Edinburgh City 2-1 Bo’ness United

"Fanview" Match Report submitted by BRYAN COPELAND!

Scottish Cup Round 2
Edinburgh City v Bo’ness United
Saturday 23/10/2021. KO : 15:00
Ainslie Park, Edinburgh.

Bo’ness Team :
Murphy (GK), Jacobs, Hunter, Skinner, Peggie, Stevenson, Gemmell (C), Galbraith, Locke, Nicol, Anderson.

Subs : Mitchell, Wilson, Macauley, Hawkins, Johnston, Flynn.

The thrill of the cup returns and a tough test for the BU as we take on League 2 opposition Edinburgh City. The home side would normally play at Meadowbank but with that still under re development their home games are being played at Ainslie Park the home of Spartans.
All clubs at Bo’Ness level and below, even above, dream of Round 4 and a tie against one of the SPL big guns but for now I’m sure the visitors will take things one round at a time starting today.

A postponed cup tie with Kirkcaldy & Dysart gave the BU a free week going into the game today and of course we all know how we got here after three games against Wick.

Into today’s game then and Bo’ness started brightly with some crisp passing and a couple of good balls crossed into the box. The first goalkeeper to make a stop though was Murphy as he was quick to react to a decent shot. Twelve minutes played and the opening goal arrived, Galbraith slipped a great ball through to Peggie who lofted a great cross to the head of Anderson and from close range he made no mistake. City 0 - 1 BU. Galbraith curled a free kick into the box from the right hand side which was cleared away by the home defence as Bo’ness looked to build on their lead. Peggie did well on the right and laid the ball off to Jacobs who sent a searching ball into the box then at the other end Murphy had a good shout and claimed the ball as his defenders cleared a path for him to easily collect. A free kick just inside the attacking half was sent towards the box by Galbraith and as the ball lingered in the air the home keeper found himself scrambling back to claim it. The referee had a yellow card out for the home side on 26 minutes as Gemmel was sent crashing to the floor from a late challenge. A cross from the far side missed everyone as the home side tried to get forwards but after 35 minutes Bo’ness were still more then holding their on and worthy of the one goal lead so far. Galbraith broke forward quickly laying the ball off well and a foul that should have been awarded wasn’t giving the home side a chance to break, Jacobs did well however to clear any danger. One minute of added time played and it looked like the visitors were taking a great result into the dressing room however City had other ideas, a fairly standard ball up the park landed inside the box and should have been easily dealt with however Murphy went to come and hesitated then come again and with that mistake it left a simple finish to make it 1-1.

That was to be the last action of the half Edinburgh City 1 - 1 Bo’ness United.

Into the second half and before we got underway a chance for the visitors saw Hawkins replace Hunter. A good through ball almost found Anderson as the visitors looked to restore their earlier lead. Hawkins headed a cross clear before Jacobs cleared the ball away and at the other end a great ball found it’s way to Locke who had the home keeper scrambling to get back and tip his shot over the bar. Jacobs played a quick free kick forward which Galbraith controlled brilliantly before playing a great curling cross in, Peggie got on the end of it but under pressure from the home defence his shot went narrowly wide of the post. Another chance for the visitors to get the ball into the box was passed up as a free kick was well over hit for a goal kick. Twenty-two minutes to go and City had made all three changes with the visitors still looking the better side so far in the game and unfortunate to only be drawing when the my could have been in front. The visitors continued to pile on the pressure and a good ball into the box found Locke who took a great touch to make space but then somehow skied the ball over the bar from 10 yards out. The home side looked rattled as the visitors piled forward again, Nicol cut inside from the right stepping past two before stinging the gloves of the home keeper. It was almost all in vain for the visitors as the home side got a rare break up field and as the ball came over the top Murphy thought about coming then started to come and slipped, it was almost like the goal we sold earlier on but this time Murphy made himself big and blocked the ball before then saving again sending the ball for a corner. 12 minutes from time and the killer blow came as the visitors had played so well and applied a lot of pressure but at the other end a brilliant shot lashed into the top corner had Murphy and his defenders powerless to do anything about it. Edinburgh City 2- 1 Bo’ness. A fantastic goal but very much against the run of play. Seven minutes to go and Flynn replaced Gemmell for the visitors. The home side almost put the game to bed with a few minutes left but an angled shot went wide of the post. Galbraith tried to get forward quickly but was stopped in the middle of the park with a good tackle. With the visitors pressing a quick break gave the home side breathing space with a free kick which Murphy got down well to save while at the other end Locke cut inside and curled a shot which the home keeper saved then made a bit of a fool of himself and showed just how worried his team were three minutes into added time by pausing then falling down to waste time. A long ball out to the right found Flynn but when the home side cleared it that was to be the last action and the cup dream over for a very well organised and very well played Bo’ness team who can be proud of the performance today and deserved so much more from the game.

Full time. Edinburgh City 2 - 1 Bo’ness United.