Match Preview 2024 2025
East Stirlingshire
Park’s Motor Group Lowland League
Falkirk Stadium
Saturday 04 August 2024

Bo’ness United visit the Falkirk Stadium on Saturday hoping for a first win of the season after losing to both University of Stirling and Rangers B in the Lowland League and SPFL Trust Trophy respectively. Their opponents East Stirlingshire also lost the first League game at Hearts B but fared better in the Trust Trophy, winning at Motherwell B after a penalty kick shootout.

The defeat to University of Stirling was a case of what might have been when after a disappointing first half losing two goals, the BUs fought back with a Kieran Mitchell strike and a Lewis Duffy debut goal. Unfortunately for Bo’ness just before the end they conceded a third, finishing with nothing to show for their efforts. (Report). As expected, the game at Rangers B proved a difficult challenge against a team of full-time talented youngsters including a few from the first team squad. Bo’ness scored in the first minute through Finn Malcolm but Rangers responded with three goals before the break. Bo’ness worked hard in the second half to keep the young Gers out and did create opportunities of their own. However, it was always going to be a big ask although Bo’ness showed they are able to apply themselves to any task put in front of them. (Report)

Since Bo’ness were promoted to the Lowland League, the matches against East Stirlingshire have always been eagerly anticipated with some feisty encounters over the last few years. Bo’ness managed the double last season, winning both at the Falkirk Stadium and Newtown. Bo’ness won the game in Falkirk by the odd goal in seven, the BU scorers that day Lewis McArthur, Tom Grant, Fin Malcolm and Lucas Stenhouse. The BUs also scored four in the return, this time thanks to a Fin Malcolm double and one each from Lewis Hawkins and Ryan Porteous. The Shire did score two of their own but finished the game having two players red carded. (Reports).

This early in the season teams are still settling in with too few games to judge their prospects for the campaign. What is known is both teams lost their first league match and need the points to avoid losing ground in these initial weeks. The Shire enjoy and can benefit from a noisy home support while the Bo’ness players also look forward to hearing their fans everywhere they play. It’s only a short trip in the Number 2 bus to the Falkirk Stadium and the BU Faithful, eager to see a win for their favourites will be there to do their bit in the quest for a Bo’ness United win.

John Spowart
Friday 02 August 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 27 July 2024

Competition –Park’s Motors Group Lowland League

Bo'ness United 2
(Mitchell 74, Duffy 81)

University of Stirling 3
(Woloszyn 20, Moffatt 31, Tallen 90)

Bo’ness United didn’t get the start they were looking for, when despite a great second half comeback they lost a late goal that saw them lose to University of Stirling in their Lowland League opener.

The BUs started well enough but the visitors began to impose themselves on the game and went ahead in twenty minutes when Euan Walker put the ball into the path of Ben Woloszyn to convert from twelve yards. Ten minutes later the students doubled their lead, this time Finn Moffatt showing great skill to cut inside before shooting past the BU trialist keeper at his near post.

It had been a poor first half from Bo’ness with only a Kieran Mitchell effort coming close but after the turnaround they set about getting back into the game. The University goal was put under some pressure although the BUs had to be mindful at the back with Stirling looking dangerous on the break. With fifteen minutes remaining the BU enterprise was finally rewarded with a fabulous Kieran Michell volley from the edge of the box, the ball finding the top corner of the net. With less than ten remaining the BUs were level from a Tom Grant corner, Lewis Duffy touching the ball across the goalmouth before finishing from close in for a debut goal. Bo’ness went looking for the winner but just before the end it was the visitors who claimed all the points, Nathan Tallan getting onto the end of a Sam Martin cutback to shoot under the BU keeper from six yards out.

It proved a disappointing first match for the BUs who can take heart from the spirited second half comeback but knowing there is work to be done to get the season on track.

Bo'ness: Trialist, Stevenson (Malcolm 61), Macaulay, Hawkins (Duffy 77), Travis, Irving (Gemmell 58), Kennedy, Johnston (Henderson 58), Mitchell, Grant, Porteous. Subs (Not Used) Trialist SG Campbell

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Tuesday 30 July 2024

Competition –SPFL Trust Trophy Round 1

Rangers B 3
(Nsio 24, Stevens 32, Curtis 43)

Bo'ness United 1
(Malcolm 1))

Bo’ness United exited the Trust Trophy at Cappielow Stadium but put up a great fight against a talented full time Rangers B that included a number of first team players.

A sunny night in Greenock saw the BUs make an impressive start as in the first minute Fin Malcolm dispossessed Rangers’ keeper Mason Munn before rolling the ball into the empty net. Rangers worked to get back, Kerr Robertson seeing a shot cleared off the line and BU keeper Liam Campbell made a great save from a Findlay Curtis header. Just after twenty minutes in Rangers did score when Paul Nsio got on to a Alex Lowry chipped though ball to steer past Campbell. Soon after the Glasgow youngsters were ahead, Archie Stevens pouncing onto a short pass back and although Ryan Stevenson tried to retrieve the situation, Stevens fired home. Just before the break Rangers scored a third with an Archie Stevens run to the line, his cut back slotted in by Findlay Curtis.

