East Stirlingshire 2-2 Bo'ness United

"Fanview" Match Report submitted by BRYAN COPELAND!

Lowland League
East Stirlingshire v Bo’ness United
Wednesday 06/04/2022. KO 19:45
The Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk.

Bo’ness Team :
Murphy(Gk). Macaulay, Hunter, Hawkins, Jacobs. Johnston, Gemmell (C), Nicol, Flynn, Walker, Wilson.
Subs : Locke, Skinner, Munn

Another cup exit at the weekend leaves the BU with only the League Cup for a chance of silverware this season. As for the league other than pride there’s nothing to play for and the same can be said for The Shire on the league front. Make no mistake however a lot of pride will be on the line tonight as this is a Local Derby fixture. Earlier in the season there was no mistaking the game was a Derby match with a 1st filled with goals 5 in total, and a 2nd half with just 1 more goal but over the piece a total of 10 yellow cards and 6 reds and that’s not counting the cards issued to the dugout after the final whistle with some major disagreements taking place at full time.
For tonight no one really knows what to expect I guess with form and results being so up and down but one thing not lacking is commitment and effort from the team. Also being midweek it remains to be seen who will be available for selection.
It’s the final run in of games league wise for the BU with the last home league game coming up this Saturday followed by a midweek trip next Tuesday to Civil Service. After that it leaves just a trip to Spartans a week on Saturday to conclude the scheduled fixtures. There is still 2 remaining to be rescheduled due to the abandonment at Gala Fairydean and the Dalbeattie game postponed due to them having a cup replay so it remains to be seen when those are arranged for and of course the afore mentioned league cup which Bo’ness progressed in to be played.

Into tonight’s game then and just 4 minutes in we had the opening goal. All to east for the home side a long diagonal ball out to the right left loads of space to cross and the ball was curled into the 6 yard area where it was nodded past a helpless Murphy in the BU goal as the ball went unchallenged by the defence. Shire 1 - 0 BU. Bo’ness were lucky on 7 minutes it wasn’t 2 - 0 a quickly taken free kick just over half way was rolled to the edge of the box and played in where a shot came back off the post and on the counter a low cross from the left allowed the visitors a shot on goal that was blocked. Walker cut inside and curled a shot from the edge of the box just over the bar but the home side were quick to retrieve the ball and play it long almost allowing them in on goal, only a great Hunter block inside the area stopped and danger. A minute later and a free kick to the Shire right on the edge of the box saw a powerful low drive that was on target and fantastically saved by Murphy. 16 minutes and the scores were level Walker done really well bringing the ball forward and he played a brilliant low pass right into the path of Nichol who took a touch and curled the ball beyond the keeper and into the net. Shire 1 - 1 BU. Flynn done really well on the left winning the ball and his pass almost made it to Nichol who was clean through on goal a great interception the only thing that stopped it. Walker then went on a run from the middle of the park and as he broke into the box he was brought down as he was just too quick for the home side. The referee had no option but to point to spot for the stone wall penalty. Walker stepped up and took the penalty a low shot straight to the middle of the goals and it looked at 1st like the keeper had it as the ball bounced off him but it landed in the middle of the net, 23 minutes played Shire 1 - 2 BU. Fast forward 1 minute and quickly from the kick off the home side played the ball to the left hand side before sending it low into the box followed by a low shot into the net. 24 minutes played Shire 2 - 2 BU. Quickly once again to the other end and it was Walker causing problems again this time cutting in from the right, this time he was challenged sending the ball for a corner. A good ball whipped in from the far side saw a half volley from around the penalty spot come back off Murphys bar before Hunter done well to head clear any further danger. It was the home side again through in goal a few minutes later this time a low through ball seen Murphy down low to his right to save a driven shot from just inside the box. The visitors got forward but the attack broke down midway into the Shire half and they were quickly on the front foot again pressing forward before a cross from the left was headed just wide of the post. 24 minutes and another shot was saved by Murphy. Right on half time and a low cross into the box was dealt with by Hunter as he booted the ball clear. Nichol lost possession cheaply allowing the home side to come forward and as a shot was sent towards goal from the edge of the box his defenders bailed him out with a good block. A really good half of football from both sides in a decent derby match so far.
Half time East Stirlingshire 2 - 2 Bo’ness United.

Into the 2nd half and an early free kick saw Flynn hit a shot from outside the box forcing a good save from the home keeper while at the other end the Shire broke through the defence but Jacobs recovered well to win the ball twice in quick succession. It was nothing as frantic as the 1sr half so far but still a decent game the only thing lacking from the visitors at this stage was they were giving the ball away very cheaply and allowing the home side to break forward. Thankfully they weren’t threatening the goal much however the closest effort blasted over the bar from close range to the left of the goal. A free kick just past half way saw Jacobs send a great ball forward and it was played 1st time from wide left across the 6 yard box, Hawkins was 1st to it but couldn’t get up over the ball to head it in from close range and the ball went over the bar from around 2yards out. 71 minutes and another fouls brought a 2nd yellow reducing the home side to 10 men. The free kick was played forward and a resulting cross blocked for a throw down by the corner flag. A quick break forward down the far side for the Shire saw then cross a ball in the shot that came from it went wildly over the bar and almost to the back of the stand. A cross from the left was an easy take for Murphy as the game got into the final 10 minutes. The visitors got forward but a cross was blocked for a goal kick which the home side took very quickly and with a long ball they were on the edge of the Bo’ness box, cut inside and the ball was just too far in front allowing Hunter to boot it clear from danger. 8 minutes to go and as the home side cut into the box from the right of the park down went the man, the referee hesitated but looked to see his assistants flag up and there was huge shouts on the field and from the stands before he slowly pointed to the spot. With just 7 minutes to go the penalty was struck low towards the corner, Murphy was equal to it however and made an absolutely fantastic diving save palming the ball well clear. Another low through ball looked to cause problems for the visitors but once again the defence dealt with it Hawkins getting between man and ball and rolling it to Murphy who took a touch and cleared it under pressure from the advancing home forwards. The visitors took the pressure off getting the ball forward and as it was played out to Flynn he done really well to send a good cross over that was blocked for a corner. The corner unfortunately was wasted Nichol sending the ball over everyone and out for a goal kick as the game just hit the 90 minute mark. A free kick gave the visitors a chance to keep the ball up the field and a shot from distance went wide of the post. Another red card for the home side reduced them to 9 men 2 minutes into added time Hawkins cleared the ball from almost on the by line and Walker picked it up and got pace up breaking forward only to be cynically brought down leaving the referee no opting not to show a 3”2nd yellow meaning red. The free kick was the last action.
Full time East Stirlingshire 2 - 2 Bo’ness United.