Bonnyrigg 3-0 Bo'ness United

'Fanview' Match Report submitted by BRYAN COPELAND!

South Challenge Cup, Quarter Final
Bonnyrigg Rose v Bo’ness United
Saturday 02/04/2022. KO 15:00
New Dundas Park, Bonnyrigg.

Bo’ness Team :
Murphy, McCormack, Skinner, Hunter, Macaulay. Stevenson, Gemmell (C), Galbraith, Nicol, Mitchell, Locke.
Subs : Flynn, Hawkins, Wilson.

The cups had been going well for Bo’ness until just 3 days ago when University of Stirling visited Newtown Park. Bo’ness were 1-0 and 2-1 up before losing 4-2 in the end with a Jekyll and hide performance of a really good 1st half followed by a poor 2nd. It won’t be easy today given that since last time these 2 sides met Bonnyrigg have been officially crowned Lowland League Champions and
against Bonnyrigg so far this season it’s been 2 league defeats. 1st a narrow 2-1 at Newtown Park back last year then recently a 3-0 defeat here at New Dundas Park as Bonnyrigg soon after went on to win a play off spot and the league title. The big question today is will Bonnyrigg be looking to win this cup or with the big play off matches coming up will their attention be more on them. If Bonnyrigg really are interested in the cups also then today will be yet another really tough game but if the right Bo’ness team turns up anything is possible.

The league campaign is really just playing for pride from a Bo’ness point of view while our opponents have the title all wrapped up and the play offs to look forward to. As for the cups following the earlier mentioned midweek defeat Bo’ness have this cup and the league cup still to play for having qualified last Saturday with a win away at Spartans. Todays opponents took up their option to withdraw from the league cup but I’m sure they will be looking to give Bo’ness a game today in this one.

Into the match then and before we got underway Bo’ness lined up for a guard of Ho

honour in respect of the Lowland league champions. The opening 20 minutes was fairly even, if not shaded by the visitors, but there was nothing of note for any of the 2 keepers to do. 22 minutes and Nicol was through and into the box at pace before being brought down an absolute stone wall penalty but the referee waved it away, it was so blatant that even the home support were laughing at the decision. Hunter done well to head a ball away at the back before at the other end Macaulay beat a coupe of players but was blocked just before he could get a shot away on the edge of the box. The home side got a free kick right on the edge of the box when no one was near a player and he tripped however justice was served with the free kick was hit high and wide of the goal. 36 minutes and a ball forward from the home side was misjudged by Skinner possibly lost it in the sun but either way the ball bounced over his head and left an easy finish to make it Bonnyrigg 1 - 0 Bo’ness. More problems for the visitors as Gaffer Max Christie replaced Galbraith with Hawkins giving him possibly more injury concerns. The home side came close again 5 minutes from half time, a low drive going just wide of the post. Stevenson worked the home keeper with a low shot from distance as the clock ticked down towards half time. Right on that 45 minutes and a ball into the box from the home side towards the back post was headed back across goal then tapped into the net. The linesman on the far side was quick with his flag however to rule the goal out for offside.

Half time Bonnyrigg Rose 1 - 0 Bo’ness United.

Into the 2nd half and an early free kick into the box from McCormack almost found Stevenson but the ball was headed away. 49 minutes and the home side doubled their lead, a ball out to the right hand side was played back across the edge of the box and a really well struck curling shot gave the visiting defence and Murphy in the BU goal no chance at all. A really well taken goal and top class finish. Bonnyrigg 2 - 0 BU. It was soon 3-0 as the visitors gifted a goal to the home side, a free kick on the right hand side was sent into the back post and no one reacted to it allowing a simple tap in. Bonnyrigg 3 - 0 BU. Hunter did well heading the ball on just over half way and a ball into the box was defended for a corner. Unfortunately the corner was curled straight into the hands of the waiting Bonnyrigg keeper. The visitors broke forward but as the attack was stopped the home side quickly got back up the field with a counter attack up the right hand side, the ball was squared across and when it looked like a free shot Michael Gemmell was there powering back to get a great tackle in before the ball rolled towards Murphy. Mitchell went down for the BU and went off a couple of minutes later replaced by Flynn. Nicol laid a ball off to Locke who shot well wide from distance and just before that McCormack was composed at the back to clear a ball away over on the far side. 69 minutes and Murphy was off his line quickly diving down to stop a shot as Bonnyrigg ran in 1 on 1 a superb stop from the Bo’ness man to keep the score at just 3 - 0. The 3rd change for Bo’ness saw Wilson returning from injury replace Nicol. The visitors got forward down the right and a cross into the box found McCormack who’s header was blocked but only as far as Stevenson who hit a low drive towards goal again the ball was blocked by the home defence. The Bonnyrigg keeper was called into action when Stevenson picked up the ball and drove down the left with it before cutting inside and curling a superb effort towards the corner of the net the home keeper at full stretch made a brilliant save. The visitors could have had a consolation with a few minutes to go, good play through the centre then saw the ball go out wide and was squared to Locke on the edge of the box he tried to curl a shot towards the corner and although the bend was on it there was little power behind it and became an easy catch for the home keeper.

Full time Bonnyrigg 3 - 0 Bo’ness United.