Edinburgh University 1-2 Bo'ness United

"Fanview" Match Report submitted by BRYAN COPELAND!

Lowland League Cup Quarter final
Edinburgh University v Bo’ness United
Saturday 23/04/2022. KO : 15:00
East Peffermill Playing Fields, Edinburgh

Bo’ness Team :
Murphy(Gk). J. McCormack, Meikle, Hawkins, Macauley, Stevenson, Galbraith, Jacobs, Johnston, Walker, Nicol.
Subs : Flynn, Hunter.

The only chance left for Silverware this season for Bo’ness sees us travel to Edinburgh to take on a decent university side who we have met 3 times already this season. The first was a midweek league game at this very venue where the visitors ran out easy winners with some stunning goals seen that night. Back at Newtown Park and it was a much closer affair with the match ending in a draw as the uni side looked much better than they did first time around. The third encounter was also a home tie for Bo’ness in this very competition and after a heavy defeat and a draw the Uni side ran out winners. That being said on the night Bo’ness had 11 men to field a team and had to name coach Blair Munn and an injured Lewis Hawkins on the bench as injury and illness ravaged Max Christie’s squad. Following that defeat a draw away to Civil Service Strollers in game 2 of the league phase left Bo’ness with a trip to Spartans where it was must win or exit the competition. On a sun soaked day in the Capital Bo’ness dug deep and got the victory we needed and with the result between Civil Service and Uni going our way qualified for the quarter finals.

Since then in all honesty Bo’ness had been on a bad run but last weekend a league trip to Spartans boosted the confidence, with the squad still thread bare former BU favourite Darren Gribben was back to lend a hand as well as experienced defender Craig Meikle coming in. Even though the combined age of the 2 centre backs was 83 experience showed and in a good display a confidence boosting victory ahead of todays game came the BU’s way.
So what about today hopefully Max Christie will have players to choose from and perhaps manage a sub or 2 if he’s really lucky as with no trialists permitted it’s what we have and nothing else. On the basis of the first game here at East Peffermill it would be a stroll but looking at the return league game and then the cup group game there has been vast improvement from the Uni side who will see this as a chance to progress to a semi final, however hopefully a spirited BU display will see us over the line. With the full draw made for the league cup and Falkirk being at home tomorrow both Uni & BU know their opponents before they play as East Stirlingshire took on Caley Braves last night and The Shire progressed through meaning todays winner has a trip to The Falkirk Stadium in the Semi Final.

Into the match then and it was a decent start with Stevenson having an early chance for the visitors on what is a great day for football in bright sunshine. Bo’ness spent a fair bit of the opening 10 minutes in the Uni half and good play across the pitch by Nicol seen him pick out Walker who laid off a beat ball for Jacobs who’s cross won a corner. Stevenson swung a decent cross in from the left that had to be headed clear by the home defence just a minute later. Macauley done really well at the other end making a great interception then carried the ball away from danger showing good control with the ball at his feet. Meikle made a very timely interception as a ball was played from midfield and soon after Murphy was out of his goal quickly to clutch a loose ball that was being played through towards the box. A few minute stoppage came on 23 minutes as a uni player appeared to dislocate or break his finger after being on the pitch in agony he was helped to his feet and quickly taken off with a pinky pointing in totally the wrong direction. The uni keeper was playing sweeper as a long ball almost found Nichol on the edge of the box. Walker picked the ball up pans turned quickly in the middle of the park but was up ended half way towards the box which seen the referee go to his pocket for a yellow card. Walker was in action again on 28 minutes doing really well up the left wing and cutting into the box before standing the ball up superbly to the back post, unfortunately for the visitors the uni defence were first to it and headed the ball behind. McCormack had a shot blocked on the edge of the box and moments later the home keeper made a save as Stevenson had a go from distance. A decent ball forward almost found Nichol inside the box but the home keeper read the situation and was out quickly. On 38 minutes there was a good stop from the Uni keeper as Stevenson hit a good shot from outside the box. For having the best of the half the visitors almost found themselves behind 5 minutes from half time, a ball up the left was played low across the box and from around 5 yards it was a free hit, Murphy however made a fantastic save to keep the ball from the net. A corner for the home side was cleared but only as far as the edge of box and a low drive was sent towards goal, once again Murphy was there to keep the ball out. Galbraith won the ball then held onto it well in midfield before playing a pass out to Stevenson setting him on his way up the left hand side only a good interception stopped him before he made it into the box. Just before half time Galbraith done really well with two men on him breaking away and finding Macauley who’s pass forward towards Nicol was intercepted. Neat play through the centre from the home side almost had them in on goal but the visiting defence was organised and cleared the danger. That was the last action of the half where overall Bo’ness looked the better of the two sides shading the first half on chances and possession but other than the odd stop both keepers didn’t have a great deal to do.

Half time Edinburgh Uni 0 - 0 Bo’ness United.

Into the second half and just a few minutes in Bo’ness should have been in front a great ball lobbed forward was picked up by Nicol who done well to keep himself onside and in acres off space he controlled the ball before breaking into the box at speed and rounding the advancing keeper with confidence all that’s left to do is finish by rolling the ball into the net but it wasn’t to be as it came back off the post. The visitors kept pressing and a cross ball found Walker who’s effort came back off the bar. 51 minutes and with the visitors still pressing finally it paid off as Walker buried the ball in the net. Uni 0 - 1 BU. Two minutes later and Hawkins was careless sticking a leg out in the box and giving the home side a chance to equalise with a penalty. Murphy once again proved his worth as made a fantastic stop low down to his right hand side as the penalty taker tried to put the ball in the bottom corner. 55 minutes and the equaliser did come, Bo’ness were on the attack and it broke down on the right side of the box, the visitors played it back up the other end quickly and a cross ball was sent first time into the waiting net. Uni 1 - 1 BU. 57 minutes into the game and just 12 into the 2nd half the ball had hit the woodwork twice been in the net twice and a penalty had been saved but you can now add another goal in that time as the visitors retook the lead. Nicol this time on the end of a good forward move. Uni 1 - 2 BU. The visitors were applying pressure now and McCormack had a shot from just inside the box that deflected wide then Jacobs broke forward and Galbraith tried to make space for a shot. Bo’ness were having a real good spell and the ball almost fell for Jacobs to have a shot but it was intercepted just as he went to take a touch. A free kick right on the edge of the box gave the visitors another chance and Galbraith curled an effort up and over the wall but unfortunately just wide of the post, a decent effort though and done really well to get the ball up and down. McCormack linked up well with Nicol who after losing the ball won it back quickly and played it wide where Hawkins linked up with Macauley the return pass however was intercepted. At the moment however the ball was still at the right end of the pitch for the visitors who now only had 9 minutes of regulation time to go and secure victory with once again a threadbare squad of only the 11 players on the pitch fit both names subs also injured so no chances available to manager Max Christie. 6 minutes to go and a free kick gave the home side a direct hit from the edge of the box but the ball sailed high over the bar. McCormack was everywhere on the right hand side today and from the edge of the box he cleverly lobbed a ball over to Nicol who took it in towards the penalty spot and cleverly got himself just enough space for a shot that went just wide of the post. 2 minutes to go and it appears the young lad with the broken or dislocated finger is ok as he returned to the ground with them taped up. Jacobs sent a free kick on half time down towards the right corner as clock ticked over onto the 90 minutes. The game wasn’t done yet however as uni worked it forward quickly and got a corner. The keeper and everyone they had except the taker were in the box but the visiting defence held firm. Just a minutes added on and the referee blew his whistle for full time.

Edinburgh uni 1 - 2 Bo’ness United