Bo'ness United 4-1 Petershill

'Fanview' Match Report submitted by BRYAN COPELAND!

South Challenge Cup Round 5
Bo’ness United v Petershill
Wednesday 23/03/22. KO : 19:45
Newtown Park, Bo’ness

Bo’ness Team :
Adamson (Gk). J. McCormack, Skinner, Macauley, Stevenson, Nicol, Gemmell (c), Locke, Galbraith, Jacobs, Mitchell.
Subs : Flynn,Hawkins, Hunter, Murphy (Gk)

A home cup tie for the BU as they look to bring some silverware to celebrate due to the leagie campaign being somewhat up and down. The last 2 cup games Bo’ness have played ended with a draw and a defeat but prior to that the cup games had been really good with some top class performances and wins. Going into this one Bo’ness are on the back of a good league win just 4 days ago.
So what can we expect tonight hopefully a good old fashioned cup tie as these 2 once junior sides go head to head and with more of a squad to pick from on Saturday than last midweek when there was 9 absentees hopefully gaffer Max Christie will have a good strong squad to pick from again.
It’s a brilliant night for football that’s for sure so let’s hope the action on the park serves up the same under the Newtown Park lights.
This being a cup tie there is the possibility of extra time and penalties but with any luck the BU will have the match won in regulation time. Petershill will not be taken lightly however and it will take a good performance from the home side to beat them.

Into the match then and the visitors got us underway attaching the goal towards Fisons with the home side shooting towards the Kinneil School end. Bo’ness made a bright start and an early corner was headed out the box by the visiting defence. A through ball then fell to Mitchell who brought a good save from the keeper as he powered a shot from just inside the box. 12 minutes and the opening goal came. A ball up the left found Jacobs who cut it across to Locke and he finished well with a sweet strike beyond the visiting keeper. BU 1 - 0 Petershill. McCormack done really well to marshall a ball down the Petershill left out for a goal kick as they tried to get forward in response however over the opening 20 minutes the home side looked the better of the 2 and were worth of their lead thus far. A couple of corners for the home side almost brought goal number 2 as a good ball in bounced in the 6 yard box and was cleared by the visiting defence. A loose pass almost let Petershill in as they picked up the ball and headed towards the box, McCormack made a really good interception to clear the danger. Mitchell broke forward and hit a low drive from the edge of the box that was blocked for a corner that came to nothing as the ball went for a goal kick with now 35 minutes played. Locke had a go from distance but the ball went wide of the post after some good possession from the home side as they still looked fairly comfortable in this game so far. Appeals for a penalty from the home side as Locke went down in the box looking to get on the end of a cross but the referee was quick to wave them away. Just on half time and Stevenson curled a fantastic cross from the left to the back post which only needed a touch to direct it towards goal but was narrowly missed and went for a goal kick. Galbraith tried his kick from distance but his shot was wide and high just before the referee brought the half to a close.

Half time Bo’ness United 1 - 0 Petershill.

Into the 2nd half and it was much the same as the home side looked comfortable and doubled their lead inside the opening 10 minutes. An absolute world class ball from Devon Jacobs as he passed from the half way line beside the dug outs to the centre of the box perfectly weighted perfectly timed perfectly executed as Stevenson didn’t break stride and brought the ball down before placing it calmly in the bottom corner of the net just brushing the inside of the post on the way in. BU 2 - 0 Petershill. Nicol was too quick down the left for Petershill and a late tackle earned their centre half a yellow card. Galbraith stood over the ball and when it looked like he was going to cross it from the left touch line he cleverly rolled it to Nicol perfectly for him to strike and he let fly with a low drive beating everyone and the ball buried in the bottom corner of the net. 61 minutes BU 3 - 0 Petershill. Appeals for a penalty 2 minutes later as Galbraith was brought down inside end box once again the referee waved play on. Captain Michael Gemmell took a sore on on half way but after a minute or 2 got up and was able to continue. The home side were in full control and just after Gaffer Max Christie made a change with Hawkins replacing Galbraith, Jacobs had a low drive from distance that went very narrowly wide of the post. A 2nd change with 20 minutes left saw Flynn replace Locke. Nicol broke across the box from the far side and his shot was charged down by the visiting defence, the rebound almost fell to Flynn but it hit off him and was cleared towards the half way line. It was cruise control for the home side and 11 minutes from time a low ball from the far side found Hawkins and after taking a touch he slotted the ball under the keeper low into the bottom corner. BU 4 - 0 Petershill. With a rare trip into the Bo’ness final 3rd the visitors found a goal pretty much right after the home side scored their 4th, a simple ball was played through them into the box and a shot was slotted beyond Adamson, a clean sheet would have been nice from the home side after controlling the game so well but not to be. BU 4 - 1 Petershill. At the other end and we had another penalty claim but instead a free kick was awarded right on the edge of the box. Stevenson and Nicol both stood over the ball and in the end it was Stevenson who had a direct hit towards goal, the ball curled but went over the bar and the game now entered the closing stages. The home side comfortably seen the match out and a trip to Bonnyrigg in the next round now awaits.

Full time Bo’ness United 4 - 1 Petershill.
A good performance and deserved victory for the BU.