after a couple of touches rolled low into the net. Bonnyrigg 2 - 0 BU. 4 minutes to go and this time the home side broke up the right hand side. As they got into the box again a foul left the referee pointing to the spot. Once again the penalty was converted low into the corner. Bonnyrigg 3 - 0 BU. Overall a better performance from Bo’ness than last week but disappointingly never troubled the home keeper all game. The persistence of the home side paid off in the end. Full time Bonnyrigg Rose 3 - 0 Bo’ness United.