Beith 0-1 Bo'ness United

'Fanview' Match report submitted by BRYAN COPELAND!
South challenge cup round 4
Beith v Bo’ness United
Saturday 05/03/2022. KO 14:00.
Bellsdale Park, Beith.

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

A break from league duty and a game with something for Bo’ness to play for as we make the trip to North Ayrshire to face Beith. Most other teams apart from these two are playing the next round with this fixture rearranged due to the sudden passing of Chairman Iain Muirhead.

Ayrshire has generally not been a happy hunting ground for Bo’ness although over the years some good results have also came out way.

Into todays game then and on a fresh spring day bright with little wind making it ideal conditions for football. The visitors were kicking down the be obvious slope on the pitch. The home keeper was called into action early on turning the ball round his post for a corner then as the corner was played short to Galbraith he swung a curling cross into the back post where Hunter headed towards goal only to see the keeper comfortably hold onto it. The home keeper saw a yellow card 10 minutes in that could have just as easy been a red, a long ball forward was chased down by Mitchell and as he got to it the keeper was racing out his goal and with his boot almost at head height caught the Bo’ness man sending him crashing to the ground. Perhaps as it was the keeper the card was yellow but on the count of dangerous looked a red. From the resulting kick the ball was swung towards the back post but there was too much on it as it went out for a goal kick. The visitors were trying to press home the advantage of kicking downhill knowing whats to come for them second half as again a ball was sent across goal the home side defending it well this time. 20 minutes and the opening goal came the ball was squared to Devon Jacobs on the edge of the box and his low drive went into the bottom corner of the net. The keeper got a hand on it but the power in the shot took the ball past him. Two minutes later and a foul that looked to be inside the box should have brought the visitors a penalty but the referee waved away the appeals awarding a goal kick. McCormack played a long ball forward that fell nicely inside the box for Mitchell but his shot went well wide from around 8 yards. Almost goal number two for the visitors as Stevenson had a shot blocked for a throw in. From it the ball was sent towards the centre of goal and Mitchell saw his header come back off the underside of the bar, Grant tried to make the rebound to knock the ball into an entry net but somehow couldn’t. When they did get forward the Beith No 10 was looking dangerous and having a decent game so far, he cut inside with a deft flick over McCormack before setting up his team mate for a shot that was very well closed down by the visiting defence. Few minutes to half time and a diagonal ball almost caught Bo’ness out as the home side split the defence and got a shot towards goal that went wide of Murphys right hand post. At the other end Galbraith sent a cross in that went out of play over the cross bar as the visitors again tried to push forward down the slope. Stevenson who was getting good service out on the left sent another good ball across goal this time clutched out the air close to his line by the home keeper.

Half time Beith 0 - 1 Bo’ness United.

Into the second half and even though it was uphill for the visitors it was a positive start. Hunter sent a throw into the six yard box which Mitchell was close to getting on the end of. A free kick from distance was sent towards goal from Stevenson but it was caught comfortably by the home keeper. Gemmell very unusually lost the ball in the middle of the park but was quick to win it back. Mitchell burst forward from his own half and made his was quickly towards the box as he beat 2 men and got into the box he was pulled to the ground. The crowd waited for the whistle expecting the referee to point to the spot for the foul meaning a penalty but not this time. The visiting bench, players and fans and furious so as play continued. Moments later the home side were taking liberties thinking they could get away with anything as Galbraith was clattered to the ground on the edge of the box. This time the referee did give the foul but it was a free kick right on the 18 yard line. Stevenson struck it towards goal only for the home wall that blocked it. 73 minutes and a ball from the right was attacked with a diving header and from it the ball went narrowly wide of Andy Murphys post. The home side tried to push forward down the hill but Murphy was equal to a shot low to his right. New signing Mitchell carried the ball forward well once again and was fouled on half way with just 6 minutes or regulation time left. Moments later he was surging forward down the left and he was so unlucky as he tried to roll the ball across goal it was booted clear for a corner. The ball however was at the right end for the visitors as they looked to protect their lead and progress to the next round to play either Cumbernauld United or Petershill. After being lucky to keep their keeper on the pitch in the first half the home side could now have 9 men as again the visitors came forward and a clear pull on the jersey by the Beith number 4 was a clear and blatant foul, with him being the last man the yellow card shown has to be the wrong decision for me. Stevenson hit the resultant free kick but it was off target this time. At the other end a shot went wildly high and wide from the home side as the match was about to enter added time. A through ball was sent forward but Murphy was out quick and gathered. Four minutes added on but the visitors seen it out.

Full time Beith 0 - 1 Bo’ness United.