In the second half Rangers pressed forward but were met with a resolute defence. Liam Campbell also did his bit in the BU goal, saving from Alex Lowry but it was not all one-way traffic. Bo’ness did create opportunities to reduce the deficit, a Kyle Johnston header going over and a Lewis Duffy shot saved by Mason Munn. Unfortunately, the BUs were unable to get the strike to unsettle their hosts but overall provided a performance to give hope of better days ahead.

Bo'ness: Campbell, Stevenson, Macaulay, Hawkins, Travis, Duffy, Malcolm (Johnston 46), Gemmell (Grant 54), Mitchell (Stenhouse 17) (Irving 74), Henderson, (Kennedy 74), Porteous

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 18 November 2023

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

East Stirlingshire 3
(Honeyman 61 90+3, Rankin 84)

Bo'ness United 4
(McArthur 37, Grant 51, Malcolm 65, Stenhouse 89)

Bo’ness United came away from the Falkirk Stadium with all the points but it was a close-run thing where, despite spurning early chances to go ahead, East Stirlingshire fought to the very end in their effort to get something from the game.

In the first half play moved from end to end but it was the home side who created the best chances. Matty Flynn shot over early on while the stand in BU keeper had to make a couple of good saves and Ryan Stevenson got in the road of the ball to block a Shaun Brown effort. The Shire were made to regret these missed opportunities as it was Bo’ness who took the lead just after the half hour. From a Stevenson corner Ryan Porteous moved the ball on and Lewis McArthur benefited, hitting a low shot just inside Shire keeper Jordan Pettigrew’s right-hand post.

Just after the break Flynn had a chance to get his side back but his shot flashed past the post, not long after Bo’ness showed how it was done as Shaun Rutherford’s diagonal ball found Lucas Stenhouse wide on the right who dashed to the line before cutting back for Tom Grant to score from close in. Shaun Brown headed wide of the Bo’ness post; another opportunity spurned but East Stirlingshire did find the target as Scott Honeyman pounced onto a through ball before rounding the BU keeper, angling into the empty net.

Only four minutes later Bo’ness restored their two-goal lead as the Shire keeper blocked a Stenhouse run and shot but Fin Malcolm was on the spot to convert the rebound. Into the final ten minutes East Stirlingshire were back in it, Luke Rankin heading in from a Ynyr Liddell cross before once again Bo’ness stretched their lead, Lucas Stenhouse cutting in from the right to fire low into the opposite corner of the net. Into time added on another Shire goal, a Honeyman deflected shot finding the net gave the home side hope but it proved fruitless, the final whistle ending their hopes of completing the comeback.

Bo'ness: Trialist, Stevenson, Rutherford (Macaulay 80), Travis, McArthur, Foster, Stenhouse, Henderson, Malcolm, Grant (Irving 67). Porteous (Kennedy 67), Subs (Not Used): Mooney, Hawkins SG Trialist

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 06 January 2024

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo'ness United 4
(Hawkins 35, Malcolm 55 75, Porteous 90+3)

East Stirlingshire 2
(Rankin 15 pen, Penker 29)

After a slow start losing two goals in the first half hour, Bo’ness United dug in to stage a great fight back to win the points against East Stirlingshire who finished the match with only nine men.

A quiet initial period saw both sides in possession but after fifteen minutes the visitors got their noses in front when BU Keeper Musa Dibaga got himself into a fankle bringing down Scott Honeyman in the box, the resulting penalty put away by Luke Rankin. Bo’ness responded with a couple of efforts on goal but in twenty-nine minutes went further behind as the ball fell nicely for Jamie Penker to fire in from close in. The BUs set about getting back and six minutes later a corner resulted in a scramble in the six-yard box, Lewis Hawkins forcing the ball home to narrow the gap.

Before half time Bo’ness came close on a number of occasions but it was ten minutes after the break they got the equaliser, a good passing move finishing with Fin Malcolm angling low past Shire keeper Jordan Pettigrew. Bo’ness were on the ascendancy and with fifteen minutes remaining took the lead when Malcolm latched onto a great through pass from Keir Foster to cooly slot into the Shire net.

To compound East Stirlingshire’s misery the final ten minutes saw two players sent off, Matty Flynn and Tony Coutts both shown red cards and three minutes into time added on a sweeping Bo’ness move finished with a great angled shot from Ryan Porteous, the ball finding the far top corner of the net.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Hawkins, Macaulay (Foster 67), Travis, McArthur, Irving, Kennedy,
Johnston, Malcolm, Grant (Henderson 78), Porteous. Subs (Not Used): Dalziel, Gemmell, Stevenson. SG: Thomson