Gretna 2008 0-4 Bo'ness United

"Fan View" Match Report from BRYAN COPELAND!

EOS Qualifying Cup
Gretna 2008 v Bo’ness United
Saturday 11/09/2021. KO 15:00
Raydale Park, Gretna.

Bo’ness Team :
Murphy (Gk). J McCormack, Skinner, Hawkins, MacAuley. Stevenson, Allan, Gemmell (C), Flynn, Wilson, Anderson.
Subs: Hunter, Fullarton (Gk).

Just a fortnight ago Bo’ness visited Raydale park in Gretna for Lowland League match day 10 and came back up the road with 3 points after a narrow one goal to nil victory. It could have been more than one that day but overall a good performance and win.
Since then the BU have been far travelled also visiting Berwick just 3 days after Gretna and again putting on a brilliant performance and bringing home 3 points with the same victory 1 goal to nil. Also we did touch home base last weekend with an action and incident packed 3-3 draw against local rivals East Stirlingshire.
Back on the road today however and also next week as it’s 2 cup weekends back to back starting today then onto the big one The Scottish Cup where yes you guessed the BU are on the road again and it’s a long one all the way up to the top of Scotland to play Wick Academy.
Firstly however I’m sure Max, his back room team and the players will be focused on the job in hand today and having just played Gretna a fortnight ago I’m sure both sides will have a good read on each other going into this one.

Into the match then and an early opportunity for the visitors as Anderson forced the home keeper into a save hitting a direct free kick from not far outside the box. The home side had a quick break that was stopped over on the right before on 12 minutes the ball fell nicely for Wilson who rattled the post with a very good effort that had the home keeper beaten. At the other end Gemmell did really well to stop Gretna breaking forward and a through ball found Stevenson who cut inside to the box and rolled the ball across beautifully leaving Wilson a tap in from no more than 4 yards. Wilson accepted and the we had the opening goal. 15 minutes Gretna 0 - 1 BU. Just a minute later and fantastic play from back to front with good movement, crisp passing got the ball to Wilson and 1 on 1 with the keeper he made no mistake rolling the ball low into the net. Gretna 0 - 2 BU. Gretna tried to get back onto the game but were almost caught by a long ball finding Anderson who did well to control it and send a cross in that had to be cleared. At the other end a shot from distance had Murphy watching it but it was always heading over the bar and landed on the roof of the net. With a very thin bench today there was a bit of concern as McCormack went down following a run forward. He got up and played on but work by the Bo’ness physio saw Player/Assistant Stuart Hunter getting prepared just incase. A wild shot from Gretna flew well wide of the post before the ball was in the net at the other end however offside ruled it out. Good play down the right found Wilson who played a long pass inside towards Flynn only for the Gretna defence to get there first. Six minutes from half time however we had another goal, Wilson did really well down the right and linked up with Anderson who cut inside and when it looked an option to cross Anderson seen it as a shooting opportunity and bent the ball past the keeper sending it flying into the top corner. Gretna 0 - 3 BU. Wilson was on the hat trick trail as he sent a shot narrowly wide. Moments later quick play from McCormack found Stevenson out wide who took a touch a delivered into the box, Anderson picked it up and sent the ball towards goal and he could have claimed it however it looked like McCormack got the final touch before the ball hit the net. Gretna 0 - 4 BU. Macauley did well pressing forward and laid the ball off to Stevenson on the edge of the box, his shot was decent enough for power but straight at the keeper who made a comfortable stop. Anderson was next to come close as he controlled the ball well and took it past 2 players before hitting a shot narrowly wide of the hole keepers left hand post.

Half time Gretna 2008 0 - 4 Bo’ness United.

Into the 2nd half and shortly after the visitors got us back underway Hawkins sent a good ball over the box that had to be cleared. Anderson did well wide left to dig out a cross that was begging to be attacked but once again the home defence got to it and cleared the ball high up the pitch. Goal number 5 looked to be coming and 7 minutes into the second half it could and possibly should have been as the home defence scrambled and somehow got the ball away for a corner. Stevenson was next to break forward and fed a brilliant ball to Anderson only for the linesman to flag offside in which the visiting bench players and support disagreed with. At the other end Murphy had a routine collection from a cross rolled into the box before once again the BU were on the front foot this time Hawkins breaking forward and feeding the ball to Flynn who’s poor touch handed it back to Gretna. Stevenson broke forward and cut inside from the left looking for the opportunity to open up for a shot but as it didn’t he fed a good ball to Flynn who once again killed the forward momentum by giving the ball away cheaply. A corner was well defended by the BU defensive header. Wilson again almost had his hat trick with a low shot from close range saved by the Gretna keeper. It could and should have been more than 4 for the vistors so far with the opportunities missed but no one could argue about it being a good display so far with now 21 minutes remaining. A free kick from distance gave Murphy in the BU goal a routine save to make while at the other end Stevenson broke into the box from the left and stung the gloves of the keeper with a very good low shot. Stevenson was again involved in an attack just moments later as he okayed a ball over towards Flynn with half a chance of getting it Flynn backed out and allowed the defender to get there first and clear. A poor ball out gave the home side a chance as a resulting foul gave a free kick right on the edge of the box. The wall stood firm however and no danger at all came from the kick. With 7 minutes to go it looked like the home side had a goal as the ball was hit well from inside the box and only the post was there to stop it the rebound however fell to a Gretna player who smashed the ball hard and low towards goal, Murphy however somehow got there and made and outstanding save before Gemmell took the ball away to safety. A long ball had Wilson chasing looking to get a touch on it but the home keeper was puff his line quickly and got there. The home side broke quickly and once again Murphy was called into action making another really good save from close range.

Full time Gretna 2008 0 - 4 Bo’ness United.