Sauchie 2-2 Bo'ness United

"Fanview" Match Report submitted by BRYAN COPELAND!

East of Scotland Qualifying Cup Round 3
Sauchie v Bo’ness United
Saturday 22/01/22. KO 13:30.
Beechwood Park, Sauchie

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

After a draw last week in the league away at Stirling Uni Bo’ness have a break from league duty as they resume the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup playing in Round 3 having despatched Gretna with a convincing win last time out. It’s been over two years since these sides met which was in a league match but I’m sure many BU fans will remember Sauchie and the big heavy park being a nightmare in times gone by. It’s never an easy place to go and with Bo’ness now in the Lowland League I’m sure the home side will be out with a point to prove that they can compete with a side higher up.

With the squad threadbare last week due to Covid cases gaffer Max Christie will be hoping those affected are fit and ready for action specially Andy Murphy in goal as no trialist is allowed to play in a cup tie unlike the league where that’s what happened last week. If it is a threadbare squad however Bo’ness are used to that given that the last round was played with only two subs, one being assistant manager Stuart Hunter and the other a goalkeeper yet we won the game comfortably that day.

Into today’s game then and the visitors started the better of the 2 teams. Good play with a diagonal ball found Stevenson who cut inside and layed it off to Flynn who’s shot was deflected from a corner. On 7 minutes the corner was swung into the 6 yard area and as it dropped Jamie McCormack stuck the ball into the net from close range. Sauchie 0 - 1 BU. At the other end on 14 minutes a ball was passed through the Bo’ness defence and latched onto by Sauchie, Murphy did really well to get down and make himself big to make a good stop. Stevenson tried to play in Flynn but there was too much pace on the ball for him to control unfortunately as if he had he was through against the home keeper. The game settled down over the next 20 mins with no team really looking the better of the two and the only chances of note were a header way off target for the home side and Stevenson with an effort blocked for the visitors. Flynn got on the end of a cross with 7 minutes to half time but the effort was well off target high over the bar. The home side had a long ball easily caught by Murphy just before the referee ended the half.

Half time Sauchie 0 - 1 Bo’ness United.

Into the second half and within the opening 10 minutes the visitors doubled their lead, a fantastic strike from Macauley which he caught sweet from distance looked to at first to be heading over the bar but the dip on the ball was unreal as the ball went into the net, the home keeper absolutely helpless to stop it. Sauchie 0 - 2 BU. Just 2 minutes later and the home side were back in the tie as through ball was latched onto and slid low into the net. Sauchie 1 - 2 BU. The home side were in again, this time a free kick on the far side was curled into the box and headed towards goal only for another Sauchie player to make contact sending it off target and wide of the near post. Flynn laid a ball off to McLeod but his touch was poor inside the box and he gave the ball away allowing Sauchie to counter with Murphy called into action getting down low to make another good save. The home side were showing they weren’t out of this yet as a shot from the edge of the box fizzed past the post. BU manager Max Christie then made a double change as McLeod & Flynn went off replaced by Wilson & Nicol. Grant brought the ball forward for Bo’ness and thought about a shot as he cut inside but instead tried to lay the ball off and it was blocked while at the other end Sauchie were in the visitors box again this time a shot cleared for a corner. The visitors were under pressure again and it looked as if they needed to settle down with the home side once again getting the ball inside the box the shot this time was on target and only Murphy making a great save kept the visitors in the lead. Forward again came the home team and they again were denied by Murphy, this time sending the ball for a corner with yet another good save. In it came and from 2-0 down the pressure paid off as the ball bounced in the area and was only half cleared by the visitors defence it was quickly sent back into the danger area and a simple finish made it 2-2. The next response from the visitors was a shot from inside the box blasted high over the bar before the action returned to the other end and once again Murphy was making a save to stop the home side taking the lead. The visitors looked out of ideas with 7 minutes to go as they tried to pass the ball about on the edge of the box and before anyone could even get close to a shot on goal the home side had the ball back and were clearing it. At the other end the home side certainly weren’t afraid to have shots and it almost rewarded them with a goal a firm half volley from the edge of the area looked to have everyone beat the only thing that stopped it going in was the cross bar as the ball came back off it with only 6 minutes remaining. A good crossfield ball set the visitors on the front foot but the resulting cross was straight at the home keeper making it an easy save. Just a minute of normal time left and Murphy made a save as a shot from distance came his way, then at the other end the home keeper was busy getting a hand to a cross into the 6 yard box before the defence cleared the ball high up the pitch. Murphy was quick off his line to gather the ball as again the home side pushed forward now deep into added time.

Full time Sauchie 2 - 2 Bo’ness United.

Into the first half of extra time and it was a rather subdued start with none of the keepers called into action and both sides having a bit of the ball but failing to do anything with it. Stevenson did well to defend a long ball then minutes later the home side got a corner which they took short before sending the ball towards the 6 yard box, Gemmell was on hand to boot the ball clear for the visitors. It was only a few minutes more however and yet again the home side were on the front foot this time Murphy was alert and very quick off his line to once again make a really good save. A forced change was put on the Bo’ness managed as Skinner limped off replaced by Johnson. The obvious replacement of course would have been Hunter but have to assume he listed as a sub but not able to play.

Half time of extra time the score remains Sauchie 2 - 2 Bo’ness United.

Into the second half of extra time and an early second yellow for Devon Jacobs saw the visitors reduced to 10 men. A cross from the left was headed by the home side however it was well wide of the target. Gemmell had an effort for the visitors as he caught a half volley just inside the box unfortunately it didn’t trouble the home keeper as the ball went wide of the near post. Stevenson curled a good ball into the box that was headed clear but as it was picked back up as a free kick was awarded to the visitors. From distance it was hit direct but the keeper was equal to it. At the other end Murphy was quick off his line heading a long ball clear from just outside his area.

No more action means full time of extra time Sauchie 2 - 2 Bo’ness United.

With penalties now to decide the outcome the visitors were up first with Tom Grant placing the ball on the spot. He made no mistake smashing a great penalty low into the net. The home side responded doing the same thing to level us up at 1-1. Gregor Nicol next for Bo’ness and he took a great penalty as the ball flew past the home keeper. The home side placed the next penalty calmly into the net to make it 2-2. Kyle Wilson next and he made a total mess of his attempt putting it straight to the keeper with virtually a pass however the referee saved him by ordering a retake, assuming for the keeper not staying on his line. This time Wilson hit the ball with power into the net. So far Sauchie 2 - 3 BU. Murphy saved the next one but once again the referee ordered a re take however this time the ball went wide of the post. Ryan Stevenson then stepped up for Bo’ness and his penalty was way off target. It was then up to the Sauchie keeper to level as he stepped up and he did making it 3-3. Captain Gemmell then led by example slamming a superb penalty into the net restoring the visitors lead. Ex Bo’ness man Brian Morgan stepped up for Sauchie looking to level and take us to sudden death but he sent the ball high over the cross bar meaning at full time it was Sauchie 2 - 2 Bo’ness United (Bo’ness United win 4-3 on penalties).